Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 5, 1 May 2002 — Pat Nāmaka Bacon [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Pat Nāmaka Bacon

Mary Kawena Puku'i Award recipient

By Manu Boyd For years, the West Honolulu Rotary Club has acknowledged outstanding Hawaiians in the community with its David Malo Award, named for the 1 8 th century-born Hawaiian scholar who preserved in writing many ancient practices and beliefs. ,And in honor of that award's first recipient, Mary Kawena Pūku'i, a new award marking the club's 50th anniversary has been established honoring non-Hawaiians who have made significant contributions to the Hawaiian community. ,And in truly serendipitous fashion, Pūku'i's hānai daughter, Patience Elmay Nāmakauahoaokawena'ulaokalaniikiikikalaninui Wiggin Bacon, became that award's first recipient, April 19. īn 1920, a two-month old child of Japanese ancestry born at Waimea, Kaua'i, was orphaned, and taken as a hānai by Pa'ahana and Henry Wiggin, whose household also included their daughter and her husband, Mary Kawena and Napoleon Kaloli'i Pūku'i. Although she would carry the Wiggin name of Kawena's Massachusetts-born father, Nāmaka would be raised as Kawena's own. Faith, another hānai, and Pele, who Kawena bore, would be raised together steeped in traditions - largely centered around the hula lifestyle.

At the award presentation, an impressive group of hula practitioners, family members, musicians and admirers gathered. Honoree Pat Nāmaka Bacon, 82, was eloquently introduced by longtime Pūku'i associate, student and dear friend, Ka'upena Wong, himself a cultural treasure, "Albeit disappointed that there still seems to be a need for separatism (referring to separate awards

for Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians), ī am delighted to introduce the honoree," he said, continuing with a recitation of the translated text of a chant for protection: "O gods dwelling in the woodlands, hidden away in the mists, in the low-lying rainbow; O beings sheltered under the skies; clear our paths of all that may trouble us. Protect us from all that hinder us on our way. Laka, goddess

of the hula, inspire us, her followers." īn his rich introduction, Wong recaptured a lifetime of cultural nurtur-

ing through the learning and sharing of hula. Bacon's teachers were recalled: Keahi Luahine, Kapua and Joseph 'īlālā'ole, who shared with both her and Kawena dances and styles particular to Kaua'i and Hawai'i, and whose rituals assured grace, poise and strength for the young student. The hula pahu (drum dance) traditions of Hattie Lua McFarlane were also imparted on Mrs, Pūku'i and her hānai,

making the honoree "possibly our only source today of Mrs. McFarlane's hula tradition." A sense of aloha and connectedness filled the event with the presence of those touched by both Bacon and Pūku'i. Kahauanu Lake, renown musieian, composer, arranger and teacher presented See PAT BACON on page 18

Ho'oilina aloha — Mciry Kawena Pūku'i (cibove), her mo'opunei, La'akeei Sugcinumci einel heineii, Pcit Neimeika Bcicon (right).

s

PAT BACON form page 5

honors to Bacon, and those affiliated with his wife, Maiki Aiu Lake, danced in Bacon's honor: Gordean Lee Bailey, Māpuana de Silva, Hālau Mōhala 'Ilima, Pili Pang, Luana Kawai'ae'a and more. Nina Keali'iwahamana along with Mahi Beamer and Gaye Beamer performing " Kawohikūkapulanf ' representing the Rogrigues and Beamer families also steeped in hula tradition. Ka'upena Wong brought his remarks to a close chanting the mele pule pale whieh he earlier interpreted. "I do believe that our honoree has been to the woodlands, figuratively; felt the eool mists; seen the low-lying rainbow. ,And for all of this we are pleased, dearest 'Maka'," he concluded. Sitting with daughter Dodie Kawena, her husband Sean Browne; nephew La'akea Suganuma, his wife Momi; amidst the 'ano (essence) of Tūtū Kawena Pūku'i sweetly permeating the room, Pat Nāmaka Bacon graciously accepted the Rotarian honor bearing the name of the woman who eontinues to enrich the depth, breadth and magic of our beloved Hawai'i. ■