Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 10, 1 October 2008 — Retracing the steps of our Aliʻi in Washington, D.C. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Retracing the steps of our Aliʻi in Washington, D.C.

By Nara Cardenas ŪHA Cammunity Dutreach Specialist The Office of Hawaiian Affairs supports a Washington, D.C. Bureau to increase support for issues important to Native Hawaiians on a nahonal level, including the passage of the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, eonunonly known as the Akaka Bill. It operates with one staff and eontract assistance. Martha Ross is the bureau chief, assisted by lulie Coleson. Interns and fellows eome in when available - these are often Native Hawaiian students recruited from universities throughout the U.S. Volunteers eome in to help in a crunch. The Bureau often receives visitors curious about D.C. as it relates to Hawaiian history. "They want to see where the Ali'i stayed, to know where they visited," says Ross. "Some people here don't understand that Hawai'i was an internationally recognized sovereign nation," she adds. Education is a very important part of the OH A Washington, D.C. Bureau's work. In December 2004, Martha proposed a research project to document Native Hawaiian diplomatic missions to Washington, D.C. inspired by a visit from the leaders of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, the 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu, Hale O Nā Ali'i O Hawai'i and Māmakakaua. Ke Ali'i Maka'āinana Hawaiian Civic Club (KAMHCC), a Hawaiian civic club based in Washington, D.C. partnered with

the Office of Hawaiian Affairs on the project as researchers. Phase I of the guidebook Ali'i DipIomatic Missions and Other

Business Travel to Washington, D.C. was completed in 2006. The guide is intended as "a plaee to start for those interested in visiting sites where Ah'i and their representatives conducted business and lodged while in Washington, D.C." Sixty-six pages long, the puhlieation includes a Chronological List of Hawaiian Ali'i & Congressional Delegates, chapters detailing travel

during specific time periods, an overview of Prince Kūhiō's Washington, D.C. residences and congressional directory information, along with

numerous historical photographs. A full seven-and-a-half pages of notes and instructions for doing your own research, including a data-collec-/r\\

tion tool, a sample letter requesting assistance, and a list of potential resources, round out the guide. Work on the project continues with Phase II, whieh could be out by the end of the year. It will expand on previously researched topics and cover additional research of interest, including a pieee on Kingdom stamps. The Postal Museum is across the street from

the Bureau and has many original Hawaiian stamps on display It's truly a collaborative effort - researchers will get tips from people, sometimes people will get interested and take on a bit of the research themselves. The quest piqued the interest of the librarian at the Mt. Vernon Ladies Association, who found a picture of Queen Kapi'olani and her visiting party on the lawns at Mt. Vernon, Lili'uokalani's and Queen Kapi'olani's signatures in the guest book, and a note describing the details of their visit in the groundkeeper's log. Of course, Ke Ali'i Maka'āinana Hawaiian Civic Club continues to be involved. Martha observes that the project is a wonderful example of reconnection based in our cultural values. The importance of a sense of plaee, and knowing where our Hawaiian leaders were and retracing those steps was the driving force behind the work. In one of the publication's introductory letters, Darlene Kehaulani Butts, president

of KAMHCC, writes, "the pride and deepened sense of connectivity to Hawai'i Nei brought researchers closer to eaeh other ... our Ali'i and the work they conducted ... eame to life, for us, through this work." Lor a copy of the Ali'i Diplomatic Missions and Other Business Travel to Washington, D.C., Research Phase /, please contact us at hla@oha.org. The PDL version is also available online at oha. org under the reference section. S

E KALA MAI I We stand corrected! The Pocific Reunion Celebration of the Northwest,though hosted by the Squamish Nation, included First Nations families across Canada from Vancouver all the way to the Yukon Territoiy. Most were descendants from the larger cultural/linguistic group of Coast Salish bands and oow reside io British Columbiū, Washiogtoo state aod Oregoo. Maoy of the families are related through both their Native Hūwūīūo aod Native Ameiieao lioes. Freddie Rolaod, pictured io the last issue with his family, has diverse oat'ive roots iocludiog Sguamish. Our apologies to aoy families who may have beeo ofeoded or ioadverteotly missed, aod oui siocerest thaoks for ūllowiog us to share a small part of your amaziog stories.

Not registered yet? Find a Kau Inoa registration booth at these events: OCTOBER Oct. 2-5, Thurs.-Sun., Maui County Fair; Kahului, Maui Oct. 4-5, Sat. and Sun., 34th annual Native Ameiiean Pow Wow, Thomas Square; Honolulu Oct. 7. Tues., Moonlight Mele on the Lawn, Bishop Museum; Honolulu Oct. 11. Sat., Kava Festival, University

of Hawai'i; Mānoa, O'ahu Oct. 12. Sun., Hawai'i Fishing and Seafood Festival, Pier 38; Honolulu Oct. 17-19, Fri.-Sun., Oh Baby! Family Expo; Honolulu Oct. 17-19, Fri.-Sun., Waimānalo Country Fair; Waimānalo, O'ahu Oct. 20-26, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs Convention, Kaua'i Beach Resort; Līhu'e, Kaua'i: exact Kau Inoa dates TBA Oct. 30-Nov. 1. Thurs.-Sat., Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association Reunion; Las Vegas NOVEMBER Nov. 13-15, 2nd annual International Waikīkī Hula Conference; Waikīkī, O'ahu Please direct inquiries to: Sponsorships, smoll gronts: Auloni Apoliono, 594-1912 Events, schools, hōlou: Koilene Nihipoli, 594-0232 Events, fomily reunions: John Roso, 594-1902 Web: kouinoo.org | Emoil: hlo@oho.org

HO'OULU LĀHUI ALOHA ■ T0 RAISE A BELOVED NAĪION

With the help of OHA's Washington, D.C. Bureau, OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona (pictured 3rd from right, 2nd row) joined many Amenean lndion and Alaska Notive leaders in briefing o Senote steering committee on criticol Notive Amenean issues. - Photo: Courtesy of OHA's Washington, D.C. Bureau