Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 8, 1 August 1986 — Module 11 Essay for Hue Cao: Accolades for "Very Nice Man" [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Module 11 Essay for Hue Cao:

Accolades for "Very Nice Man"

It was a simple presentation but it packed lots of love and aloha from the 61 inmates in Module 11 at the Oahu Community Correctional Center. The day was Tuesday, July 15, and the loeahon was Honolulu International Airport's Gate 18 where Hawaii's Hue Cao, the 12-year-old girl who wrote an award-winning essay about freedom and read it to the world on the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty, arrived home amidst another barrage of media hoopla. While the media people were hot and heavy on one of America's newest citizens along with her teacher Paulette Moore and Reg Schwenke, president and founder of the Aloha Liberty Foundation whieh sponsored the essay contest, there was one little Hawaiian mother and two mo'opunas who were also on hand to make their own little presentation. The situation was made possible by Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Thomas K. (Unele Tommy) Kaulukukui Sr. following requests for kokua from both inmate Conrad Kealoha Paleka and his mother, Mrs. Loretta Paleka. Paleka had contacted Unele Tommy at his home and asked if he could help out with the presentation. The request was made because the men of Module 11 were told that the official position of the Corrections Division of the Department of Social Services and Housing was that they could not give Hue some awards they had for her. Paleka, who said he was inspired by a dream, sketched a 26-by-32-inch picture of Hue in pastel ehalk. Additionally, the men had penned an essay to her and affixed their signatures to it. A large beautifully framed message was presented to Hue at the Airport by Mrs. Paleka who read it as follows: "Your search for freedom has touched the hearts of all of us here in Module 11 at OCCC. We hope, with all our hearts, that you find the freedom whieh you seek, for we onee had that freedom, but took it for granted, and now because of that loss we know the true meaning of freedom. Some day we will have it back and will cherish it more than ever before. Finally, we pray you'll have the ehanee to love the freedom that we will again some day have. Best wishes and good luek."

Mrs. Paleka presented the framed message to Hue but was unable to give her the painting because her car keys were locked in the car trunk. However, she more than made up for it on July 21 when she hosted Hue, her mother, Mrs. Moore, Schwenke, Unele Tommy and some members of her own ohana at dinner at George's Inn on S. King St. It was a heart-warming affair as the keikis from her

ohana put on a little hula show for Hue and then Mrs. Paleka in a very brief statement noted that on behalf of her son Conrad she was presenting the huge framed painting to Hawaii's own Miss Liberty. Hue, shy, humble and very modest, accepted the painting and thanked everyone for the occasion, shaking hands with all of those who did the hula and chants. She said she will cherish the painting forever. Mrs. Paleka said the painting was framed by 01sens at 1931 S. Beretenia St. without cost. She thanked the firm for its contribution. According to his mother, Conrad has learned to paint pastels dealing in portraits, animals, birds and seascapes during his seven years of incarceration for theft and destruction of property. "I never knew he had this kind of talent. He has beeome very creative and does a good job with his paintings," Mrs. Paleka stated. She expiained that some of his work ean be seen at the Beacon Restaurant in Aiea and at George's Inn next to the old Civic Auditorium. Paleka, incidentally, followed up his phone eall to Unele Tommy by writing a letter to "apologize for being very rude to you." Paleka explained he was from Molokai but lived in Honolulu most of the time. His father, James, died four months ago in an industrial accident. He commended Unele Tommy for being a "very niee man; you have the kind of heart my family have; just like Molokai style, always friendly, really niee to everyone and understanding." "When 1 called you up to help with the presentation, you didn't even know what was going on yet you played it eool by saying you will help us out. I felt good to hear from someone outside to say good things about our project," Paleka wrote. "Mr. Kaulukukui 1 don't know how to tell you how mueh I appreciate all this. I just cannot put the words to say thank you from our hearts," he concluded. An exchange of letters between Unele Tommy and Paleka has been going on since the first one. 1

Mrs. Loretta Paleka reads from framed essay penned by her inmate son, Conrad, and the men of Module 11 at the Oahu Community Correctional Center following her arrival home. Also looking on with Hue Cao is Reg Schwenke, president and founder of the Aloha Liberty Foundation.

Conrad Paleka's painting of Hue Cao and the Statue of Liberty is presented to her by Mrs. Loretta Paleka during a dinner she hosted at George's Inn on S. King St. July 21. She was unable to present the painting at the airport because it was locked in her car trunk along with the key. Mrs. Paleka, however, assured Hue at the time she would make the presentation at another appropriate moment.

Young male dancers from Mrs. Loretta Paleka's ohana entertain Hue Cao and other invited guests at George's Inn. Some of Conrad Paleka's paintings may be seen at the kamaaina Honolulu restaurant and also at the Beacon Restaurant in Aiea.