Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 12, 1 December 1992 — ʻAha Kūpuna focuses on the family [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻAha Kūpuna focuses on the family

by Pearl Leialoha Page Kūpuna play an important role in the extended family. These elders are looked to as the transmitters of eulture, the spiritual foundation of the family and someone to supervise the kids during the summer break from school. However, in order to do well in those important roles, kūpuna need a retreat to reaffirm their beliefs and to

share and build on their cultural practices. The Fifth Annual 'Aha Kūpuna, sponsored by the Education Division of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, offered just such an opportunity. The annual conference provided two days of workshops, meals and awards dinner. Registration fees were $200. OHA paid $135 per participant while kūpuna paid $65. Those who wished to stay overnight at the hotel paid a special rate of $39 based on double occupancy. Eaeh year, the conference focuses on helping kūpuna be kūpuna, explained Rona Rodenhurst, OHA education officer. "We have some kūpuna who were not raised steeped in traditional ways, but we want them to feel confortable

with the knowledge they do have and help them access other cultural infomation they want to know, Rodenhurst said. The conference serves as a "peer validation of their kūpuna-ness," she added. About 55 Hawaiian kūpuna gathered at the Princess Ka'iulani Hotel Oct. 23-24 to attend cultural workshops on Hawaiian nutrition, genealogy, the Hawaiian language immersion

program, kalo and the 'ohana, the feather craft legacy and the 'āina- 'ohana connection as part of this year's 'aha. Ka 'Ohana He Makana A Ke Akua - The Family, a Gift From God - was the theme and a short skit comnared

the strength and versatility of the niu to the roles family members play in grooming the next generation. The opening ceremonies were rich in symbolism and ritual. After a chant that greeted the morning sun, the participants were introduced to three Hawaiian artifacts that set the tone of the conference. The first was the open poi bowl, a symbol of eommunal living. "When the lid is removed from the poi bowl, only the kindest behavior and thoughts were allowed," said alaka'i kupuna Betty Jenkins, one of the nine-member planning team. The second was the ipu of wisdom. When uncorked, the ipu represents the mana'o gathered from the past gatherings and journeys Jenkins and

other kūpuna associated with OHA have taken. "It represents a sharing of what we have learned and eonhnue to learn as Hawaiians," she said. The third was a gift from Kupuna Anna Mitchell from the island of Hawai'i especially for this kūpuna conferenee. It is a beautiful 'eke, a highly polished covered gourd container. "This represents our ho'okipa, the gift of love and hospitality we give to eaeh other," Jenkins said. That gift of love is what made OHA Chairman Clayton Hee feel right at home when asked to address the morning session. "Speech-making usually

makes me nervous, but I'm never nervous about speaking to this welcoming group," he said. In marking this 99th year since the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Hee said it was time for Hawaiians to affirm what is right. "Hawaiian people have been told to ho'omanawanui among other things. But it's reached a point for the Hawaiian people to reassert themselves in this state, whieh onee was our country," he said. OHA's role is to use the recent state settlement of $ 1 12 million for the betterment of the Hawaiian people in heahh, housing education and eeonomie development. "OHA's role is to assist, complement and at appropriate times lead with the counsel of the kupuna, otherwise decisions made will have a hollow ring," Hee said. OHA Trustee Moses Keale, who chairs the Education and Culture Committee, reminded the kūpuna that the thoughts that they leave with family and the Hawaiian people are the thoughts that will "define the

Hawaiian universe." "The things you identify as important will describe the concepts, values, practices, traits, rituals and protocols that are the essence of Hawaiian spirituality," Keale said. "We must never arbitrarily abandon our traditions and practices for those traditions or practices of others. In the past we have done just that and it has led us toward the path of destruction. It is our duty to rekindle the spirit of our ancestors. It is our mission to replace inappropriate practices with proper practices and protocol and to teach our children to appreciate those practices and protocols." Protocol for this morning gathering included welcoming Hawaiian organizations along with their ho'okupu. Among the special participants was a kupuna from New Zealand. Matiu Kauri Tuhourangi Tarana presented the proclamation of Land Rights and Maori Sovereignty as his ho'okupu. He traces his genealogy to ancestors who journeyed from Hawaiki to New

Kupuna Anne Ka'apana and Sabra McCracken pass out haupia in coconut shells to show the versatility of the niu as it represents the family and the roles its members play.

New Zealand kupuna Matiu Kauri Tuhourangi Tarana offers a chant honoring his ancestors

Thls beautiful 8'x4' mural was created by 11 students enrolled in this year's summer institute put on by Nā Pua No'eau, the federally funded Center for Gifted and Talented Native Hawaiian Children based at the University of Hawai'l, Hilo. The students recently presented the painting as a ho'okupu to the unlversity and the community during a formal unveiling. The painting, created by the students with guidance from instructor Ipo Nihipali, offers a panoramic view of the island of Hawai'i and will be on display in the foyer of the UH Hilo theater throughout the school year.