The Kalaniali'i Awards this past Saturday, July 11, 2009 , sponsored by the 4 Hawaiian royal benevolent socieites (Royal Order of Kamehameha, 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu, Hale o Na Ali'i o Hawai'i, and Daughters and Sons of Hawaiian Warriors) was very inspirational.
First to be honored was Senator Daniel Akaka, a long-time congressman and presently Hawai'i's Senator of Hawaiian descent and the only senator of Chinese descent in the US Senate. His son, Dr. Gerard Akaka humbly asked , as would the senator, for the audience's indulgence in reading his father's message as he is busy in Washington , D.C. and could not attend. Ali'i Sir Bill Souza delivered the biographical salute to the one time educator, principal, and devote Christian , Daniel Kahikina Akaka.
Ali'i Sir Ka'uhane Aiu presented Kahu (Rev. ) William Kaina who spoke mainly of Kahu's upbringing in a Christian environment. I remembered his mother, the late Sophie Kaina of S. Kona who was the epitome of aloha. Kahu Kaina was deeply moved and humbled by the honor which consisted of a certificate, a lei maile, and a crystal clear etching of the symbols of each society mounted on wood. He told an amusing story of reading about the namesakes of the various socieites and really identified with Ka'ahumanu. In fact, he said he learned their song, "Lei Ka'ahumanu" better than the songs of the other socieities to which the audience laughed.
Pelekikena (president) Donna Lei Smythe of 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu spoke on behalf of their member and 2009 recipient, Rev. Ida Keli'i Chun . Aunty Keli'i is well known for her Hawaiian singing and is thought the be the first to record the iconic "Ahulili". Later in life she became a kahu (rev.) herself and was described as being the motor-cycle riding kahu of Kalihi. She met her husband through motor cycling.
Iku Ha'i Nui Hailama Farden of the Hale o Na Ali'i o Hawai'i introduced his aunty, Adelaide Kaiwi Sylva of Lahaina and told very interesting stories about Aunty's skill and knowledge in making the various kinds of poi and her preparation of 'o'opu. I think the audience was touched to her of Aunty's return to Olowalu, her family kulaiwi, and the tears she shed upon entering the compound and visiting the graves of her kupuna. Hailama told of the river which Aunty used to go to wash their clothes and the very rock she used to hammer out the clothing. Previously dry, the river "came to life" and was flowing again upon Aunty's return. She is the last native speaker of Hawaiian from Olowalu.
The day ended with a tribute to Larry Lindsey Kauanoe Kimura by Sarah Keahi of 'Ahahui Mamakakaua: Daughters and Songs of Hawaiian Warriors. Larry or Kauanoe is one of the founders of the 'Ahahui 'Olelo Hawai'i and the 'Aha Punana Leo: Hawaiian Language Preschool, both organizations that helped to advance the revitalization of the learning and speaking of the Hawaiian language. Since growing up on the Parker Ranch and listening to his mother and kupuna, Larry took an interest in recording and preserving the voices of our people and started the first and longest running Hawaiian language radio program which most of us "grew up on" - "Ka Leo Hawai'i" now archived at the University of Hawai'i Hilo campus. Kauanoe told the audience to cherish the Hawaiian language because it is a precious, precious, precious gift for us to hold dearly to. How true and beautiful.
How inspiring and beautiful are the lives of these esteemed persons! Aloha ke Akua.
First to be honored was Senator Daniel Akaka, a long-time congressman and presently Hawai'i's Senator of Hawaiian descent and the only senator of Chinese descent in the US Senate. His son, Dr. Gerard Akaka humbly asked , as would the senator, for the audience's indulgence in reading his father's message as he is busy in Washington , D.C. and could not attend. Ali'i Sir Bill Souza delivered the biographical salute to the one time educator, principal, and devote Christian , Daniel Kahikina Akaka.
Ali'i Sir Ka'uhane Aiu presented Kahu (Rev. ) William Kaina who spoke mainly of Kahu's upbringing in a Christian environment. I remembered his mother, the late Sophie Kaina of S. Kona who was the epitome of aloha. Kahu Kaina was deeply moved and humbled by the honor which consisted of a certificate, a lei maile, and a crystal clear etching of the symbols of each society mounted on wood. He told an amusing story of reading about the namesakes of the various socieites and really identified with Ka'ahumanu. In fact, he said he learned their song, "Lei Ka'ahumanu" better than the songs of the other socieities to which the audience laughed.
Pelekikena (president) Donna Lei Smythe of 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu spoke on behalf of their member and 2009 recipient, Rev. Ida Keli'i Chun . Aunty Keli'i is well known for her Hawaiian singing and is thought the be the first to record the iconic "Ahulili". Later in life she became a kahu (rev.) herself and was described as being the motor-cycle riding kahu of Kalihi. She met her husband through motor cycling.
Iku Ha'i Nui Hailama Farden of the Hale o Na Ali'i o Hawai'i introduced his aunty, Adelaide Kaiwi Sylva of Lahaina and told very interesting stories about Aunty's skill and knowledge in making the various kinds of poi and her preparation of 'o'opu. I think the audience was touched to her of Aunty's return to Olowalu, her family kulaiwi, and the tears she shed upon entering the compound and visiting the graves of her kupuna. Hailama told of the river which Aunty used to go to wash their clothes and the very rock she used to hammer out the clothing. Previously dry, the river "came to life" and was flowing again upon Aunty's return. She is the last native speaker of Hawaiian from Olowalu.
The day ended with a tribute to Larry Lindsey Kauanoe Kimura by Sarah Keahi of 'Ahahui Mamakakaua: Daughters and Songs of Hawaiian Warriors. Larry or Kauanoe is one of the founders of the 'Ahahui 'Olelo Hawai'i and the 'Aha Punana Leo: Hawaiian Language Preschool, both organizations that helped to advance the revitalization of the learning and speaking of the Hawaiian language. Since growing up on the Parker Ranch and listening to his mother and kupuna, Larry took an interest in recording and preserving the voices of our people and started the first and longest running Hawaiian language radio program which most of us "grew up on" - "Ka Leo Hawai'i" now archived at the University of Hawai'i Hilo campus. Kauanoe told the audience to cherish the Hawaiian language because it is a precious, precious, precious gift for us to hold dearly to. How true and beautiful.
How inspiring and beautiful are the lives of these esteemed persons! Aloha ke Akua.
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