Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 5, 1 May 1997 — Entertainer's aloha makes college possible for disabled students [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Entertainer's aloha makes college possible for disabled students

by Deborah L. Ward Since 1989, Hawaiian entertainer Ali'i Manu O Kai and his 25-year-old hālau, He Mākana o Aloha, have, with little recognition, quietly and generously given their gift of aloha to build a scholarship fund to benefit disabled students at Leeward Community Col-

iege on anu. Disabled students at Leeward receive scholarship and other assistance through the Komo Mai Center. Students may be physically disabled, mentally challenged, quadriplegic, blind, deaf, have heart problems, or have other disabihties. To date the scholarship has assisted 40 students. Back in 1988, Ah'i Manu O Kai was involved in an

accident whieh left A|ri Manu Q Kai him unable to work for a year. His hālau dwindled from 150 students to 11. StiU on crutches, he went to see Marie Leimomi Ruane, spiritual counselor to his hālau, not aware of her job as counselor to disabled students at the Komo Mai Center. While he waited, she was assisting a young disabled man. When she hung up the phone, she told the young man that his request for scholarship assistance had been denied. Moved by the young man's strong desire for an education, Ali'i Manu took out his checkbook and wrote out a eheek for his tuition. The young man was able to finish his schooling, graduated successfully, worked for a few years, but before he died, had fulfiUed his dream. Born on O'ahu as the eldest son in a Hawaiian-Caucasian family of six brothers and one sister, Ali'i Manu O Kai at the age of six began his hula and chant training with kumu hula Mary Ka'upena Cash. He overcame a difficult childhood growing up in Mayor Wright Housing and Papakolea Homestead to pursue his love of hula, singing, modern dance, jazz, tap and ballet. He served in Viet Nam, and after his mUitary service, he moved to Houston, Texas and attended college. He specialized in visual I

merchandising and worked for the Neiman Marcus department store. He also taught for the Houston Jazz Ballet Co. and was a guest performer in hula. He has travelled, performed and taught in major cities in Asia, and on the American mainland, as weU as appearing in major hotels in Hawai'i. Ali'i Manu has released three recordines of Hawaiian music

>. and a new CD is due ■ out shortly. He's gearI ing up for a television ■ show in Las Vegas and ■ is writing a book about ■ the aloha spirit. "For me, the Komo Mai Center represents aloha because these are people who have been hurt and deserve a ehanee to see their dreams eome true. ... I enjoy their lives touching me, when they have k accomplished some- & thing," says Ali'i Manu. Now a portion of ■ the proceeds from some V of his Hawaiian shows i

goes to the Leeward Community College Komo Mai scholarship/financial aid fund, and he also invites audience members to make a $2 donation to the fund. The scholarship also benefits Leeward students who have gone on to University of Hawai'i from Leeward. Ruane, Komo Mai Center coordinator since 1983 says, "They eome out of high school not realizing there's a cost for a college education, the books, the supplies and so on. Many of them have no ineome and want to go into independent living situations." Eaeh year Ali'i Manu O Kai and his haumana (students), numbering about 300 in Hawai'i and about 1,600 in Japan, participate in concerts to help fvmd the scholarships. "Aloha," to Ali'i Manu O Kai, is God, family, education and your job. When you keep them in order, you're happy, he says. "I believe that all God wants us to do is to plant the seed of aloha. Let God water it." Ali'i Manu O Kai says his kupuna taught him, "Whatever you choose in Iife, the result affects everone else, not just you, both the positive and the negative." He gratefully acknowledges the love and support of his family, especially his wife of 30 years, Darlene, and his son Kina'u, 25, and daughter Kanoe, 22, who perform with him.

Mei Ka Wai Ola o OHA (May) '97

| " Hāpapa Momona is a Ka Wai Ola o OHA feature showcasing people from the Hawaiian community making a difference in the lives of others. Call 594-1980 with suggestions for future profiles. Hāpapa Momona: a reef abundant with life, figuratively describing admired and resourceful people