Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 1 Malaki 1983 — A KING'S LEGACY VISITED [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A KING'S LEGACY VISITED

Nestled in the midst of surburban Hawaii-Kai is a remarkable home, a landmark of the area before the neighborhood grew up. Known as the Lunalilo Home it is the onlv residential home forelderly Hawaiians. Established by the will of King William Charles Lunalilo, his estate included large land holdings and his will established a perpetual trust under the administration of three trustees appointed by a majority of the Hawaiian Supreme Court. The purpose of this trust is to "erect a fire proof building for the use of the poor, destitute and infirm people of Hawaiian blood or extraction. giving preference to old people." The first Lunalilo Home was located on lands (some sixty acres) purchased from the Hawaiian Government near the present site of Roosevelt High School. Afterclarification of certain language in the will, the Supreme Court instructed the Trustees to dispose of all the remaining lands of the trust estate. The Trustees, with the help of the kama'aina Brown family found a new site at Maunalua (now known as Hawaii-Kai), then an agricultural area and the facilities of the Marconi Wireless Company. In 1927 twenty acres of land from the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Estate were purchased and the Marconi "hotel", thedormitory building. As Henrv Kaiser began to develop the area into a large suburb of greater Honolulu, the Trustees in 1969 decided to develop 15 acres into residential leasehold lots, leaving 5 acres devoted to the Home. Hawaiian organizations have always been interested in the welfare of the Home and its residents. Many civic clubs, ETawaiian related groups and others constantly visit the Home to entertain and to provide friendship for the people there. As residents, who are able, ean freely sign out to go holoholo or auwana, concerned individuals and groups have brought some diversion of life to those who cannot. In March, Trustees Moses Keale, Tommy Kaulukukui and Walter Ritte paid a visit to the Homes. They went to see what the Office of Hawaiian Affairs could do to help the elderly kupuna enjoy a comfortable life at the Home. Like many others, this was a "first-time" visit for some of the Trustees to the Home, and they were impressed with facilities, the care given the residents, and the objectives of the Home's Trustees. Mrs. Napua Stevens Poire, one of the Home's Trustees and Mrs. Marianna Klimenko, the Administrator hosted the Trustees and staff members from the Office and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. The OHA Trustees discovered that any extra needs ofthe Home for its residents are basic and relatively inexpensive. It was felt that organizations could assist the Homethrough friendship and sharing. After considerable discussion, it was decided to develop a program whieh would bring kupuna with similar backgrounds into the Home as visitors to establish meaningful relationships with the residents. Other ideas that were considered included: providing sports equipment, animal pets, an elderly day care program and labor to improve existing facilities. lf the kupuna visitor program could be started, it would involve Hawaiian agencies in a joint effort of eoneem for Hawaiian elderly. As the proposed program exists now, funding would be provided by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands through theirgrants program with support services rendered by Alu Like and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Assistance in locating available kupuna, skilled in music, language and or arts and crafts would be through the existing "Kupuna Program" found in the Department of Education. lf the program does go through, it will be a happy marriage of interagency cooperation and a demonstration of how culture and human resource services ean work together for the benefit and betterment of Hawaiians.

(1. to R) OHA Trustees Tommy Kaulukukui and Moses Keale, Lunalilo Home Trustee Napua Stevens Poire and unidentified resident.