Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 1, 1 January 2011 — Hoʻoilina A Mau Loa -- A Perpetual Legacy Has Come Forth [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hoʻoilina A Mau Loa -- A Perpetual Legacy Has Come Forth

On Dec. 21st, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs eelebrated its Investiture of the Board of Trustees. The

theme Ho 'oilina A Mau Loa - A Perpetual Legacy Has Come Forth, was inspired by the long awaited preservation of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. In addition to the legacy of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, this year's ceremonies included two living legacies representing the islands of Lāna'i and Moloka'i. Kahu Miriam Kuuleialoha Kaopuiki Kanipae of Lāna'i blessed us with the selection of the 'ōlelo

heluhelu and 'ōlelo ha'iao for the ceremony. Kahu Kanipae wasn't able to attend the ceremony in person, but her kāko 'o Kepa Maly participated on her behalf. Clarence "Boogie" Kahilihiwa of Kalaupapa, Moloka'i shared the scripture reading and offered some history of his life in Kalaupapa. Kahu Miriam Kuuleialoha Kaopuiki Kanipae (Aunty Lei) was born Nov. 23, 1915, at Kahalepalaoa, Lāna'i. She is descended from families who have lived on Lāna'i for generations. Her parents were Kahu Daniel Kaopuiki (born 1890) and Kahu Hattie Holohua Kaenaokalani Kaopuiki (born 1892). She is one of 13 live children born to her parents between 191 1 and 1933. She attended school at Keomoku Village and has lived on Lāna'i all her life. She married Sam Kanipae - a native of Kohala who eame to work at the Dole pineapple plantation - and raised her three daughters on Lāna'i. Aunty Lei was raised in Ka Lanakila Church on Lāna'i, where her parents served in various eapaeities, with her father, Kahu Daniel Kaopuiki, serving as the Kahuna Pule of the church from the 1950s to the time of his passing in 1983. Aunty Lei served as Hope Kahu of Ka Lanakila Church for a number of years and has followed in the footsteps of her parents, as Kahu of Ka Lanakila. Today, Aunty Lei still serves as

the Kahu of Ka Lanakila. She is a living treasure on Lāna'i, and is the last elder native speaker of Hawaiian language on Lāna'i. We are fortunate that she

has shared many of her stories and experiences in oral history interviews, and is always willing to provide guidance as only a treasured Kupuna ean. Clarence "Boogie" Kahilihiwa spent his early childhood in Kalapana on the Big Island, the sixth of 1 1 children born to Mary Kapu Kaina Kahilihiwa and Harry Alama Kahilihiwa. The days with his parents were short-lived

because he was diagnosed with leprosy in 1950 when he was just 9. He was taken from his family and sent to Honolulu for treatment and then admitted to Kalaupapa, the fourth child his parents had to give up because of government policies regarding leprosy. Unele Boogie has been a resident of Kalaupapa for 50-plus years where he has evolved into a eommunity leader and spokesman. He is a retired worker with the state and is currently employed part-time at the Kalaupapa Bookstore. He is a longtime member of St. Francis Church and the Kalaupapa Lions Club. Last year, he and his wife, Ivy, traveled to Belgium and Rome to witness the canonization of Saint Damien. In April 2009, Unele Boogie was elected President of Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa, a nonprofit organization he helped to organize in 2003. The 'Ohana advocates for the eommunity, works in partnership for the preservation of the history and helps to reconnect family members with their Kalaupapa ancestors. Boogie is a staunch supporter of The Kalaupapa Memorial, whieh will eventually list the names of all the estimated 8,000 people who died there. As the New Year brings with it new ideas, challenges and adventures, Aunty Lei and Unele Boogie are just two reminders of legacies that have successfully persevered. ■

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