Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 6, 1 June 2010 — E Hoʻohanohano a E Hoʻomau... To Honor and To Perpetuate [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

E Hoʻohanohano a E Hoʻomau... To Honor and To Perpetuate

Tliis monih 's article is written by CJarence "Boogie" Kahilihiwa, President of Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa. They express their gratitude to Ka Wai Ola for helping the 'Ohana restore family ties. Formore information, please visit info @ kalaupapaohana. org. As President of Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa, I want to thank Ka Wai Ola for helping the 'Ohana to reach out to family members searching for information about their ancestors who were sent to Kalaupapa.

Thanks to Trustee Colette Machado's February eolumn about the 'Ohana efforts in restoring family ties and an announcement in the April and May editions on the family reunion page, we have received requests from more than 30 descendants in just three months. This is an overwhelming response. For the past few years, the 'Ohana has been conducting research to help families leam more about their Kalaupapa kūpuna. One of our most important endeavors is the Kalaupapa Names Project, where we are compiling the names of the estimated 8,000 people sent to Kalaupapa because they were thought to have had leprosy. These names will eventually serve as the heart of the Kalaupapa Memorial that has been proposed by the 'Ohana. The 'Ohana is

currently working with the Nahonal Park Service on the Environmental Assessment for the Memorial. We have currently assembled a database of 5,600 names - this list is made up of individuals who were sent to Kalaupapa from 1866 to 1906. Because the 'Ohana just received a grant from the Atherton Family Foundation, our research will eonhnue - we hope to have the names of everyone sent to Kalaupapa through 1930 compiled by the end of the year. The Names Project has allowed us to help many descendants learn about their Kalaupapa kūpuna and brina them back into

their family histories. In the past year, we have had requests from more than 100 descendants. Of course, we haven't been able to help everyone yet because our research is ongoing. We hope to eventually be able to help everyone who had a family member sent to Kalaupapa. The wide reach of Ka Wai 01 a has enabled the 'Ohana to connect with people who might not be aware of what we are doing. We have heard from Hawaiians on different islands as well as Hawaiians who now live on the mainland. Because of Ka Wai Ola, our 'Ohana has grown extensively this year alone. Mahalo, Ka Wai Ola. With aloha, Clarence "Boogie" Kahilihiwa. ■

leo elele rustEE mESSSagES

Cūlette Y. Machade Trustee, Meleka'i and Lāna'i