Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 5, 1 May 1988 — Trip into Time Highlights Windward Kupuna Book [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Trip into Time Highlights Windward Kupuna Book

OHA, Kamehameha Grants Made it Possible

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA "E Na Hulu Kupuna Na Puna Ola Maoli No" is a new book containing a collection of short biographieal sketches and personal anecdotes on the 32 kupuna who worked for the Windward District of the Department of Education in 1985. As translated by Kupuna Jessie Pi'imauna, one of the original kupuna in the DOE's Hawaiian Studies Program, the book's title means "By The Treasured Kupuna, The Living Springs of Knowledge." The book was made possible through a library grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Kamehameha Schools Hawaiian Studies Institute. The entire project was a collaborative effort between the two institutions and Windward kupuna themselves. The book is an effort to support the preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian culture through oral histories. It runs 142 pages and is filled with beautiful, sometimes humorous and heartwarming prose. For many, it may also mean a trip back to yesteryear. These books are not for sale. They are for DOE personnel, including kupuna. However, there is a one-time distribution to public and school libraries throughout the state as reference material in their Hawaiian studies collection. Kupuna interviewed for the book are Hawaiians extending from the district of Pu'uwa on the island of Ni'ihau to Ka'u on the island of Hawai'i. Although their backgrounds are varied, they shared a eommon bond — they are kupuna of Windward O'ahu. The project was a ehanee assignment for its author, Anne Kapulani Landgraf of Kaneohe as an assignment for her journalism class while a 19-year-old student at Windward Community College. Now 22 and a senior at the University of Hawaii Manoa pursuing a degree in anthropology, the young author liked the challenge and accepted it. What began as a small news article evolved into a book culminating in two years of work. As an avid student of photography, it gave Miss Landgraf the opportunity to explore portrait taking. While initially only oral histories were to be written, the project grew to include the beautiful photographic work of the author. The photos capture the essence of the kupuna's personality and bring life to their words. "Eaeh history stands alone, but they bind and adhere to form as a whole. I encountered only brief glimpses into moments of their lives, yet I had entered into a timeless dimension that existed side by side into today's world," writes Miss Landgraf, a 1984 graduate of Kamehameha School, in the preface to the book. The book is dedicated to Victor Hauani'o Kala of Maunawili who was a Windward kupuna from 1983 until his death in late 1987. Kaia, originally from Waipi'o Valley on Hawaii, composed a lei of songs in his lifetime, a lei entwined with immeasurable love of sharing, a lei arranged with enduring pride for being Hawaiian, and a lei interwoven with a deep eoneem to insure the highest quality of teaching for the children of Hawai'i. One might say the book was a family affair because the cover is a sketch of the rugged Ko'olau Mountain as seen frotn the Windward side looking down on the banana patches. It was designed by the author's brother, Ka'onohi'ulaokalani, and mother, Kahulumanu Landgraf. The patriarch of the family is Ross Landgraf. Mrs. Landgraf is a halftimp HRT in thp \A/inr1ui;*rH rli<;trirt

Among those whose biographies and anecdotes appear in the book are Ruby Kekauoha Enos, Mae Keli'ipunilio'oma'uka'a Williams Kaleo, Isabella Kalehuamakanoe Kekauoha Lin Kee, Ralph Ka'onohiokala Alapa'i, Esther Ha'alipo Adolpho Waili'ula, Jessie Ponoiwi Keaunui Pi'imauna, Mabel Roselani Keli'i Lopes, Cozy Ke'ala Kahe'e Aiehele, Vera Lani Aina Rose, Emma Emalia Hoapili Keohokalole, Eloise Anne Kalahiki'ola Williams Kekona, Christine Kilikina Wai'ale'ale Kekauoha,

Lilia Wahinemaika'i Ka'opuiki Hale, Agnes Kainoakupunakawahine'aipohaku Hauani'o Wright. Also, Frances Keanuailoha Kailikea Linkem, Mary Kekaualani Duvauchelle Petersen, Pearl Leilani White Ka'opio, Elaine Ke'alahinano'opuna Young Medeiros, Sarah Poni'ala Kakeloka Meyer, Bernice Nahaukapu'okalani Cox Waiwai'ole, Martha Pa'alua Cox Maunakea, Edith Ku'uleimokihana Hunt Rogers Kapeliela, Victor Hauani'o Kala, Flora Kahili'opuapi'ilaninuiakea Keohakapu Hake, Emma Kahikilani Enos Kahawai'i, Rose Loke Ne'ula Moepono, Annie Kahalekai Mahi Mokiao, Ruth Ku'ulei Kuali'i Okamura, Joyce Leimomi Berengue Pu'u, Victoria Naipuone Kiesel Ni'ihau, Frances Kau'ionalani Recarte Vasquez, Violet Leimamo Wahihako Lee.

One-half of the kupuna listed are age 70 and over while eight are 60 and over and seven are in their 50s. The youngest of the group are Kupuna Vasquez at 51 and Pu'u and Ni'ihau eaeh at 52. Kupuna Enos is the eldest at 83, followed by Kaleo at 82, Lin Kee, 81, Alapa'i, 80, Waili'ula and Pi'imauna, 79, Lopes, 78, Aiehele and Rose, 77, Keohokalole, 76, Kekona and Kekauoha, 75. There is a glossary in the back of the book eontaining Hawaiian words and how to pronounce them along with phrases and sentences used by kupuna. The backgrounds of all kupuna in the book make for very interesting reading. It is equally interesting to note that a number of kupuna lived from home to home and were given away to ohana members as hanai children. These are treasured memories whieh also tell of the trials and tribulations of many of them in growing up, working hard and in some cases trying to leam the Hawaiian language even though it was prohibited.

Kahulumanu Landgraf, left, with herdaughter, Anne Kapulani Landgraf,