Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 6, 1 June 1987 — Six Generations Attend Mother's Day Festivities [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Six Generations Attend Mother's Day Festivities

Retired Reverend Honored on Her 100th Birthday

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA A long ago retired native Hawaiian reverend of Ke Alaula O Ka Malamalama Hoomana Na'auao Church in Honolulu credits her long life to love, prayer, unswerving beiief in the Almighty and elean living. Dora Koleka Kepani, born May 10, 1887, at Honokou, Maui, was honored by her four surviving children and six generations of her family on the occasion of her 100th birthday on Mother's Day, May 10, at Waikiki Lau Yee Chai. Nearly 300 ohana members and a few guests paid tribute to the centennial matriarch with congratulatory messages from several sources, including one from Ho'olako 1987 President and Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Thomas K. (Unele Tommy) Kaululukukui Sr. whieh was personally extended by Ho'olako Vice President Betty Kawohiokalani Jenkins. Kaulukukui was unable to be present because he was himself honored by the California State Assembly in

Sacramento with a resolution recognizing The Year of the Hawaiian for the many former island residents now living in the Golden State. Guests for the 100th birthday bash eame from New York and Michigan — a grand-daughter, Yvonne Christine Perkins and husband, John, of Manhattan, N.Y., and eldest daughter Esther U'u Clements, 73, of Flint, Mieh. — and from throughout the state. It was a festive Mother's Day celebration with music, singing, hugging, honi honi and lots of kuka kuka taking plaee throughout the afternoon. This was the first big party thrown for the birthday lady who remained wide awake in her wheelchair throughout. Still alert and in good health, the centenarian received the good wishes of her ohana who sang "Happy Birthday" while three big candles making up the figure 100 burned on a large sheet eake bearing the inscription, "Happy 100th Birthday Koleka." Birthdays for Koleka, whieh is Hawaiian for Dora, have been previously held at five-year intervals since she turned 75. They have been small family affairs. Will there be another big one at 105? "Why not," exclaimed daughter Christine Kon with concurrence from another sister, Dora Paet, of Maui. "Our mother taught us to love, pray and not leave God. She told us if we let God take care of us, we will live a long life, too," Paet explained. Koleka has outlived eight of her 12 children and three husbands and has over 116 grandchildren, two of them great, great, great. There are 17 great, great grandchildren, 59 great grandchildren and 38 grandchildren. Interestingly enough, Koleka's grandfather, Piohia, lived to be 98 or so. He was born around 1797 and was 22 when Kamehameha the Great died in 1819. Piohia appears in a family photo taken around 1897 or 1899 when Koleka was age 12. She is a daughter of Lokana Kepani and Mele Piohia Kepani. Koleka lives with daughter, Christine, and son-in-law James Kon at Makua Ali'i where he heads the maintenanee section. Mrs. Kon says her mother has a healthy appetite and just loves her poi and saloon pilot crackers and tea. She still reads the newspaper but doesn't care mueh for television. In addition to her three daughters, there is also a son, Abraham Kaleo, 65. He joined his sisters on stage in song. Other ohana members related certain events and happenings in Koleka's life. There were eight children born of the union of John U'u, and Koleka and four as a result of her marriage to Harry Kaleo. Coincidentally, U'u and Kaleo were two of

Dora Koleka Kepani

The four su rviving children of Dora Koleka Kepani sing a song to their mother. From left to right are Christine Kon, Dora Paet, Esther Clements and Abraham Kaleo. Musician in background is James Kon, Christine's husband.

This ohana photo is believed to have been taken between 1897 and 1899. It shows in the upper right circle a young Dora Koleka Kepani. In the othercircleat lowerleft isKoleka'sgrandfatherwhoalsoisbelieved to have lived to 100. He was said to be age 22 when Kamehameha the Great died in 1819.