Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 3, 1 March 2010 — Kalanianaʻole Hall rededication [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kalanianaʻole Hall rededication

'A'ohe hana nui ka alu 'ia No task is too big when done together by all. — Pukui, 'Ōlelo No'eau After six long y ears of rehabilitation, Kalaniana'ole Hall was rededicated on Feb. 9, 20 10, and opened to onee again serve the community of Moloka'i. In 2004, the Friends of Kalaniana'ole, Hale O Nā Ali'i O Hawai'i Hālau O Kawānanakoa, Ke Aupuni Lōkahi and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs beuan a collaborative iournev that

sought to restore the hall that was built in 1937. As is the case in many projects involving volunteer work and community kōkua, there were many obstacles along the way. Since the journey began, dozens of volunteers and community organizations have been there to lend a hand. From brush clearing, to food preparation for volunteers, the community support has been gratifying. Kalaniana'ole Hall was originally blessed on March 20, 1937, to serve as a clubhouse of sorts, for 'Ahahui Kalaniana'ole (Kalaniana'ole Society). The club was formed a few years earlier by a group of 213 Hawaiian men who dedicated themselves to caring for the sick and providing fitting memorials to those who passed away. "Back then, when the old folks passed away here, a lot of them couldn't afford coffins," said Billy Akutagawa, of the group Friends of Kalaniana'ole. "When the hall was first built, Moloka'i was without a mortuary." The benevolent society charged MAūHAŪŪ ūū pagū 15

Cūlette Y. Machadū TrustEE, Mūlūka'i and Lāna'i

MACHAD0

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dues and held fundraisers to help purchase coffins. "In the early years, the storage room was filled with coffins."

Over the years, the hall functioned not only as a funeral home, but it also played host to events ranging from weddings, baby lū'au, bingo games, health symposiums, hula and movies. In the mid- 1970s when the county built Mitchell Pauole Center, the hall fell out of favor. After years of going unused, the hall fell into disarray. With a collapsing roof, holes in the floor and broken windows, the hall was difficult to look at. "Being located just outside of Kaunakakai town, it was hard not to see every day," said Billy Akutagawa. "That's why the Friends of Kalaniana'ole was created. Our goal is to bring the structure back to its days of honor and pride," Akutagawa added. The rededication ceremony saw a crowd of almost 300 people. It included speeches by Ke Aupuni Lōkahi BoardPresident Stacy Crivello, Hale O Nā Ali'i O Hawai'i Hālau O Kawānanakoa Ikū Ha'i Miehael Tancayo and many others. After the blessing and untying of the maile lei, guests were invited into the hall to enjoy luneh and entertainment by several of Moloka'i's loeal bands and the youth of O Hina I Ka Malama. It was truly a celebration of a successful project culminating from many hands working together toward a eommon goal. With the rehabilitation of Kalaniana'ole, the community ean look forward to using the hall to hold meetings, workshops and classes. For the next three years, maintenance and general management of the hall will be the kuleana of Ke Aupuni Lōkahi. A plan to transition the hall into its next phase of management will be developed before the end of KAL's term. ■