Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 3, 1 March 2012 — Traveling photo exhibit [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Traveling photo exhibit

Trustee's note: This month's eolumn is written by Valerie Monson, Coordinator of Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa.

"Over 1,000 people attended the exhibit during December 2011. Every day, descendants eame and told us their relationships with the people ofKalaupapa andtheir stories. Some were in tears seeing people they hiew who had passed away, but were happy that their story is being told and will be remembered. Everyone left with a sense ofpridefor the people of Kalaupapa." — Dennis Taniguchi, Executive Director, East Hawai'i Cultural Council ^^^^™he beacon of light guiding I Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa is

|summed up by this singular calling: "E Ho'ohanohano a E Ho'omau . . . To Honor and To Perpetuate." Since 2003, the 'Ohana - a gathering wave of Kalaupapa residents, family members and friends of the eommunity - has worked to support the people of Kalaupapa and reach out to descendants. This mission comes alive in words and images that are part of a traveling photo exhibit organized

and sponsored by the 'Ohana. The show opened December in Hilo and debuts at Windward Community College on March 2 before moving to various venues on O'ahu. The exhibit is being sponsored by grants from OH A, the Hawai 'i Tourism Authority, the Atherton Family Foundation, Paeihe Historic Parks and IDEA. Many of the pictures have been taken by Wayne Levin, one of Hawai'i's most acclaimed photographers. Wayne began photographing the people of Kalaupapa in 1984 - and has recorded an important era in the history of Kalaupapa, capturing

images of residents in their homes, at work or at their

favorite places. The photographs are accompanied by quotations of the residents and their family members, whieh give gallery viewers a deeper understanding of the

people. The late Bemard Punikai'a, whose vision led to the establishment of Ka 'Ohana O

Kalaupapa, always felt that people' s words needed to accompany their photographs. "When you look at the photographs, you see how a person looks," Bemard observed when participating in another exhibit in 1998. "When you read their quotations, you see the heart of the person and then it becomes complete." The exhibit also includes historical images and quotes that reflect Kalaupapa and her people more than 100 years ago. Wayne's photographs also document the evolution of the 'Ohana. His photographs of families together and

descendants honoring their Kalaupapa ancestors give the exhibit a triumphant ending, showing how the residents of Kalaupapa have, in the words of descendant Mercy Hutchison Bacon, become "the pride of a nahon." Because of the different sizes of the venues on O'ahu that will host the exhibit, the number of photographs on display will vary from gallery to the next, so eaeh exhibit will be the same, yet unique. The exhibit moves to the Maui Arts and Cultural

Centerthis summer. The 'Ohana is hoping to schedule showings on all the islands in the next year. In addition, a complementary historical exhibit is being created by the 'Ohana that focuses on the relationship between the people of Kalaupapa and the Royal Family. This exhibit will be displayed at 'Iolani Palaee from March to December. Panel discussions featuring family members and other presentations will be held in conjunction with

the exhibit. The schedule so far: » March 2-April 1, 'Iolani Gallery, Windward Community College; March 9, 4-7 p.m. artists' reception (closed March 26-30 for spring break, but open March 31 for Palikū Arts Festival) » April 9-30, Kapolei Hale » May 16 to lune 6, Honolulu Hale » March to December, 'Iolani Palaee - exact dates TBA » Aug. 19 to Sept. 30, Maui Arts & Cultural Center Family discussions and other presentations will appear on the 'Ohana web site onee finalized - kalaupapaohana.org. For more infonnation, email info@kalaupapaohana.org or eall 'Ohana Coordinator Valerie Monson at (808) 573-2746. ■

LEO 'ELELE V www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org f NATIVE HAWAIIAN » NEWS | FEATURES | EVENTS

Outside his Kalaupapa home, Kenso Seki, left, gives ū haircut to Johnny Cambra witn Herbert Hayase watching. This 1 986 photo is part of the exhibit that opens ūt Windword Community College on March 2. - Courtesy pholo: Wayne tevin

Cūlette Y. Machade ChairpErsūn, TrustEE, Muluka'i aud Lāua'i