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

Makaku

By Rocky Ka'iouliokahihikolo 'Ehu Jensen

Legacy of Excellence

Bishop Museum is currently exhibiting a unique eollection of native artifacts extolling the excellence of our ancestral craftsmen. This ho'ike, "Legacy of Excellenee," is being shown in the gallery fronting Hawaiian Hall. It has an offshoot presentation, "Legacy of Excellenee Artisans Gallery," being shown simultaneously in the Kahili Room. This phrase of the exhibit has modern day artisans demonstrating their expertise in creating our native Hawaiian crafts. The room is decorated with ancient artifacts and paraphernalia used by our po'e hana lima of the past. The Museum has also supplied the native craftsman with a miniature center stage on whieh to execute his or her personal talent. Docents are there to explain the artistic procedure. The docent's script, however, is not supplied by the artisan himself, but rather by the coordinator and author of said exhibit.

Although this is yet another valiant effort in perpetuating our ancient craft, or better still, educating our visitors and kama'aina alike on the multiple talents of our ka po'e kahiko, 1 feel discontented with the outcome. I have always found difficulty in accepting the tendency that some outsiders have in dumping all native cultural things into one bag. The Hawaiians did this, the Incans did that and the Indians did another thing, all signifying that the entire native society was one color and without shading.

I am sure that in conversation, the idea of status and cultural multiplicity would emerge. When it comes down to explanations, however, our culture is simplified into eommunal role models that do not reveal the proper social picture. All third world societies were complex; some more than others. Being native Hawaiian, I am of course partial to mine. It goes without saying that all deserve and should receive meticulous academic definenrient.

I have great respect for our Hawaiian crafts people. They and their work are always important in Hale Naua exhibits. In all our events, however, the definition and interpretation of the artistic culture are presented in such a way as to balance the combination of functional, ceremonial, spiritual and aesthetic art forms. Unfortunately, "Legacy of Excellence" does not remotely suggest the existence of such different aspects, let alone balance them. And therein lies my discontent — the conspicuous laek of artifacts and history representing the higher arts (ka hana no'eau o ka lani.)

The inclusion of the spiritual and aesthetic works of art would have contributed to the balance. It is not my intent to discourage anyone from going to see the exhibit. On the contrary. I do encourage all to see it and if you can't afford the price of admission, please remember the first Sunday of the month being family Sunday when admission is free, thanks to the corporate sponsorship of Hawaiian Telephone Company. The only thing I ask of you is that when you browse through the exhibit, you take the time to remember a

group of people who have yet to be acknowledged by our present day cultural moderators — Kahuna Haku 'Ohi'a, Kahuna Kalai Ki'i and the guild of the Kalai Ki'i. These men certainly deserve our recognition for it is their works, their statues whieh are synonymous with the image of Hawai'i. The statues of Ku and our aumakua are recognized all over the world. The Kalai Ki'i was

the undisputed, paramount artist throughout the Pacific. I kaulana their having existed and the recorded history that they left behind as the true legacy of our people. Remember! Mai ka po mai ka 'oia 'i'o . . . truth is before time.

Hale Naua member Moana Esplnda demonstrates her coconut weaving artlstry at the "Legacy ot Excellence" artisans' gallery.