Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 1987 — 10th Anniversary Memohal Services Honor George Heim, Kimo Mitchell [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

10th Anniversary Memohal Services Honor George Heim, Kimo Mitchell

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA "Their deaths gave us a renewed devotion to carry on what they set out to do. We are now more inspired to do what they were trying to do." So spoke Maui County Mayor Hannihal T avares during a program Mar. 7 honoring Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana members George Jarrett Helm Jr. and James Kimo Mitchell at One Ali'i Park on Moloka'i. The program was preceded by a memorial Mass held before a capacity crowd at St. Sophia's Catholic Church in Kaunakakai. It was celebrated by the Rev. Alfred Rebuldela with the Rev. Bob Schwarzhaupt as eocelebrant. The eulogy was given by Ilima Pi'ianai'a, chairman of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, with musical selections by the church choir and entertainers Malani Bilyeu and Jon Osorio. Among others attending the church services marking the 10th anniversary of the two men's disappearances in the sea off Kaho'olawe to protest the bombing of the island were T avares, Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustee Vice Chairman Louis Hao and Maui Sen. Rick Reed of the Fifth Senatorial District whieh includes Molokai.

At One Ali'i Park, friends and ohana joined Aunty Mae (Melanie) Helm and her family at a pa'ina and a program marked by brief speeches and entertainment honoring the two 'Ohana brothers. Tavares said he felt completely moved by the church 5ervice because "during his lifetime I got to know George and the Helm family very well. We go back nearly 50 years." He said he was encouraged to see Governor John David Waihee III eome out and take a stand to end the military use of Kaho'olawe and return the island to its people. He also interjected a humorous remark whieh brought applause and laughter from a crowd of around 200, noting: "With a Hawaiian governor taking this kind of stand and a little help from a Portuguese mayor, we could very well succeed in what George and Kimo and the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana were trying to do and are still fighting." In conclusion, T avares said that "even though they're gone, they will never die because they will live in the hearts of everyone." Before speaking extemporaneously, Tavares read a proclamation signed by himself from the people of Maui County proclaiming the month of March, 1987, as George Helm and Kimo Mitchell month. A similar proclamation by Gov. Waihee was a!so read by Miss Pi'ianai'a who noted that 1 1 years ago she was a member of Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana. The Governor also proclaimed March in honor of the two missing men at a ceremony in his office Mar. 5. Another proclamation by the State House of Representatives whieh was to have been presented by Rep. David Hagino was instead read by 'Ohana member Davianna McGregor. Hagino was unable to make the program. A similar Senate proclamation was on its way, declared Sen. Reed who also briefly spoke about the two men. There were severa! other speakers who took turns talking about their two lost brothers. There were kahiko

chants by Napoka and hula by Cissy Aki and entertainment by Bilyeu, Osorio and other friends. The program was coordinated by Hui Alaloa and the 'Ohana while the pa'ina was prepared by the Helm ohana and friends. Memorial services also were held the same day at the Ke'anae Congregational Church for the Mitchell ohana and the Ke'anae-Hana community. Memorial services were again held Sunday, Mar. 8, for the Maui ohana and community. It was followed by a eanoe ho'okupu ceremony and a Maui tribute to the two men at a noon time program and luneh at Chang's Beach. Other programs for George Helm and Kimo Mitchell in March were: Mar. 15 — Oahu tribute at Andrews Amphitheater on the University of Hawaii Manoa campus. Mar. 21 — Memonal services on Kaho'olawe where two plaques were dedicated in the Hakioawa area in their memory. Mar. 23 — Slide presentation at Kaunakakai Library for Helm's birthday. Mar. 28 — Frist annual George Helm-Kimo Mitchell 20-mile relay race on Moloka'i.

Large portraits of Kimo Mitchell, left, and George Helm hang on wall of stage at One Ali'i Park.

Aunty Mae (Melanie) Helm sits among the One Ali'i crowd.

Maui Mayor Hannihal Tavares presents proclamation to Gregory Helm, a brother of George Helm.