Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 8, 1 August 1987 — Brandt Breaks UH Precedents [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Brandt Breaks UH Precedents

By Linda Delaney, Lands Officer In a move that broke all precedents and required a suspension of policy, Gladys 'Ainoa Brandt has been reelected to her third term as Chairperson of the University of Hawai'i Board of Regents. First appointed to the Board in 1982, Mrs. Brandt is a noted educator who had made a career of being "the first."

Mrs. Brandt served as the principal of Kapa'a School at a time when women were routinely by-passed for administrative promotion. Her success in that position was acknowIedged, however, when she later appointed the District Superintendent for all public schools on Kaua'i. She delights in telling about her efforts to assure that every child on the island was enrolled. Onee, she heard about what others were calling a "gypsy eamp" deep in one of the valleys. Reports were that two children were among the campers. Principal Brandt pulled on her mud boots and set off. Needless to say, she found and enrolled them at Kapa'a. In another historic move, Mrs. Brandt became the first Hawaiian principal ever appointed at Kamehameha SchooIs in 1962.

Even that recently, Kamehameha still condemned and prohibited their students from dancing the hula standing up. Finding the right opportunity at the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu "Holoku Ball," she invited Kamehameha students to perform — off their knees, and standing tall. Using her unique blend of gentle persuasion and persistence, it wasn't long before the Bishop Estate trustees amended their policy. Another break-through. "It was important that Hawaiians 'stand up' and not be ashamed," she notes. This same determination and pride also characterizes her performance on the University of Hawai'i Board of Regents. Last month, she gave the "Welcoming Address" at the convening of the "Canada Fete." In attendance

were high-ranking members of the Canadian and State governments. Mrs. Brandt urged them to use "the opportunity of this conference to discuss issues of mutual eoneem," including a respect for the "sacred land of Kaho'olawe." Most recently, Mrs. Brandt guided the Board of Regents to adopt the name of "Hawaiian, Pacific and Asian Studies Institute" for an important new academic venture at the Manoa campus. Originally, proposals had placed the mention of Hawaiian Studies at the end of the title. One newspaper described the change as an "important symbolic victory" for the recognition of Hawaiian Studies at the University. Gladys ' Ainoa Brandt. In any list of "Outstanding Citizens," put her name at the top, too.

Gladys 'Ainoa Brandt