Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 11, 1 November 2012 — Kalaupapa group receives OHA grant for school outreach, providing ancestor information [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kalaupapa group receives OHA grant for school outreach, providing ancestor information

By Valerie Monson KALAUPAPA, MOLOKA-I - The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has awarded a grant of $53,665 to Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa for school outreach and the restoration of family ties. "The 'Ohana thanks OHA for having eonfidence in us to help teachers include the history of Kalaupapa in their classrooms and to continue our efforts to assist descendants of the people of Kalaupapa obtain information about their kūpuna," said Clarence "Boogie" Kahilihiwa, president of the 'Ohana and a resident of Kalaupapa for more than 50 years. When the 'Ohana traveled around the islands a year ago to hold community presentations and workshops, one of the most eommon comments was from adults who had grown up in Hawai'i but had never learned about the history of Kalaupapa in school. Teachers who attended those events said it was difficult for them to know what information about Kalaupapa was truth - and what was fiction. "We felt this was an immediate need," said Kahilihiwa. "The children of today are our tomorrow. We want our students to learn about this important history - and we want to provide teachers with the proper tools to be able to include the history of Kalaupapa in their classrooms." The 'Ohana has developed a historical exhibit that will visit the different islands as part of the schools program. This exhibit, "A Source of Light, Constant and Never-Fading," emphasizes the strong relationship between the people of Kalaupapa and Hawai'i's royal family, a chapter of history often overlooked. This exhibit, a traveling version of an exhibit

created by the 'Ohana that is on display at 'Iolani Palaee, features historical photos, excerpts from letters originally written in Hawaiian, quotes and lyrics of songs written by the people of Kalaupapa. The 'Ohana program will begin by reaching out to the Hawaiian-focused charter schools, but it will also include other schools. Any teacher ean contact the 'Ohana to receive materials to help them include Kalaupapa in their curriculum. For the past few years, the 'Ohana has been assisting descendants of the people of Kalaupapa learn about their ancestors who they might never have known by gathering information from various puhlie archives in Honolulu, the continental U.S. and Europe. The 'Ohana has already compiled the names of everyone listed in the Kalaupapa Admissions Register from 1866- 1932 and assembled those names in a searchable database. That database also includes information the 'Ohana has compiled by searching puhlie records, letters, petitions and church minutes. "One of the most exciting things that the 'Ohana does is help a descendant learn about their Kalaupapa ancestor or ancestors," said Kahilihiwa. "We have been able to tell families when their kūpuna were at Kalaupapa and provide other details about their lives here and if they have a tombstone here." ■ Valerie Monson is the coordinator for Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa. To obtain school materials or help in finding a Kalaupapa ancestor, einai.l info@kalaupapaohana.org ; send a letter to Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa, P.O. Box 1111, Kalaupapa, HI 96742; or eall Monson at (808) 578-2746.

Ka 'Ohana 0 Kalaupapa President Clarence "Boogie" Kahilihiwa surrounded by fifth-grade teachers at Kamehameha Schools-Kapālama campus in 201 1 . The 'Ohana worked with the teachers and students to produce the play Ka 'Ohana 0 Kalaupapa. - Courtesy photo: Mara Bacon Chang