Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 1, 1 January 2006 — Hawaiian honorees [ARTICLE]

Hawaiian honorees

Several respected Native Hawaiians have received various awards in the past three months, including kumu hula Pualani Kanaka'ole Kanahele, who received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Hawai'i in December. During the fall semester eommencement ceremony held on Dec. 18, the UH Board of Regents presented Kanahele with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. The degree was awarded in recognition of her accomplishments as a writer, musician, stage and fihn producer, community leader and See BRIEFS on page Ū4

Briefs

Cūntinued fram page 03 renowned hula teacher. "[Pualani Kanahele] truly embodies the spirit, intellect and courage that exemplify a recipient" of this degree, said UH Regent and Native Hawaiian lim Haynes. Kanahele was born in Keaukaha, Hawai'i island, and was raised in the traditions of her ancestors by her mother, hula master Edith Kanaka'ole. Kanahele has received numerous accolades for her work with her hula troupe, Hālau o Kekuhi, and in 1995 she co-wrote and directed the epie hula drama "Holo Mai Pele." Other Native Hawaiians receiving awards included: • On Oct. 22, Esther Mo'okini received the Hawaiian Historical Society's first Pa'a Mo'olelo Award for her "untiring efforts to preserve and perpetuate the Hawaiian language." Mo'okini's contributions to Hawaiian language include serv-

ing as a translator for such books as Anaiomia, 1838 and The Wind Gourd of La' amaomao, and for documents such as district court minute books. • On Dec. 11, the Royal Order of Kamehameha I honored three of its members for their contributions to the Hawaiian community: educator Fred Oaehola, master feather lei maker Mary Louise Kekuewa and Kahu Franklin Ka'imipono Pao.

NŪ HOU • NEWSBRIEFS