Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 12, 1 December 1992 — A kūpuna treasure [ARTICLE]

A kūpuna treasure

Unele Joe Akana is beloved by all who know him. That's part of the reason the 'Aha Kūpuna Team chose him as a kupuna treasure. Born in 1907 in a house across from St. Augustine Catholic Church in Waikīkī, Joseph Yim Kaneakoa Akana remembers Queen Lili'uokalani, whose birthday was one day before his sister Mollie's. In fact the queen frequently sat with Joe's mother on their porch for chats, he said. He was sad as he attended the queens funeral at the age of 10. Today, Akana is an active member of the Royal Order of Kamehameha whieh he joined in 1926. He is also a Mason and has been a Shriner for 50 years. Akana enjoys making music and ean be found every Wednesday from 10 a.m. - noon playing at the Elk's Club. He started the ritual in 1968

playing with greats Splash Lyons and Charley Amalu. Akana also appeared in several movies when he visited Hollywood, among them Bing Crosby's show "Waikiki Wedding." In his youth, Akana was known for. his surFing ability as a member of the "stone wall gang" at Kuhio Beach. He also worked as a beachboy at the Moana Hotel. A noted eanoe steersman, horseman, hunter and staunch friend, Akana has also assisted in many funerals, scattering the ashes of friends and fellow watermen out to sea. As a young man Akana was the youngest person to be licensed in the Territory as a mortician. He also worked 30 years for the U.S. Navy, starting with World Warr II. Akana married Ellen Clarke and fathered a son and a daughter. He has three grandsons.