Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 10, 1 October 2016 — Kamakakūokalani nears 20 years [ARTICLE]

Kamakakūokalani nears 20 years

t's been almost 20 years since the Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies opened the doors to its Dole Street facilities, and the program is inviting past graduates to join a yearlong celebration that begins in January 2017. Alumni events, workshops and leeture series are open to all Hawaiian Studies graduates - including those who graduated before Kamakakūokalani was built. Anyone interested in helping plan or attend the anniversary events ean email Dr. Lilikalā Kame'eleihiwa at lilikala@hawaii.edu to receive information about upcoming activities. The University of Hawai'i-Mānoa established the Hawaiian studies program in 1985 and two years later elevated it to the Center for Hawaiian Studies in the School of Hawaiian, Asian and Paeihe Studies. In 1997, the Center moved into its permanent building and five years later took the name of the late Gladys Kamakakūokalani 'Ainoa Brandt, a revered educator and administrator for the public schools and Kamehameha School for Girls. During her tenure as chairwoman of the UH Board of Regents, Brandt was instrumental in the Center's founding and construction. Since 2007, Kamakakūokalani has been part of the Hawai'inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, whieh also includes the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language, Ka Papa Lo'i o Kānewai and the Native Hawaiian Student Services Kauhale. Translated, Kamakakūokalani means "upright eye of heaven." The center's mission is "to achieve and maintain excellence in the pursuit of knowledge concerning the Native people of Hawai'i, their origin, history, language, literature, religion, arts and sciences, interactions with their oeeanie environment and other peoples; and to reveal, disseminate and apply this knowledge for the betterment of all peoples." ■