Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 11, 1 November 1986 — Na Mamo Kau Lio Aloha was Other Paʻu Group in Annual Oregon Fete [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Na Mamo Kau Lio Aloha was Other Paʻu Group in Annual Oregon Fete

Na Mamo Kau Lio Aloha (love of descendents of horse riders) is the other Hawaiian organization whieh participated in the 1986 Portland, Ore., Rose Festival during the past summer. The August issue of Ka Wai Ola O OHA reported the participation of Aloha Pa'u Riders whieh had seven of its nine women riders as being members of the 'Ahahui Kaahumanu. The story also note<^ that "another organization of Hawaiian pa'u riders was also in the parade but attempts to get information of the name of the group were unsuccessful." It appears someone from Na Mamo Kau Lio Aloha read the story and eame forth with account of its participation in the same festival, noting it took first plaee in the fancy dress group of the equestrian division. Eaeh rider was presented with a blue and gold ribbon and a certificate at the awards luneheon at the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland immediately following the narade.

In the parade lineup were Patrick DePonte, banner page; George Victor and Kimo Vasconcellos, kahili bearers; Dannette Pascual, John Pascual, Moana Lono, Howard Lono, Sharon Paoa, Randy Akau, Ileen Wong, Charles Wong, Harriet Won and Larry Akau, royal monarchs. Pua Victor and Ena Vasconcellos draped the pa'u riders while Robert Kahee of Kapahulu Florist supervised the floral arrangements, assisted by Jennie Kaleikini of Jennie's Flowers and Crafts of Wahiawa. The male riders were strikingly handsome in their white jackets and trousers with ornamental gold braids and buttons with matching Royal Guard helmets. The

pa'u riders were queenly in their fitted velvet jackets with the white laee jabots and wrist cuffs over the traditional pa'u voluminous satin skirts and wore flowerdecked black derby hats. The group's total appearance truly reflected Hawaii's monarchy with a HawaiianBritish touch. Former Oahu residents Nani (Parrish-Bruns) Lopes and her husband, Leonard, of Lyons, Ore., coordinated the group's horses from the Claremont Horse Rider's Club of Oregon. Mrs. Lopes was also an equestrian unit judge but not including the Hawaii units. Haku leis for the riders and horses were prepared and made in Hawaii prior to departure for Portland. It is a requirement of the festival that all flowers must be fresh and genuine — no dried, plastic or dyed flowers are acceptable. Most of the members had participated in previous Rose Festival parades and they found many transplanted Hawaiians living Oregon, resulting in a Hawaii-Oregon bona. Na Mamo Kau Lio Aloha also hosted a genuine traditional Hawaiian luau on the afternoon preceding the parade. It was held at Portland's Masonic Temple for 500 Royal Rosarians, entrepreneurial sponsors of the annual two-week festival whieh is likened to Hawaii's Aloha Week observance. Unele Pio Kawalu and Jennie

Piilani Lindsey Bettencourt of Kamuela. All the luau delicacies, including the imu kalua pig, were prepared on Oahu and transported to Portland via Hawaiian Airlines. A 40-foot refrigerated trailer was provided by the Royal Rosarians and parked at the Cypress Inn Hotel in Clackamas, the club's home during the festival. Na Mamo Kau Lio Aloha was established in 1984. It was organized to cultivate the traditional Hawaiian custom of horse back riding showmanship with its female riders portraying Hawaii's women of the late 1800s when Hawaii's women first took to horse back riding as a means of transportation, resplendent in their pa'u riding outfits over their fine wear, together with their accompanying male escorts, better known as paniolos. Plans are in progress for future parades and promotions on the American continent as well as abroad. The club's 1986 officers were Howard Lono, president; Harriet Won, first vice president; John Pascual, second vice president; Ann Bunny Silva, secretary; Dannette Pascual, treasurer; George Victor, director; Larry Akau, ehaplain; and Pua Victor, historian. The men of Na Mamo Kau Lio Aloha served as roving marshalls for this year's Aloha Week parade.

Patrick DePonte, banner page, proudly displays club banner while waiting for the group's turn to enter the parade.

Ten of the 13 riders of Na Mamo Kau Lio Aloha pose with their blue ribbons and group plaque after being named first plaee winner in the equestrain division's fancy dress group. From left to right are Randy Akau, Sharon Paoa, George Victor, Kimo Vasconcellos, Larry Akau, Charles Wong, Ileen Wong, Howard Lono, Harriet Won and John Pascual.