Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 11, 1 November 1997 — ʻAha Kupuna: OHA celebrates 10 years with our kūpuna [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻAha Kupuna: OHA celebrates 10 years with our kūpuna

By Paula Durbin ĪHE HEAVY rains that fell on Kaua'i the first weekend in October could not dampen the enthusiasm at OHA's 10th annual 'Aha Kupuna where more than 100 participants met to leam, mentor, talk story, speak Hawaiian and affirm their role as the head of the Hawaiian 'ohana. "You do us such pride," beamed Auntie Betty Jenkins, OHA's kupuna alaka'i, at the opening ceremony. Her mother, Elizabeth Ellis, offered the pule wehe before Tmstee Abraham Aiona addressed

the group on behalf of OHA's Board of Tmstees. (See Trustee Aiona's eolumn for his speech.) Hawaiiana team Aletha Kaohi and Kalani Flores welcomed the kūpuna, Kaua'i style, and as Mayor Mary Ann Kusaka approached the lectum the crowd stood to sing an exuberant "Nani Kaua'i." The mayor called the kūpuna a treasured resource and remembered the importance of elders to her own upbringing. She concluded by suggesting OHA acquire the dormant Coco Palms Hotel for Kaua'i's Hawaiian community to transform

into a cultural center. Presentation of ho'okupu followed, including "Nōhili ē," danced by the O'ahu ladies. There was a slide-show of

memories from past conferences, beginning with the very first, held at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, and a full-dress pageant

to live music depicting the proud and poignant history of the Hawaiian monarchy. Attending the conference were several vigorous tūtū in their 90s. Most participants were women, attractive, committed and feisty; many were makua age, late 30s to 60s. Everyone was involved in community service, mainly to 'ōpio. "I ■jt woukl

, . never M t miss an [ OHA m kupuna ī conferenee," said Vema Mae

Branco of the Big Island. "We take back to the classroom everything K we've leamed." Like many others, Branco l works with the Depart$J§j( * ment of Education's ~ Hawaiian studies program. Prized C|5 native speakers of IA 'ōlelo Hawai'i, B such as Elizabeth II Kauahipaula, lend their expertise to immersion class- ' es- things |S we do, we relate ! ' & I back to our ehildren," she maintained. Keanui

Doane spreads her wisdom through hula among the girls in Olahu's detention home. "I try to make them be Hawaiian, even the non-Hawai-ians," she said. "When I have ehil-

dren that eome through, they share instead of fighting eaeh other." Seminar topics ranged from A to W - ahupua'a to Wailua's

( - wahi pana.^First time participants included a contingent fromNi'ihau. One, Kaua'i Community College counselor Ilei Beniamina, led sessions on her island's traditions, including lei pūpū, and on 'ōlelo Hawai'i. She emphasized the need for new words, especially technical terms. "Using English stunts the growth of the language," insisted Beniamina. "We already have lolouila (computer), papakaumaka (monitor) and pā (disk). Now we need a word for byte." ĪHE CONFERENCE eulminated in a Living Treasures Awards dinner. By popular vote, Kaua'i's Margaret Aipolani, accomplished in 1 music, dance and language, received the 1997 Kupuna Po'okela Award. Esther Makua'ole of Kona, who has elevated her lauhala craft to a fine art, was selected by OHA's Kupuna team for the Ka Hā Mai Nālani Ellis Award given in the name of its matriarch. The Board of Trustees recognized the skills of Moloka'i lā'au lapa'au practitioner Marie K. Plaee with its Ka Hā Mai Kalāhikiola Nāli'i'elua Award. For many kūpuna, a highlight

at the dinner was the surprise appearance of Trustee Moses Keale, who is recuperating from heahh problems. "Moke has been godfather to our program since its inception," said Betty Jenkins, referring to the Kaua'iNi'ihau trustee's support during his five terms on the board. Trustee Keale accepted her invitation to offer the closing pule, and prayed in strong, clear, native 'ōlelo Hawai'i. ■ PHOTOS: PAULA DURBIN

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"All the things we do, we relate back to our children."

Rita Gora salutes Prince Kūhiō with her hula "Ku'u Home i Keaukaha" in a kūpuna tribute to Hawaiian ali'i. (MĒ

Connecting with kūpuna in an enthusiastic opening ceremony are Trustees Apoliona, Maehaōo (foreground) and Aiona (background).