Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 37, Number 9, 1 September 2020 — Aloha mai kākou, [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Aloha mai kākou,

/ 'ŌLELO A KA POUHANA V ^ MESSAGE FROM THE CEO r

H 0 N 0 R I N G 0 U R KŪPUNA kupuna (n. 1. Grandparent, ancestor. 2. Starting point, source) kapu (nvs. Taboo, prohibition; sacredness; prohibited, forbidden)

"1 ulu no ka lala i ke kumu; the branches grow because oftlie trunk." Without our elders we woulā not be here.

In traditional Hawaiian families, as beloved kūpuna transitioned from being the head of the household, to one who requires care, they continued to be afforded great respect and affection within the family structure. They were called "hulu kupuna" to the end of their days, or "precious elder," a family member as valuable and exquisite as feathers. Caring for our parents and grandparents is hardwired into our mo'omeheu, our culture. Most 'ohana want to keep their kupuna at home, and if they are unable to do so because their loved one needs skilled nursing or 24/7 care

that they cannot provide because everyone is working at full-time jobs, there is tremendous guilt. Several years ago, that was the situation for my 'ohana. We tried mukiple care arrangements for my mom, including having her youngest sister take care of her. Suffering from dementia, mom had a tendancy to wander off from her home in Niuli'i in Kohala, only to be brought back to my aunty's care by 'ohana and eommunity members. We were blessed to eventually secure her a plaee at Lunalilo Home on O'ahu. She only lived another five months, but although her time there was short, it was such a wonderful environment and our 'ohana was so grateful for the loving care she received. This issue of Ka Wai Ola honors our kūpuna. We celebrate two renowned kūpuna for whom age is just a number, share the personal experiences of three 'ohana who are determined that their kūpuna will be able to age in plaee, and learn more about

My mother, Rose Maeda, and my Aunty, Vivian Kim, celebrating mom's 94th birthday.

programs offering support and services to our kūpuna such as Lunalilo Home, I Ola Lāhui, Nā Pu'uwai and Kūpuna Power. And as the pandemic rages on, we are especially mindful that our hulu kūpuna are among the most vulnerable to the ravages of COVID-19, and that kūpuna who live in multi-generational households have a greater risk of infection than kūpuna who live alone.

To address this in a way consistent with mo'omeh Hawai'i, a eoalihon of kumu hula have declared a kapu fo a 30-day period (three anahulu) on behaviors that contribute to the spread of the coronavirus. They also encourage people to use this time to focus on 'ohana wellbeing, healthy eating and pule. You ean read more about their declaration in this issue as well.

When 1 heard about this I was moved by how wise were our kūpuna and how beautifully, how perfectly this traditional concept of kapu ean be applied in a modern setting. Kapu were restrictions on behaviors or activities that were harmful to ourselves, our 'ohana or our 'āina. How very Hawaiian, therefore, how consistent

with our mo'omeheu in this challenging season, to observe a kapu that restricts gatherings and promotes wellbeing to protect our 'ohana, our lāhui and especially our hulu kūpuna. ■

Sylvia M. Hussey, Ed.D. Ka Pouhana/Chief Executive Officer