Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 1, 1 Ianuali 1987 — Kawaiahao Church Holds Unprecedented Protocol Event in lnvestiture of OHA Trustees [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kawaiahao Church Holds Unprecedented Protocol Event in lnvestiture of OHA Trustees

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA The nine Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs participated in their first ever formal investiture Saturday, Dec. 6, at historic Kawaiahao Church. This equally historic occasion was unprecedented in the Hawaiians' most revered house of worship. It marked the breaking down of four taboos so to speak and restoring culture in the church. The event, however, was not held without proper planning by OHA Administrator Kamaki A. Kanahele III and an Investiture Ceremony Committee he organized to plan the ceremony. It was Kanahele who placed heavy importance on a formal OHA investiture ceremony so as to have the proper protocol while presenting a positive image of Hawaiians. Following deep discussions with Kawaiahao Kahu William Kaina, lay Kahu Meali'i Kalama and leaders of several Hawaiian organizations, the green light was given to move ahead with the ceremony. As far as anyone ean remember, these are the first time happenings that took plaee Dec. 6 in Kawaiahao Church: • Presence of the pulo'ulo'u stick. • The presence, playing and sounds of a giant temple drum named Hawea. • Carrying of spears, traditional emblems of the Daughters and Sons of Hawaiian Warriors. • Wailing and chanting by Kanahele, and Aunty Sally Wood Naluai. Despite the many reservations expressed by those who felt the kapu should not have been lifted, virtually everyone in attendance agreed it was a beautiful and proper ceremony — a happening whieh marked a high water point for Hawaiians. "Magnificent, thriUing, ehieken skin, colorful, proud moment, joyful and outstanding" were only a few of the superlatives used by many of those queried by Ka Wai Ola O OHA. It was all of that and more. Kanahele turned in an outstanding effort and received proper commendation and congratulations from all sources, especially from the nine Trustees themselves. If anything, it was a coming together of nine minds for one day. Everyone was in a cordial and jovial mood, resplendent in their respective dress for the occasion. This historic OHA first was a breathtaking event. It was highlighted by a formal procession led by various Hawaiian organizations followed by the Trustees who were heralded by the traditional blowing of the eoneh shells to the oeean, earth and sky.

The most solemn and dramatic moment of the investiture was the presentation of Ahu'ula, the eloak of c-hief]y rank, to members of the Board of Trustees. The eloak symbolizes the authority and responsibility bestowed on the Trustees by the Hawaiian people who, by virtue of the electoral process, entrusted these seven men and two women with the future of the native Hawaiians. The presence of the pulo'ulo'u stick, the warrior spears, chanting and the sounding of the Hawea drum by Melvin Kauila Clark contributed tremendously to the solemnity and success of the ceremony. As eaeh Trustee was given his or her Ahu'ula, Kahu Kaina said a

prayer while Kanahele did the fastening. A beautiful rendition in Hawaiian of "The Lord's Prayer" by the Kawaiahao church choir under Director Esther Rhinelander added to the spiritual atmosphere of the occasion. At the request of the Kahu the entire ceremony was video-taped for all other ceremonies to follow. Kahu Kaina earlier said he always felt Hawaiians had a rich protocol but did not realize how mueh we had lost until he went to New Zealand and observed the Maoris who retain and practice their protocol. Stanley Ki'ope Raymond II, OHA's Community Resource Specialist on Maui, did the commentary in Hawaiian. Raymond also has a weekly Hawaiian radio show on Maui whieh is done entirely in the Hawaiian language. The same is true of OHA Chairman Moses K. Keale Sr. on Kauai.

Eaeh of the decorations in the church had a traditional symbolic meaning. The many greens signified growth. The fruit of the banana plant grows not alone, but in concert with its fellows. The coconut demonstrated the quality of having a strong trunk along with the capacity to bend when necessary. Likeke Hall adjacent to the church was also symbolically dressed in greens for the reception that folloWed the investiture ceremony. The greens were gathered and put together by the entire OHA staff over a two-day period under the guidance and direction of OHA Community Kupuna Coordinator Betty Kawohiokalani Jenkins. Following the ceremony, Trustees were removed of their Ahu'ula onee outside the church where they were greeted with congratulatory kisses and presented with leis.

Pulo'ulo'u stick presents an imposing symbol as Trustees face audience in Kawaiahao Church aft_r being given their Ahu'ula. Reading from left to right at the barely visible far end of the lineup are Trustees Kevin (Chubby) Mahoe, Thomas K. Kaulukukui Sr., Manu Kahaialii, A. Frenchy DeSoto, Clarence F. T. Ching, OHA Administrator Kamaki A. Kanahele III, Rodney Kealiimahiai Burgess III, Moanikeala Akaka, Louis Hao, Moses K. Keale Sr. and Papa Kala (Gregory Naliielua Kalahikioia).

Making their way down steps of Kawaiahao Church after having their Ahu'ula removed are Papa Kala, Kahu for the OHA Board and Trustees Moses K. Keale Sr., Louis Hao, Moanikeala Akaka and Rodney Kealiimahiai Burgess III. Members of the Daughters and Sons of Hawaiian Warriors ean be seen at very top of stairs with spears.

It was a poignant scene onee outside Kawaiahao Church as Kahu William Kaina and At-Large Trustee Rodney Kealiimahiai Burgess III, who currently operates a business on Maui, embrace. Also accepting congratulations at extreme left is Oahu Trustee Clarence F.T. Ching with OHA Administrative Assistant Annelle Ameral pictured to his left on steps.

Hawaii Trustee Moanikeala Akaka receives congratulations from Kahu William Kaina following investiture. To the Kahu's immediate right is At-Large Trustee Kevin (Chubby) Mahoe of Oahu. Women of 'Ahahui Kaahumanu are seen making their way out of the church. ? X i i ; I 1 i 1 i < $

Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs raise their voices in song during reception in Kawaiahao Church's Likeke Hall following investiture Dec. 6. From Ieft to right are Moses K. Keale Sr., Moanikela Akaka, Manu Kahaialii, Clarence F. T. Ching, A. Frenchy DeSoto, Louis Hao, Thomas K. Kaulukukui Sr., Kevin (Chubby) Mahoe and Rodney Kealiimahiai Burgess III.

Trustees Moses K. Keale Sr. of Kauai and Niihau, . chairman of the Board, and Louis Hao of Molokai, vice chairman, greet a visitor.

Trustee Thomas K. Kaulukukui Sr. gets a warm embrace from this constituent.

Oahu T rustee Clarence F. T. Ching is busy in eonversation with this well-wisher.

OHA Chairman Moses K. Keale Sr. is visited by Hawaiian headliner Melveen Leed.