Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 10, 1 October 2013 — No kuʻu Kapononuiohoapili [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

No kuʻu Kapononuiohoapili

Aloha e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino, nā pulapula a Hāloa, mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau, puni ke ao mālamalama. In this month's KWO, Tūtū Eliza Ka'imihana recalls her "makua and kupuna" days alongside the lifetime shared with Henry Kapononuiohoapili Nāho'eu. Sadly, when it was no longer feasible for Tūtū Eliza to remain with her kupuna on Hawai'i Island, her mother, Rachel, urged

a return home. With agreement and kōkua from half-brother Benjamin and his wife, Tūtū departed and returned to Honolulu. Tūtū states: "Not too long after my return to Honolulu, Henry, who was a friend of mv mother's, inquired about me, savina

he had not seen me around before. My mother explained I had been living in Kona then Hilo. So one day Henry did stop by and my mother introduced us; he could not stay long that day, but we talked story over a series of times." Tūtū recounts: "After a half-dozen or more times, Henry asked me if I would be his girlfriend. I said yes. Henry was 31 and I, 18 or 19. Henry took me to meet his mother and stepfa-

ther; his father had already passed. Henry also told me of his son." For Tūtū, all was good. She said, "After a eouple of years of courtship, Henry asked to marry me." She said yes. She was about 21. They married just before the war and living for a time in Kaka'ako. Following World War II they moved to Kapahulu. They were then provided the ehanee to move to Hawaiian Home land. Tūtū describes Nāho'eu as industrious and serious about doing good work, and notes, "He did land investigations, worked for Lewers and Cooke, the U.S. Coast Guard, Hawai'i Housing Authority and for the city during his tenure." Tūtū held jobs at Sears and Mclnerny. They

had hoped to have four children; they were blessed with only one child of their own - a daughter who gave birth to four children of her own before she passed at age 65. But Tūtū is quick to reaffirm, "My husband's first child is my son and he always referred to me as Mom." The eouple moved to their twobedroom home in Papakōlea in the late '50s and Nāho'eu would always remind Eliza, "If your hand lazy, you no ean do nothing, but if your hand no lazy, you

ean do something. And īn that spirit, working with focus and consistency, the young eouple prospered. When not at their day jobs, they grew fruit trees and planted. They worked hard and enjoyed the fruits of that labor, in self-sufficiency. Nāho'eu passed on Dec. 27, 1977.

Tūtū Eliza to this day reflects on her good fortune in marryng Nāho'eu. She says: "In our 60-plus years of marriage we never fought. If there was a misunderstanding we would resolve it with no fighting. We were niee

to one another; my husband trusted me and gave me space. On pay day he would turn over his eheek for our needs and keep just $20 for himself. I believe we old folks have great lessons to share with young people today." Eliza says: "I will never remarry, Henry Kapononuiohoapili Nāho'eu is my one and only. Together, he and I shared a wonderful life. I remain content." Ka'aha'aina Naihe provided precious life lessons and support for Eliza's journey as "kamali'i and 'ōpio." Nāho'eu ensured her well-being and prosperity of the spirit as "makua andkupuna."Yes, Tūtū Eliza Ka'imihana Nāho'eu, you are truly blessed. 10/48 U

LEO 'ELELE TRUSTEE MESSSAGES

Haunani Apnlinna, MSW TrustEE, At-largE

Henry and Eliza Nāho'eu. Eliza appears in a more recent picture, at right. - Courtesy photos