Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 4, 1 April 1990 — 'Auwe ka minamina' -- Napua Stevens remembered [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

'Auwe ka minamina' -- Napua Stevens remembered

by R-M. Keahi Allen Leqend has it that when an ali'i passes away the heavens weep. covering the land with rain. On the morning of <Jan. 7, 1990, as the dawn broke on the horizon our mother Napua Stevens Poire, slipped away at age 71 . It looked as through ^he had chosen a beautiful morning to depart this earth but soon the dark clouds rolled in and a light drizzle was felt. On the days leading to her services a steady rain fell until on the morning of Jan. 19, the day of her burial, the heavens opened and torrents of rain drenched the large crowd of mourners at the Diamond Head Mortuary The rains seemed to eeho the sentiment, "Auwe ka minamina, Oh what sorrow." More than a thousand people eame to pay their respects and bid her farewell. Many spoke of how she had touched their lives. Some had been longtime admirers, while others had never met herbut felt compelled to say goodbye. Leis, strand after strand of ilima, hala. maile, puakenikeni and so many other varieties were brought. Beautiful floral bouque's and wreaths lined the walls. But it was not a sad time, instead, it was a eelebration of her life. A beautiful portrait of her was the first thing you saw and it reminded you of when she was on television hosting "Napua's Kitchen" or maybe when' she was the director of guest activities at the Ilikai. the Ala Moana and the Pnnee Kuhio hotels. Another large photo of her when she was 18 and newly signed as the lead vocalist for the Gigi Royce Orchestra at the Roof Garden of the Alexander Young Hotel in downtown Honolulu, was displayed. Sti!l other photos chronicled the private life of the public person, Napua Stevens. She was a many-faceted person drawing on her strong Hawaiian upbringing, yet utilizing those western skills acquired along the way, to hold her in good stead. She was immensely proud of the fact that she hailed from the island of Hawai'i, was born in Kohala, raised in Hilo, and that she was a product of Hilo High School. She was a verv proud Hawaiian woman, not pridefu! but immensely proud of her heritage. She stood her ground if any aspect of hpr Hawaiian heritage was challenged or threatened. When we were children, she would regale us with the experiences of her childhood. Of the summers spend at Kokoiki, at the home of my mother's grand-aunt "Kualua," where everyone was forbidden to speak English, of her encounter with the night marchers, of the long automobile ride from Hilo to Kohala in a car laden down with all the kids, the family dog, and food for an army. One of the stories she would relate, while her tears fell, was how she acquired the name Kaoionapuaopiilani. On one of those summer jaunts to Kohala, when she wasabout8-years-old, Kualua said she has another name for this mo'opuna. That while Kawaaiala was okay, this other name would be better. She told her that one day the new name would bring her fame and she would recall this special day with great aloha. Ten years later, after winning the audition for the Roof Garden, fhe incident was recalled with vivid clarity. She needed a professional name to be used on the marquee outside the hotel, in the newspapers, for the posters, and on the radio. Harriet, her first name, just would not do. Neither would the name Kawaiala and surely not that other long Hawaiian name. Mom said her only other alternative was to use a portion of her long Hawaiian name and at that precise moment she remembered her special day in Kohala and the admonishment of Kualua. True to Kualua's prediction, Napua Stevens, Mom's professional name, did in fact bring her fame. To list her many and varied accomplishments would fill many pages because they eaeh involved so many diverse fields. From politics to broadcast, from Hawaiian language to hula, from entertainment to fund raisers, from lectures to substitute teaching, from tennis player to Charleston ehamp.

We children lived through almost every phase. During her Aloha Week involvement my birthday parties were alwavs held where the event she was staging was in progress. Ala Moana Park when the royal court arrived by eanoe in Kapi'olani Park where pageants were he!d. My brother Gordon was growing up during the recording period and we were both taken to the Bell Records and 49th Star recording studios and waited while the records were cut. We also were a part of her journalism and television careers, appearing every so of-

ten on TV to "help" with a recipe or two. My younger brother, Scott, was a part of her visitor industry phase, and he got to hang around the Ilikai, Ala Moana, and Pnnee Kuhio hotels. Her most dedicated involvement was as a trustee for the William Charles Lunalilo Estate, a position she held for more than 35 years. All three of us kids spent part of our childhood accompanying her to Lunalilo Home where we sat with the kupuna and played cards, or put jigsaw puzz!es together, or enjoyed some special entertainment. But most of all, it was the Christmas mornings we spent at Lunalilo Home that I remember. After opening our own presents early in the morning, we'd dress and head for the Home to help Santa pass out the presents. These were very special times. Excitement filled the halls, Christmas carols were being sung by church choirs, families stopped in to take their kupuna home for the day, and gifts were deeply appreciated by eaeh resident. All in all. we were really lucky to have had her as our mothers. To have loved her and to know her love, to have learned so mueh from her through our many unique experiences. To know and feel her unrelenting pride in being Hawaiian and being from this very special plaee on earth and to know that she has instilled this feeling in eaeh of us, her children. Aloha au i'a oe, e Mama. Mahalo piha.

Napua Stevens