Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 12, 1 December 1986 — Hui ʻAna Celebration a Tremendous Success [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hui ʻAna Celebration a Tremendous Success

Large Crowds Brave Heat. Downpour

By Kenny Haina, Editor Kai Wai Ola O OHA

"Hui 'Ana: A Hawaiian Celebration," has eome and gone but the memories linger on. More than 20,000 people attended the two-day eelebrations Oct. 18-19 on the Bishop Museum grounds, original site of The Kamehameha Schools established 100 years ago in 1887. "Hui 'Ana" marked the beginning of the Schools' eentennial year and the celebrations were a first timejoint effort of the Museum and the Kamehameha Association of Teachers and Parents (ATP), replacing their respective annual festival and ho'olaule'a.

Whue there was a lot of hard work involved on the part of both sides, there was no indication whether or not they would want to continue this joint venture. That it was a tremendous success is indicated by the very happy spirit whieh prevailed throughout both days and the sellouts occasioned by food vendors and exhibitors of various other products. Opening day festivities were held under a blazingsun as festival goers sat on the spacious lawn to watch a special opening ceremony and continuous entertainment throughout the day. There were umbrellas of every hue, color and size to keep out the sun and other beach paraphernalia to keep spectators comfortable.

It was, however, a completely different weather story on the second and final day of the celebrations. An all night rain Saturday and a steady downpour Oct. 19 failed to keep attendance down. Instead, it appeared more people eame out the final day. The great lawn was turned into a quagmire and yet people stayed on to watch the entertainment, patronize the various ethnic food booths, visit the many exhibits, bought out all the celebration T-shirts and the various other products. Umbrellas were joined by raincoats, ponchos and hastily put together plastic coverings as those who insisted on watching the entertainment made it as eomfortable as possible. The oozing mud, dirty rain water and steady rain failed to dampen the spirit of those in attendance. Slippers and other footwear were discarded in favor of barefeet. Despite the adversities, everyone appeared to be having a good time.

In the special opening ceremony, dedication of a plaque commemorating Bishop Hall, whieh is now a part of the Museum, took plaee. Dr. Donald Mitchell, Hawaiian Studies Resource Specialist at Kamehameha, traced the history of the schooHrom its very beginning, recalling how the very ground festival goers were sitting on was onee a maze of rocky pathways. It was a very nostalgic trip back to the late 1800s and early 1900s to the present day. Also speaking was Richard Lyman, chairman of the Bishop Estate Board of Trustees, who said he was annoyed that the Hawaiian flag has to share one flagpole with the U.S. flag and promised that another flagpole will be erected to proudly fly the Hawaiian flag by itself alongside, instead of underneath, the American flag. The flagpole is located at the makai diamond head end of the field.

Lyman then presented the plaque to Robert Black, president of the Bishop Museum Board of Trustees to be placed in Bishop Hall whieh served as the first home of the Kamehameha School for Boys. Bishop Hall, whieh was one of the most visited buildings, was completed in 1889 while Dormitory D, a wooden structure located to the right of the Museum entrance, was built and completed the same year. The Museum building itself was started in 1888 and eompleted in 1891. That hard work went into the two-day festival was quite evident because of its success. It was a mammoth undertaking but very well organized. Hundreds of behind the scenes workers went far and beyond the eall of duty to make the celebrations the success it turned out to be.

All of the many name entertainers and masters and mistresses of ceremonies who braved the heat and rain have direct bonds with the Kamehameha Schools — as graduates, parents of students, faculty members or a combination of those ties. It was, as they say in genealogical circles, a gathering of the clans — a true coming together of one big ohana. There was something for everyone, even the keikis and teens and special exhibitions like "The Wayfinding Art: Oeean Voyaging in Polynesia" and the newly renovated Hall of Discovery where everyone is encouraged to "please touch." The number of personalities involved were many and the number of exhibits and activities were more than enough to keep everyone busy and occupied.

Richard Lyman, chairman of the Bishop Estate Board of Trustees, presents commemorative plaque to Robert Black, left, who reads the inscription: "Commemorating the original campus of Kamehameha Schools on this site one hundred years ago. Presented to Bishop Museum with the aloha of the ohana and friends of Kamehameha Schools, October 18, 1986. Honoring the mana of Bernice Pauahi Bishop and Charles Reed Bishop."

There were plenty of food booths and a variety of produce, island favorites and ethnic foods to please everyone. These early arrivals were able to move about freely and get a bead on the selections but it didn't last long as the crowds swelled shortly after this photo was taken.

Kamehameha eighth grader Lanee Hussey is behind bars in Ka Hale Pa'ahao while some friends ponder on how to get him out. This was one of the many attractions for young and old scattered throughout the sprawling grounds.