Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 7, 1 July 1987 — Georgiana K. Padeken [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Georgiana K. Padeken

"L Georgiana Keonaona Padeken always disM played a sense of profound gentleness and eom|1 mitment: a strength of character and courage rl learned from her family and deepened by personal f| experience. (Miss Paeleken passed aiuay June 9 at 44. Seru■r ices were held June 16.). She grew up on a kuleana in Kahalu'u. On land ^ marked with trees planted at the birth of eaeh child in her family. With a grandfather who chased TL away anyone with a briefcase, because that was f| the sign of men who eame to steal from HawaiJT ians. w Georgiana knew and understood "the old *1| ways." And when she grew too tired, she would ]■ return to the valley — drawing on the reserves of |v stamina she needed to continue. She was also a trained social worker. An eduII cated professional who knew and understood JJ "the new ways." And could move with confidence w through the maze of courts, legislative commit1| tees and State bureaucracies. II Her record as Director of Hawaiian Homes for I» eight years is unequalled. Twenty-eight thousand TL acres of illegally set-aside Homes land were re11 turned to the Department. The number of homestead awards doubled in two years the total W awarded in the previous 60 years of the program. «A For the first time in its existence, the 1986 State Legislative Auditor Report praised the operation V and management of the Department. fL But her legacy cannot be captured simply in w numbers and a listing of accomplishments. ^ I ean remember a Native Hawaiian conference r[ held last year on the Big Island. «| The day's heat had not penetrated the Kona LaJt goon Longhouse, but patience and tempers had V grown shorter as the hours of meetings length"L ened. Throughout that afternoon, Georgiana M Padeken sat alone on the stage, answering ques|i* tions from Hawaiian homesteaders gathered from j[ around the State. «I There was anger over the waiting list. Criticism

of the Department's decision to seek Congressional approval of the one-quarter blood successorship while native Hawaiians had not received their awards. And frustration with the acceleration program because there was no money for building homes. She responded to eaeh question, turning aside the anger. That night there was the traditional conference banquet, with George Na'ope entertaining. "Ke'ona," he called. "Ke'ona, eome and dance. . ." Everyone looked around the room — not quite sure who he was inviting up. Georgiana climbed the stairs, laughing. And then as George played, she moved into that slow, almost-standing-in-place hula whieh distinguishes our most graceful dancers. And whatever pain had been exchanged that day was healed. That was her gift. That is our loss. — Linda Delaney.

He Aloha No He Lei Poina 'Ole By A. Frenchy DeSoto lr T rustee-At-Large ' L 'Auhea wale 'oe e ku'u lei aloha? W Pehea e pau ai keia 'eha nui? |i E aloha wau ia 'oe, e na pua onaona E kau 'ohu kau kuahiwi II Na ka wai lukini wai anuhea. Na ka makani aheahe e pa mai ma ke kai, lf E lawe mai i ke onaona lipoa. *1| He pua nani 'oe no Hawai'i, II A ka lehulehu ai e hi'ipoi nei. I» Hi'ipoi ka mana'o o na kupa o ka 'aina. TL E ola na kini o ka 'aina no V kou hana aloha, Me ka ua hali'i kanahele. W Ua la'i no ke ala i ka liko o ka pua aloha. Aloha 'oe. Aloha 'oe. J T A hui hou aku ... If Where have you gone my lei of love? W How will I end this great sorrow? I love your fragrant flowers ^L Mist upon the mountain ll Fragrant water, eool water. JT Wind blowing gently from the sea, lf Bringing the fragrance of Lipoa. *1| You are a beautiful flower of Hawai'i, 11 Cherished by the throngs, m Cherished in the thoughts of the natives of the fL Land. V The people of the land still live because of your J ' work of love. W The rain spreads through the forest ij| Peaee is the fragrance in the bud of the love flower. Jy Farewell, farewell, lr Until we meet again . . . TL

Georgiana K. Padeken