Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 1, 1 January 1998 — Ke Kukui Mālamalama honors excellence in education [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ke Kukui Mālamalama honors excellence in education

By Manu Boyd fOUR OUTSTANDING educators were honored at OHA's 7th annual Ke Kukui Mālamalama Awards last month. Gabriel 'ī, A1 Makahinu Barcarse, David Stanley Kapepa and Naomi Rosemary Noelanioko'olau Clarke Losch were selected from nine finalists by a panel of judges and confirmed by OHA trustees as this year's recipients. "Eaeh year, OHA receives nominations from the community for outstanding educators, not necessarily Hawaiian themselves, but who are noted in the field of Hawaiian education," said Kathy Keala, OHA education specialist and this year's coordinator. More than 130 friends, family and supporters attended the awards dinner at the Dole Cannery Ballroom in Iwilei, Honolulu. A1 Barcarse, King Intermediate School instructor and kumu hula of Ka Ua Kilihune, spoke about the values he leamed while growing up in Makaweli Valley on Kaua'i. "My goal is to share what I have learned with as

many students as I ean," he said. "I am truly humbled by this honor." Noe Losch of the University of Hawai'i, described as an inspiration and a professional in and out of her teaching capacity, named both her mother and Hawaiian language instructor Dorothy Kahananui among her mentors. Critical thinking. informed decision making, encouragement and a little humor are tools for teaching and leaming that Kumu Losch employs.

David Kapepa of Keolu Elementary School quoted Mary Kawena Pūku'i's philosophy that emphasizes the importance of understanding the "old ways" in order to be enriched. "All children who grow up and go to school here are 'keiki o ka 'āina', and should feel good about that," Kapepa insisted. Gabriel 'ī, who accepted his award entirely "ma ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i" (in the Hawaiian language), spoke of his good fortune in spending two years on Ni'ihau working with the resi-

dents and school children there. 'ī has been teaching on Kaua'i for more than six decades, and as an elementary school teacher, was an inspiration to Betty Ellis Jenkins, OHA Kupuna Alaka'i and program eo-emeee. "Mahalo i ka makua lani. Nona mai kēia ho'omaika'i ia'u (My thanks to Heavenly Father. He is responsible for this honor I am receiving,") Kupuna 'ī said. Tmstee Abraham Aiona, nominated for an award by a Maui resident but ineligible because of his position as trustee, received special reCognition at the dinner "I feel honored to have been nominated," trustee Aiona remarked. "I know that Hawai'i is in good hands with so many outstanding educators coming up in the ranks." "Ke Kukui Mālamalama" means 'the radiant light'," said OHA Education Officer Rona Rodenhurst. "The leaves and flowers of the kukui tree are often used metaphorically to describe knowledge, education and enlightenment," she added. "He kukui pio 'ole ia i ka makani. Education is like eandlelight that is inextinguishable in the wind." ■

1997 recipients of the Ke Kukui Mālamalama Award.

H "O I 1 |o I ^ 1 o I ■ m ■ C ■ r; ■ CD I > H