Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 7, 1 Kepakemapa 1984 — 'Englishtening Year' with Kupuna [ARTICLE]

'Englishtening Year' with Kupuna

"It was an enlightening year of experiences with Hawaii's finest — our kupuna." So writes Betty Kawohiokalani Ellis Jenkins following her first year as eommunity kupuna coordinator for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. "From the kupuna I learned mueh about our Hawaii, our Hawaiians, being Hawaiian. 1 went to the kupuna with visions to assist them, but eame away eaeh time enriched by their own particular kind of wisdom and aloha." Betty goes on. She cites her own mother, Kupuna Elizabeth Nalani Ellis, 80 years young, as being "my mentor over the years who advised, cautioned, supported and guided me as I stepped down from my professional career as an educator to my present role as OHA's community kupuna coordinator." "From the Kauai cliffs, Oahu's many ahapua'a, Molokai's friendly shores, Lanai's productive pineapple fields,

Maui's fertile valleys and Hawaii's flowers and lava beds, the kupuna touched me personally, culturally, spiritually and professionally in ways that filled a longtime thirst and hunger for things Hawaiian." Betty declared. She continued; "Songs have been composed. fashions created and poetry penned for kupuna. Kupuna faces have been captured on film and tapestry revealing age and experience lines (wrinkles) on golden bronze faces. Theirs is a will with an eagerness to please, share openly and freely. A zest for !ife, a faith in Him, trust in people and love and admiration for children are insurmountable. Kupuna display a unique degree for patience to be envied and admired." She commended OH A for its direction in "recognizing, focusing and providing leadership in an inter-action system whieh addresses Hawaii's dearest own living treasures — our kupuna."