Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 9, 1 September 1989 — Keaukaha celebrates 65th anniversary [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Keaukaha celebrates 65th anniversary

Lynn Nalani Oamilda Ka Wai Ola O OHA intern "...There existed among the Keaukaha families a condition, a commonality whieh precluded any criticism. Your food, opae and poi, was good enough for me; your home became mine. No one was better than the other and so families intertwined because they card and shared." Rhea Akoi the author of "Ku'u Home I Keaukaha — An Oral History" captures the essence of what life and 'ohana was like within the closely-knit community of Hawaiians from Keaukaha. Through a collection of personal interviews from individuals, families and kupunas, Akoi and several students of Keaukaha School document the memories, thoughts and feelings of the longtime residents who settled on the Hawaiian homestead during the 1920s. As a project of the Hui Ho'omau O Keaukaha Panaewa association, the book celebrates the 65th anniversary of the Waiakea district homestead on Hilo. It intertwines history, culture and personal reflections from the Kua, Kahoilua, Aina, Kanakaole, Gohier, Malo, Loa, Calles, Napeahi, Auwae, Haili, Borges, Ahuna, Baysa, Mika, Kuamoo, Kahauolopua, Keahilihau, Nahalea, and Kauhi families, and many others. As coordinator of the oral history Akoi said she had always wanted to write. After 22 years of

working as and educational assistant for the education department under the Hawaiian Homes Commission she said, "My wish was to leave something for Keaukaha School." When Akoi helped students from Keaukaha in a study center program she began a project with them in whieh they interviewed their own kupuna. Akoi said that through this project the students began to feel better about themselves as Hawaiians. "Our young people felt amazed because of what their kupuna had to go through — just eating only sardines and poi and things like that....When they heard their kupunas talk about it (life on Keaukaha) they see that the days were better back then." "Keaukaha was one big happy family. Everything is so busy nowadays. It's not like it used to be," she said. Akoi said that there is still the love and close-

ness but times have progressed and there isn't the neighborly love like before. Abbie Napeahi, a long-time resident of the homestead who contributed her story in the book said, "I hope that the Keaukaha that I use to know before will become a reality again because when I first eame to this area I understood the word love. I am hopeful and prayerful that whatever comes out of this history, may be able ot influence other that what happened onee before ean happen again." Akoi said that when people read this book they vry. "I don't want you to cry," she said, "But it is good for us to remember." Copies of "Ku'u Home I Keaukaha An Oral History" are in limited quantity and Akoi said that the book will only be printed onee. A eheek or money order of $13 will cover handling and shipping costs, she said. For a copy wirite to: Abbie Napeahi, 213 Todd Ave., Hilo, Hawaii 96720.

Rhea Akoi

Keaukaha residents remember times and friends of years past.