Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 9, 1 September 2010 — Kalaupapa family reunion [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kalaupapa family reunion

This month 's article is written by Valerie Monson, staunch advocate and board member of Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa.

The gathering at St. Andrew's Cathedral in mid-July was like no other: a reunion of 'ohana who didn't necessarily share the same family tree, but who were brought together by their Kalaupapa ancestors. The first Kalaupapa family reunion potluck, sponsored by Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa, was held

tor descendants hving on O'ahu whose ancestors were taken from their families and sent to Kalaupapa because of government policies regarding leprosy. Many of these kūpuna went on to help shape the history of Kalaupapa. Ranging in age from 4 to 96, the proud descendants eame from all over the island, bearing genealogy charts, photographs, memories or questions. When they arrived at the cathedral, they filled out name tags because not everyone knew one another, but within minutes, they were 'ohana. The idea for a Kalaupapa reunion actually began more than 15 years ago when Bernard Ka'owakaokalani Punikai'a was talking about the need to form Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa that would include the current residents, family members, descendants and longtime friends. Punikai'a, who was sent to Kalaupapa as a boy in 1942 and went on to become an international activist for human rights, felt that such an 'ohana would help the voices of Kalaupapa be heard long into the future, even after the kūpuna died and became part of the land. He hoped that the 'ohana could advocate for the current residents, reach out to family members and carry on the legacy of Kalaupapa - just as descendants and friends carry on the legacy of ancestors in other communities. Punikai'a hoped that a "Family Day" could be held every so often at Kalaupapa where descendants would be welcomed to visit graves or simply walk in the footsteps of

their ancestors. Punikai'a served as Honorary Chairman of the Board of Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa from 2003 until his death

last year, but his presence continues to guide all 'Ohana activities. The reunion was a mix of those who had already established deep relationships with the Kalaupapa community, others who had researched their genealogy and some who had only begun their journey of reconnecting with their Kalaupapa ancestor or

ancestors. There was an entire table of the descendants of Ambrose Hutchison, one of the unsung heroes of Kalaupapa. Hutchison, who was sent to Kalaupapa in 1879 and lived there until his death in 1932, was the first person affected by leprosy who was part of the administration at Kalaupapa, serving in a leadership role for nearly 20 years. Hutchison worked alongside Father Damien de Veuster and gave a better understanding of who Damien was through his extensive writings of the early days of Kalawao and Kalaupapa. Two of the descendants proudly wore the same name as their Kalaupapa ancestors: Henry Hori was named for his grandfather who spearheaded the construction of the large cross at the top of Kauhakō Crater at Kalaupapa, and Nani Aliee Chang was named for her great-aunt Aliee Kamaka, who lived at Kalaupapa for 81 years. At the end of the afternoon, everyone still lingering over dessert gathered together for a family reunion photo. The smiling faces told the story of new friendships and new 'ohana. Ka 'Ohana hopes to sponsor similar reunions on the other islands within the next year to continue to unite descendants and help them learn more about their roots. It is also hoped that a "Family Day," the dream of Bernard Punikai'a, ean eventually be held at Kalaupapa. The ancestors would be proud. ■

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