Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 9, 1 Kepakemapa 1985 — Kaawaloa's Smithsonian Experience Valuable [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kaawaloa's Smithsonian Experience Valuable

"We got a little homesick at first but we grew to like it here in Washington, especially with our work at the Smithsonian Institution." These were the words of the Kaawaloa family of Puna who were the first from Hawaii to participate in a unique internship program at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. They spent three months over the summer working with Smithsonian staff at various on going summer programs. They returned home Sept. 2. Ka Wai Ola O OHA visited the family — William and Minnie K. Kaawaloa and their granddaughter. G. Piilani Kaa waloa — during a Washington stay Aug. 20 and they were excited at seeing someone from home even though it would be two weeks henee before they themselves would be back in Hawaii. They were given copies of the August issue and quickly grasped the ehanee to read "something from home." They eagerly welcomed the Office of Hawaiian Affairs newspaper and the visitation by its editor. Of the many Smithsonian programs, they spoke very highly of the annual Festival of American Folklife held shortly following their arrival in early June. "We lectured on lauhala, sewing upena, hula, arts and crafts, culture, music and medicine," reported Minnie Kaawa loa, 62, a kumu of Hawaiian crafts, a kupuna in Big Island schools and an expert in herb use, weaving, food preparation and the Hawaiian language. Minnie said she worked with the American Seneca lndian tribe and learned their style of basket weaving just by observ ing. "They don't teach anyone; you have to watch them doing it. I managed to finish one basket and they were amazed," Minnie declared. Piilani was just as excited over the festival. "We learned how to log and date tapes, costumes, instruments and songs," she said. "We learned a little from eaeh culture, like the lndians from Guatemala, the black gosp>el people, Appalaehian ballads, cowboys, Hispanics and many others. We found this experience very valuable in our working together and getting along," Piilani explained. "It was real neat." she added. William Kaawaloa, 69, a skilled craftsman in native woods, musical instruments, net making, traditional Hawaiian farm ing and fishing techniques and use of native herbs and plants, said he was able to finish two nets during the festival. He demonstrated the art of net making and the technique of using the net in catching fish. Following the festival, the family worked in the Museum of American History and the Museum of Natural History . It was in the anthropology department of the latter museum that Ka Wai Ola O OHA caught up with the Kaawaloas who were cataloging and identifying Hawaiian and Polynesian artifacts. They learned museum techniques and cataloging so fast that they seemed to breeze through their work. In identifying the artifacts, the Kaawaloas wrote down what it was and its purpose.

The family also spent some time at the NationaI Archives identifying photos of Hawaiian things, name places and in some cases, people. "We're enjoying what we're doing; we really are," said Minnie. She explained it was a tremendous experience for them and that they wished they could eonhnue the work "because there is so mueh to be done in this area." Indeed there are hundreds of valuable items lacking proper identification and explanation. "We hope the museum continues this project because it is badly needed," they said. Jane Walsh of the museum staff echoed the same feeling and added: "The Kaawaloas did us a very valuable service. They will be sorely missed. They've been a big help. No question." The museum's anthropology department is headed by former Bishop Museum anthropologist Adrienne Kaepler who worked 15 years at the Kapalama facility until pulling up stakes five years ago to head the Smithsonian department. Piilani, who will continue her Hawaiian studies at the University of Hawaii Hilo this fall, will utilize the skills gained at the Washington festival in enriching cultural festivals and programs in Hawaii. The family's participation in the program was coordinated by Marie D. Strazar, humanities specialist for the State Foun dation on Culture and the Arts, and William Carse, Professor Emeritus, UH Hilo, and former president of the Kalapana Community Organization. All three are native Hawaiians fluent in the language. They also attempted to teach the language to some of the museum staff who made strong efforts to leam. lt was indeed an experience the Kaawaloas admitted they will long remember; one that will be difficult to forget.

Piilani, William and Minnie Kaawaloa anxiously read August issue of Ka Wai Oia O OHA shortly after reporting for work at the Smithsonian lnstitution Aug. 20. They were visited and interviewed by the editor of Ka Wai Ola O OHA.

Piilani Kaawaloa points to a large crack in a bowl identified only as "Hawaiian bowl" by the museum. The Kaawaloa's determined it is a poi bowl made of kauila wood and dating back to the early 1700's.