Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 1988 — New OHA Culture Officer Supports Heritage [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

New OHA Culture Officer Supports Heritage

OH A's new culture officer confesses there was a time when he really knew very little about Hawaiian culture. Keone Nunes, a graduate of Wai'anae High School and the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, spent a year at Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana. It was during that period, observing the pride felt by Grambling's Black students in their own heritage, that Nunes resolved to do something about what he perceived to be a gap in his education. Nunes says several of Hawaii's living treasures honored him by sharing their precious knowledge. He credits people such as Muriel Lupenui, Theodore Kelsey and Martha Lum Ho who have passed on, as well as Herman and Freda Gomes. Nunes' background is unusual for a boy raised on the Wai'anae coast. Born in Japanof Hawaiian, Portuguese and Japanese ancestry he spoke only Japanese until he was six years old. He eame to Hawai'i when he was three and grew up in Nanakuli where he still lives. He is a professionai dancer, founded his own halau, The Men of Kapuwailani'onohinohi'ula and serves that group as lead instructor. Nunes is fluent in Hawaiian and has lectured on Hawaiian

language and culture at Nanakuli High School, the Kamehameha Schools, Waipahu High School, the University of Hawai'i at Hilo and Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center. He comes to OHA from Bishop Museum where he was an education specialist.

Nunes says his position as OHA Culture Officer presents an opportunity to work towardthe recognition of the importance and relevance of all phases of Hawaiian culture in today's society. He also feels strongly that OHA must continue to encourage cultural exchanges between Hawai'i and the rest of Polynesia, as weil as with all the indigenous people of North America.

Keone Nunes