Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 5, 1 May 1985 — Canadian Hawaiian Seeks Local Roots [ARTICLE]

Canadian Hawaiian Seeks Local Roots

A letter has been received by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs from a part Hawaiian in British Columbia seeking information on her Hawaiian roots. The letter goes: "My name is Denise R. Eli (Harris) and 1 am a Canadian Indian in British Columbia, Nishga Indian to be exact, living in Northern British Columbia. I am also part Hawaiian on my father's side.

"1 was reading the February 8, 1985, issue of an lndian newsletter titled Kahtou (Ka'too) and I ran across your name in the paper and thought that maybe you would be able to help me. What this letter is about is that I am looking for more information if f>ossible about my ancestors. 1 am hoping that you may be able to help me in any way or direct me to someone who may be able to help me. "Where my Hawaiian background originates from is my great grandmother. Her name was Mildred Now-kon-na. I am not sure how to spell her last name. I have asked my grandfather if he could give me any further information about her birth date, or if he knew who his grandparents were but he is 83-years-old and could not remember that far back. I am sorry to say that my great grandmother's name is the only information I have.

"My reasons for searching for this information is purely for my own well-being, just to know who else 1 am and who my ancestors are. What I am searching for I suppose are my great grandmother's parents and their family and if there are any other living relatives still living in Hawaii or on the Hawaiian Islands. "Onee again, thank you for any information that you may be able to give me." Mrs. Denise R. Eli ean be reached at 242 Mountain Street, New Aiyansh, B.C. Canada, VOJ 1A0.

Editor's Note: It is possible the family name of Mrs. Eli's great grandmother was Naukana, although we have been unable to verify this information. If any of our readers ean confirm the connection between the Naukana family and that of Mrs. Eli . . . or have any other information whieh might identify her ancestors, please write her directly or contact Ka Wai Ola O OHA at 567 S. King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.