Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 5, 1 May 1987 — Standing Tall is Universal Concern [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Standing Tall is Universal Concern

"Standing tall is a universal concern that transcends all of us. Therein lies the power, the enduring mana of our Hawaiianness, the Renaissance and Moanalua." This was the conclusion made by George Hu'eu Sanford Kanahele in his talk at the 17th annual meeting of the Moanalua Gardens Foundation March 21 in ChineseHall. The author of such books as "Pauahi: The Kamehameha Legacy," and "Ku Kanaka, Stand Tall: A Search for Hawaiian Values," spoke on education, values, hula and Moanalua Gardens. "There is no question about the importance of what you do with the Prince Lot (Hula) Festival and about what hula represents. As a transmitter and preserver of Hawaiian values and ideals, there are few things today that ean equal the hula, its teachers and students. We would have to credit them for mueh of the Hawaiian Renaissance," Kanahele observed. "If I've learned anything from our cultural resurgence, it is that we should not take seriously our obituaries. 1 mean us Hawaiians have been counted out and declared dying and dead more times than Carter's Little Liver Pills," hesaid. The noted businessman, scholar, teacher, writer and civic leader reflected on a group of consultants who did a major study for the Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate in the early 60s. Over 500 recommendations were made, including the establishment of the extension division and expanded Hawaiian studies program. Kanahele remembers one of the assumptions being that just as surely as the state's population would increase, so Hawaiian culture would slowly but surely decline even further from its then precarious position. "Ten years ago I said this about the Renaissance: 'It is not a fad, a momentary flirtation with an exotic past, but a permanent commitment.' I'm sure glad I don't have to eat those words," Kanahele declared. Kanahele emphasized that the Renaissance eontinues; in fact, it is entering a new phase, even stronger, more enduring than before. "The evidence is all around us," he declared. "There i<; thp puiHpnrp nf nnr Hpmnoranhir<;' if uip Hatp thp hp-

ginnings of the Renaissance in the late 60s or early 70s, nearly a generation of Hawaiians have lived through the period — and they are now having babies to whom they will pass on their pride and indentity as renaissance Hawaiians." He pointed out that the "Big Five" Hawaiian organizations — Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kamehameha Schoo!s/Bishop Estate, Alu Like ine., Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Lili'uokalani Trust — are stronger than ever. Kanahele said the important factor is that these organizations are getting more respect from government as evidenced by the amount of federal grants that they have received and will receive over the next few years. He admitted that while Hawaii's congressional delegation has been a key force, they would not bother if they thought these organizatons were not in and of themselves competent or worthy of the government's or their trust. Kanahele doesn't see the decline of the hula movement, Hawaiian studies program in the schools, Hawaiian language and the eanoe clubs. Hawaiians, he noted, are writing and their works are being published or printed. He said that in another 10 years Hawaiians with graduate degrees will become almost eommonplaee. "Twenty years ago you could count on your fingers the number of Hawaiian PhDs, but now you need an abacus," he said. "One of the most significant aspects of our entering this new phase is, I think, symbolized by the interest shown by Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians as well in 'Ku Kanaka." When we speak of interest in values, we are talking about the most important kind of human eoncern. "When I have people calling me or writing letters telling me about how proud they are to be Hawaiian, how mueh more committed they are to being the best, how empowered they feel about their own humanity, none ean tell me that something very important isn't happening," Kanahele pointed out. Officers of the Foundation are Harriet D. Baldwin, president; Owen Chock, vice president; Frances Damon Holt, vice president; Leslie Nakashima, secretary; Agnes K. Cope, treasurer; C.S.H. May, assistant treasurer. Together these officers make up the board of directors whieh also includes Darrow Aiona, Haunani Apoliena, Gladys A. Brandt, Irma Cunha, Helen S. Davis, Mary Jane Feldman, Paul R. Gabriel, Steven Harris, Rep. Karen Horita, Jalna Keala, H.K. Bruss Keppeler, Kenneth R. Kupehak, Kevin (Chubby) Mahoe, Wendell Marumoto, James Richards, Rona Rodenhurst, Barry

Rubin, Patsy Sheehan, Robert Lokomaika'iokalani Snakenberg, Dr. Joyce Tsunoda, Paul Weissich, Eleanor Williamson and Kenneth P. Emory, emeritus. Three of the directors have direct relationships with OHA. They are Mrs. Keala, Mrs. Rodenhurst and Mahoe. Mrs. Keala and Mahoe are co-hosting the 10th Annual Pnnee Lot Hula Festival July 18 at the MGF hula mound. The Festival will have a special meaning this year as it is being incorporated into Ho'olako 1987: The Year of the Hawaiian celebrations. Luneheon in the Gardens was made possible through the courtesy of John Dominis and Frances Damon Holt.

Four of the officers of Moanaiua Gardens Foundation are shown here following meeting Mar. 21. Standing are Owen Chock, vice president and Leslie Nakashima, secretary. Seated are Mary Ann Lentz, executive director, and Agnes K. Cope, treasurer.