Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 1 Kepakemapa 1982 — PARKER-- KIPIKANI FAMILY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PARKER--KIPIKANI FAMILY

continued from last issue There was a brief but haunting memorial service at the Parker cemetery at Mana attended by well over a hundred family members. The cemetery is located on a spot so beautiful it aptly fits the divine status many island residents use to describe Waimea - "God's Country." For many relatives, it was their first glimpse of the overpowering beauty and tranquility of Mana, where the Parker-Kipikane elan chose to settle in 1845. Neatly nestled on the rolling, verdant slopes of Mauna Kea, overlooking mueh of the vast ranch domain, it was easy to see why they decided to make Mana their home. Besides the cemetery, other parts of the Parker homestead are still visible today, although mueh of it is overgrown and worn with age. The main family compound, whieh sits among a grove of trees on a rise about two hundred yards from the cemetery, is enclosed by a stone wall and the grounds are scented with the perfume of honeysuckle that grows profusely. 01d timers say the grounds were onee surrounded by beds of bright colored pansies that were often strung as leis to decorate the 10 gallon papales of the Parker paniolos. All that remains of the dwellings are the plain white house whieh served as the Parker's first home and caretaker's cottage. Except for its foundation, the grand old house, whieh Parker built later and whieh became the center of social activity in Waimea for quite some time, is gone. There is also remnants of a well and enclosed cistern, whieh raised speculation about another important reason the Parkers chose Mana to settle - a steady water supply. Following the Friday afternoon memorial service, the relatives were treated to a genealogical workshop conducted by Laulani Adams, a representativeofthe Anna Purdy line of the family and president of Ka Ohana O Kipikane Me Keoni Palmer Parker, 'Ekahi, an organization formed by several relatives to spearhead family activities such as the reunion and to share information regarding the family heritage. An extensive genealogical chart had been prepared by the organization for the occasion. The workshop was followed by a stew-rice dinner that evening at the Hawaiian Homes Hall in Waimea and a lively kanikapila that lasted well into the night. But the Friday night festivities were only a warm-up for what was to eome. Following a day of sightseeing and visiting with family, the reunion was climaxed in high fashion with a traditional luau Saturday night at the Hawaiian Homes Hall. Over 400 family members and their guests took part in the gala affair. Most of those in attendance represented the Mary Ann and Ebeneezer Parker branches of the family tree. Along with numerous Parkers, the guest list included many other familiar kamaaina names such as Purdy, Lindsey, Low, Waipa, Kaaua, Kawelo, Hind, McKenzie, Fuller, and Wilson. Like Friday night, the luau featured an abundance of fine Hawaiian entertainment, with eaeh line of the family, from the keikis to the kupuna getting up on stage to show their stuff. One of the show-stealers, however, had to be Aunty Harriet Purdy, the 78 years "young" member of the Purdy family, well known for their contributions to Hawaii paniolo history. Her unique, spontaneous, and sometimes naughty hulas delighted the crowd, especially when she was joined by her brother Unele Harry Purdy of Moloka'i. Her hula rendition of"Kau!a'Ili", a traditional Hawaiian song written for the Purdy paniolos, was a definite show-stopper. Like her famous ancestor, Ikua Purdy, who won the World Rodeo Championship at Laramie, Wyoming, in 1908, Aunty Harriet is somewhat of a legend in her own time. During her younger hey days, she demonstrated the spunk and grit characteristic of her family while brainstorming the world as a circus performer. Her specialties - being shot out of a eannon and spectacular high dives into a shallow pool. The luau and reunion also had a definite political flavor. Several family members with political ties and ambitions attended the luau, including State Representative John Waihe'e, who took the opportunity to do some campaigning for the Lieutenant Governor's race.

Giving a boost to Waihe'e's political aspirations, was Walter Ritte, Jr., OH A trustee from the island of Molokai and another member of the Purdys'. In a show of Hawaiian political unity, not to mention a little tongue in eheek humor, Ritte introduced Waihe'e to the luau gathering as "Hawaii's first Governor with a Hawaiian name." Also notable in their attendance were Big Island Councilman and Waimea rancher, Spencer Kalani Schutte, and Georgiana Padeken, director of the State Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Downplayed throughout the reunion was the legal battle involving members of the Mary Ann and Ebeneezer Parker lines and Richard Smart, a descendant of the John Parker II line and present majority owner of the Parker Ranch. Smart, who did not attend the reunion, is being sued by the other family members in a complex and classic land case in whieh the plaintiffs are contending that Smart and the ranch illegally claimed 45,000 acres of

land rightfully belonging to the heirs of Mary Ann and Ebeneezer. The case has far-reaching implications, particularly for the ranch, whieh owns or controls 250,000 acres of land ont he Big Island and is now operated as a corporation with diversified wholesale, retail, and land development interests. However, President Laulani Adams of the family organization told news reporters at the reunion that the family did not want to see the ranch shut down, and later, in remarks to those gathered at the reunion, she asked that they "always be tolerant and respectful of the views of other family members." The legal intrigue seemed to be the farthest thing from the minds of the reunion participants as they prepared to leave for their homes on Sunday. There were only lots of kisses and warm embraces intermixed withfarewelltears, and there was mueh excited talk about the "next" ParkerKipikane reunion.