Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 10, 1 October 2010 — PILILĀʻAU -- ʻohana reunion o ke koa kaulana [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PILILĀʻAU -- ʻohana reunion o ke koa kaulana

Aloha e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino. Sept. 17, 2010, marked 49 years since Waipahu High 1948 graduate Private First Class Her-

bert Kaili Pilila'au (Oct. 10, 1928 - Sept. 17, 1951) of Wai'anae, O'ahu, Hawai'i, a United States Army soldier and member of Company C, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, distinguished himself for his ultimate sacrifice in Korean War combat. Aged 22 at his death, Pililā'au was buried at the Nahonal Memorial Cemetery of the Paeihe in Honolulu Feb. 26, 1952. For his actions on Heartbreak Ridue. Her-

bert Kaili Pililā'au, the ninth of 14 children, born to Native Hawaiian parents, whose mother Abigail spoke only Hawaiian, on June 18, 1952, received

posthumously the Medal ol Honor for his actions near Pia-ri, Korea, Sept. 17, 1951. Pililā'au was the first Hawaiian to receive the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest medal for valor in combat awarded to members of the armed forces is also referred to as the "Congressional Medal of

Honor" because the President awards it on behalf of the Congress. Pililā'au's official Medal of Honor citation reads: "Pfc. Pililaau, a member of Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the eall of duty in action against the enemy. The enemy sent wave after wave of fanatical troops against his platoon whieh held a key terrain feature on 'Heartbreak Ridge.' Valiantly defending its position, the unit repulsed eaeh attack until ammunihon heeame practically exhausted and it was ordered to withdraw to a new position. Voluntarily remaining behind to cover the withdrawal, Pfc. Pililaau fired his automatic weapon into the ranks of the assailants, threw all his grenades and, with ammunition exhausted, closed with the foe in hand-to-hand combat, courageously fighting with his trench

knife and bare fists until finally overeome and mortally wounded. When the position was subsequently retaken, more than 40 enemy dead were counted in the area he

had so valiantly defended. His heroic devotion to duty, indomitable fighting spirit, and gallant self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry, and the U.S. Army." In January 2000 in New Orleans, the United States Navy christened a Military Sealift Command cargo ship, the USNS Pililā'au (T-AKR-304), in his honor. Thirty-one members of his extended familv were uiven a tour of

the ship on Dec. 10, 2003, when it made its first docking in Hawai'i. Also named for Pililā'au are a live-fire range at Mākua Military Reservation, a park

īn his hometown ot Wai anae and the Wai'anae Army Recreation Center. Honoring Pililā'au, first Native Hawaiian to receive the Medal of Honor, Kumu Hula John Pi'ilani Watkins composed the Mele Hawai'i Pililā'au: Kaulana nō 'oe e Pililā'au lā, ke koa kaulana o Hawai'i nei lā. Ua ola Hawai'i

i kou inoa lā, kaulana nō Hawai'i. He hiwahiwa 'oe na ka lāhui lā, e he lipine ho'i no ka papale lā. E kau ha'aheo nei i ke po'o lā, ha'aheo no kou inoa. I mea ho'omana'o na ka lāhui lā, mahalo a ka hae 'Amelika lā. Kou inoa hanohano Pililā'au lā, ola nō 'oe e Hawai'i. Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana lā, pa'ahia kou inoa me ka hanohano lā. Ke koa kaulana o Hawai'i nei lā, ha'aheo Pililā'au. The Pililā'au 'Ohana, reunion Aug. 12-14, 2011, is reaching out to descendants of Peter Daniel and Elizabeth Pililā'au, Emmalani Kekoa, Rebecca Anoipua Silva, Daniel Pililā'au, Elizabeth Pa, Lehua Augustine Ikekai and Rachel Nahale. Contacts: Ike, 428-7 178; Sweetheart, 225-4706; Laninohea_25 @ yahoo.com or Mahoe@gmail.com. Monthly meetings convene at Wai'anae District Park, the next meeting is Oct. 23, 2010, at 9 a.m. Potluck. 22/48 ■

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HerberTKaili Pililā'au, ke koa kaulana