Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 10, 1 October 1997 — Operation ʻOhana cares for family [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Operation ʻOhana cares for family

By Kimberly K. Haunani Kau TQtū Elizabeth Villa of Wai'anae takes pride in her Hawaiian ancestry and traditions. "She's like a cultural steward," said Lueille Meyer, coordinator of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' Operation 'Ohana, "and she puts her pride into practice." As kupuna for kindergarten, first and second grade at Kanoelani School in Waipi'o Gentry, Villa teaches children Hawaiian language, culture, and values passed on to her by her own kupuna, a great aunt. "The first thing I teach my class is aloha, what it means, hello, goodbye, and many other good things," she said. "Then I teach their names, different Hawaiian plants, numbers, parts of the body, and values, such as the importance of the family." It was Elizabeth Villa's aloha for family that brought her to Meyer. Last July. as the oldest living member of her family, she first registered her Hawaiian ancestry with Operation 'Ohana. The documentation she supplied on that initial visit enabled Meyer to validate kupuna Vīlla's children and grandchildren's Hawaiian ancestry though Margaret Lineoln and John Osheo, Villa's parents. Later. the kupuna returned to register eight brothers and sisters and their families as well. For Villa, registration was also another

way to express her pride. "We are Hawaiians, we should be proud of it and to show people that we are proud," she quietly insisted, radiant in an orchid muumuu and stylish lauhala hat. Operation 'Ohana seeks to register all Hawaiians worldwide. As with kupuna Villa's family, the staff ean validate multiple generations in a single Hawaiian 'ohana by linking the descendants to a primary registered Hawaiian ancestor. Meyer and her team depend on Hawaiian 'ohana to assist in registering their families and extended families as Elizabeth Villa did. All Hawaiians ean register. "Every enrollment is important," said Meyer. To request information or enrollment packets for your family, please contact her or her Operation 'Ohana staff in Honolulu at (808) 594-1959 or (808) 594-1960. ■

Operation 'Ohana Coordinator Lueille Meyer (left) with Elizabeth Villa (rlght).