Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 9, 1 September 2002 — Mähealani Dudoit, ʻÖiwi editor, mourned [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Mähealani Dudoit, ʻÖiwi editor, mourned

By Naomi Sodetani Hawai'i has lost one of its brightest and most beloved literaiy lights with the pass~ ing of Native Hawaiian writer and editor Darlaine Nlāhealani Dudoit. Just days before the Aug. 30 release of the second edition of " Oiwi: A Native Hawaiian Journal," whieh she had founded, Dudoit, was found dead at a Kahaluhi inn along with her hus~ band, Sanford Kapana, 47. Detectives still investigating the case noted that the writer had sought a temporary restraining order against Kapana three weeks prior. Dudoit's death raises a thousand terrible questions without answers about domestic violence and its de\mstating toll on island families. But the tragedy should not eclipse the gifted writer's aeeomplishments and her optimism in struggling against other forms of violence: poliheal di sposs ess ion and cultural arasure — what Dudoit called "the loss of words," tradi~ tions and identity resulting from Amenean colonization.

Despite their sorrow, Dudoit's friends, family andcolleagues gath~ ered as scheduled to celebrate the publication of "Kūnihi ka mauna (steep stands the mouniain)" at the

Centar for Hawaiian Studies "because Nlāhealani would have wanted it," said Ku'ualoha Ho'omanawanui, Dudoit's close friend and assistant editor for the

journal. They composed an impromptu poetic lei of rarnem~ brance by recalling Dudoit's smile, "her open, loving spirit" and the writer's deep~rooted love of her community. When the inaugural issue of " ' Oi wi: A Na ti ve Ha wa iian Journal" first hit the bookstore shelves in 1998, works of astonish~ ing beauty, passion and intellect sprung from its pages. Some expressed anger against the brutali~ ty of displacement and devastation of the 'āina. Others, including Dudoit, wrote of the fresh breeze of possibility stirring through the Hawaiian community. Notjusta literary journal, 'Oiwi broke new ground as a eommunal journal, a plaee for Hawaiians deeply engaged in their community to kūkākūkā, to have open, fertile discourse, and to share their talent, mana'o and mana on topics as diverse as the Kumulipo creation wisdom, sovereignty, community labors torestore ancient fish ponds on Moloka'i and testimony regard~ ing tuition waivers for students of Hawaiian ancestry at the University of Hawai'i.

For decades, many had voiced the need for a publication for, by and about Native Hawaiians. But Dudoit was the one willing to accept the kuleana (privilege and responsibility ) and put her back behind that v ision. Born and raised on Ocahu, Dudoit travelled extensively and wrote prose and poetry. Her early work appeared in the UH English Department's Mānoa Journal. A colleague there, editor Frank Stewart, described her as "the fore~ mostNative Hawaiian writer in the state." Dudoit, 48, was a recipient of the Hawail Literary Arts Council's Cades Award for Literature and a UH doctoral candidate. Her essays have appeared in two Bamboo Ridge publications: "Sister Stew "and "Growing Up Loeal." Honors include the Academy of American Poets Award, and the Intro Prize from the Association of Writing Programs. Dudoit also authored the English translation for the lHolo Mai Pele" hula drama film whieh aired on the See DUDOIT on page 14

Nf t Hot t / i Huii

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Second edition of the 'Oiwi Joumal

DUDOIT from page 4 prestigious "Ureaf Performance ū' PBS television series last October. Dudoit believed that 'Oiwi continued a tradition of resistance begun by the Hawaiian-language newspapers of thel 9th century at a time of tumultuous change, and she worked closely with the Hawaiian eommunity and an army of volunteer staff to uplift her people. "This moment in history is 'huliau,' a turning point," she wrote in the second volume's editor's notes. "Change really begins with and is constructed on the individual level,

and histoiy is made up of indVidual stories." Dudoit contributed many stories besides her own to her people's evolving history, a legacy widely acknowledged as news of her death has circulated through literary circles far beyond Hawai'i's shores. Consolation calls from around the world still eome from those whose lives she touched, including Native American and VIāori artists and writera inspired to follow her example and create their own journals. Ho'omanawanui reflected that "Kūnihi ka mauna" symbolizes the writer's personal and artistic strug-

gle to surmount great obstacles. "It's bitteraweet for us, because the mountain is a lot steeper than we thought," she said. "Now she's become our guiding spirit, as we continue the climb." Buffered by offers of community support, 'Oiwi's volunteer staff "will carry on and do whatever we need to do" to publish the third and fourth volumes as Dudoit had planned. 'This is her baby," Ho'omanawanui said softly. "This is what she wanted for the lāhui (nation). We won't let it die." ■