Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 1, 1 January 1988 — Honolulu District Kupuna Showcase Na Mea Hawaii [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Honolulu District Kupuna Showcase Na Mea Hawaii

Lanakila Staff, Students Enjoy First Culture Day

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA The first ever Hawaiian Culture Day at Lanakila Elementary School in Palama turned out to be an enthusiastic success judging by the wide-eyed reception of students from pre-school and special education through sixth grade. It was on Dec. 4 that District Resource teacher June Oda and 40 kupuna from the Department of Education's Honolulu District turned the Lanakila Community Gym into a showcase of Hawaiian and Na Mea Hawaii.

There were explanations and demonstrations by the kupuna on a wide array of things Hawaiian such as quilting, poi pounding, Hawaiian implements, lei making, medicinal plants, tapa making, music, weaving, coconut weaving and many more. The youngsters were thrilled by it all and asked many questions. Principal Stanley Seki, beaming from ear to ear and hustling about doing all kinds of errands, declared: "This is great for the kids. They love this and will remember it. This is just fantastic. I know the teachers really like it, too."

Seki explained that virtually all the students and a number of the teachers were never exposed to something like this before. "lt is always good to get an insight on another's culture and it happens to be Hawaiian eulture today," Seki added. The first half of the morning was spent observingand listening to explanations. The second half was devoted to hands-on activities for pre-schoolers through second grade. They were involved in poi pounding, arts and crafts and music.

Une of those lending her support to the day s program was Dr. Beatrice Krauss, 85, noted enthnobotanist at the (Jniversity of Hawaii who described the various uses of Hawaiian medicinal plants. She also showed fresh samples of those plants now surviving. Dr. Krauss is always involved in Na Mea Hawaii. One parent told Ka Wai Ola O OH A how impressed she was over the large display of many Hawaiian things and the storehouse of knowledge possessed by the kupuna. She talked at length with many kupuna and

eame away thankful for the information she received. "I've lived in Hawaii all my life and I've never known about these kinds of things. It is fabulous. l'm glad I eame," she exclaimed. Other parents, who numbered only a handful, expressed similar sentiments. They were impressed by the work of the kupuna and are delighted Lanakila has two of them — Maria Artis and Roselle Soon.

A little Christmas tree was in the center of the gymnasium floor loaded with Hawaiian decorations created by kindergarteners with the help of the kupuna. Kupuna Veronica Medeiros was at her always gracious best in explaining as many of the decorations as possible within the allowed time. An interesting kupuna eouple were Val and Loretta Dudoit who were among the latest to join the Honolulu district kupuna program following their recent return

from San Diego where they had been living. Dudoit was with the San Diego Fire Department, retired and went into the landscaping business there. His wife worked for the State of California and also retired. Following their return to Hawaii, they wanted to keep busy and joined the kupuna program.

Solomon Kaulukukui, Oda's predecessor as a DRT, retired from the DOE and is now a kupuna. He was on hand assisting Oda in coordinating the program and handling logistics. Kaulukukui said there are about 45 kupuna in the Honolulu district and that five were unable to make it. It was nonetheless a tremendous turnout. As Seki remarked earlier, Hawaiian Culture Day 1987 will be remembered by Lanakila students for a long time, thanks to the dedication and commitment of Hawaii's kupuna.

Kupuna Elalne Mattson, rlght, Henry Jay, Loretta Dudolt, Mercy Gugler and Val Dudolt at far end describe and demonstrate tapa maklng.

Gathered around this Christmas tree and llstening to Kupuna Veronlca Medelros explaln the Hawailan ornaments are these klndergarteners.

Kupuna Maraea Kaalekahi explalns quilting to these attentive students.

Retlred Unlversity of Hawail ethno-botanist Dr. Beatrice Krauss, 85, displays a young mal'a and its medieinal purposes to this group of wlde-eyed students.