Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 8, 1 August 2012 — I ola ka inoa ʻo Kaʻahumanu [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

I ola ka inoa ʻo Kaʻahumanu

What an awesome weekend spent at the Waikoloa Marriott celebrating the 105th anniversaries of the

'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu chapters in Waimea and Hilo. As the beautiful voice of Darlene Ahuna permeated the Marriott ballroom, we were all welcomed with warm aloha by our hosting chapters. Eaeh ehapter performed for the more than 200 Hawaiian women and so mueh fun was had by all. Our church service on Sunday was momentous as we all listened intently to Kahu Nancietta K. Ha'alilio share with us her

sermon, "Ka Uluwehi Nā Lālā" (The Thriving Branches) - a beautiful sermon by a beautiful Lady of God. My grandmother, Daisy Kanoehali'i Stevens Lindsey, joined the Waimea Chapter in 1940, and my mother, Angeline Lindsey Sakuma, joinedthe same chapter in 1946 and heeame a lifetime member - both Hawaiian women of extreme strength passing traditions and beliefs to this next generation. I am pleased to share the history of the 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu, as written by our historian Mele Long from Wailuku, Maui, Chapter 4. Long based the following history on information gleaned from the Hawai'i State Archives and from a 95th anniversary 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu of Honolulu, Chapter 1 report, in 2000. "The Ahahui Ka'ahumanu, a royal society of Native Hawaiian women, has been honoring Queen Ka'ahumanu for over a century. Princess Victoria Kamāmalu, granddaughter of King Kamehameha the Great, founded the organization on August 8, 1864, and named it after her aunt, Queen Ka'ahumanu. After the Princess died, the 'Ahahui was discontinued, and then revived some forty years later under the leadership of Lady Lucy Kahiehiemalie Peabody on June 14, 1905. "Members are women of Native Hawaiian and part-Hawaiian ancestry, from the ages of 18 and older, who are sponsored into the organization by a member in good

standing. As of June 2000, there were nearly five hundred members organized into nine chapters throughout the state of Hawai'i. Maui has two chapters, one in Wailuku and one in Hāna. . . .

"The historical purpose of the organization was to care for the sick and to see that they received a dignified burial (whieh at the time was a societal eoneem). Today, we celebrate Queen Ka'ahumanu's birthday in March with puhlie programs, participate in Ali'i Sunday church services, march on Kamehameha Day with the Royal Order of Kamehameha, feed the homeless, fund scholarships and support

the Lunalilo Home for elderly Hawaiians on O'ahu. We also sponsor programs that promote and preserve the Hawaiian language and culture, while practicing the Hawaiian and Christian values that were embraced by Queen Ka'ahumanu. "More than any other woman in Hawaiian history, Queen Ka'ahumanu created changes in Hawaiian culture that continue to impact our lives today. Born in Hāna, Maui, she heeame King Kamehameha I's favorite wife. After he died in 1819, she created the office of kuhina nui, or co-ruler, and dominated the governance of the kingdom of Hawaii for thirteen years. Then she broke the ancient kapu system, thus changing the daily life of the commoners forever. Queen Ka'ahumanu supported the Protestant missionaries who began arriving in 1820, converted to Christianity, and proclaimed laws based on Christian principles. She learned to read, ordered schools built on all the islands, and books made available to the commoners. This resulted in an all-time high literacy rate in Hawai'i. "During her day, Queen Ka'ahumanu adopted the hlaek dress worn by the women missionaries. Today, the addition of the 'Ahahui pin, ribbon and lei hulu to the long hlaek dress, shoes, hat and gloves distinguish the organization's official regalia." The 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu, a royal society of Native Hawaiian women, continues to honor Queen Ka'ahumanu. ■

Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey TrustEE, Maui