Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 1, 1 January 1993 — Ke Kukui Mālamalama honors educators [ARTICLE]

Ke Kukui Mālamalama honors educators

by Jeff Clark "Ua ao Hawai'i ke 'ōlino nei mālamalama" - "Hawai'i is enlightened, for the brightness of day is here (Hawai'i is in an era of education)." One sure sign of that Hawaiian proverb's growing validity is the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' "Ke Kukui Mālamalama" award, whieh was presented Dec. 9 to four individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of Hawaiian education. Jack Yama, Rubellite Kawena Johnson, Harriet Awana 0'Sullivan and Abraham Pi'ianāi'a received the award during a ceremony at the Dole Cannery Ballrooms in Honolulu that was attended by about 150 students, supporters and family members. The four recipients were chosen from a group of 15 nominees recognized for their dedication to furthering the education of native Hawaiians, their inspiration to Hawaiian students, their numerous community

activities, and the respect and admiration they have earned as educators. "Thank you for being special people," trustee Moses Keale told the nominees. "I am well aware of the extraordinary time and effort eaeh of you ... have contributed to our children and community. Hawaiian education is a very important building block in creating the diverse foundation necessary for our people's growth." Yama, who is active in the King Kamehameha Hawaiian Civic Club, teaches classes on Hawaiian plants and arranges tours for the Lanakila Multi Purpose Senior Center, where he is vice president and past president of the Hawaiian Cultural Club. He also shares his expertise in Hawaiian plants with youngsters in the public schools. He has been the school and home liaison for Kalihi-Waena Elementary School, the A+ group leader and liaison for homeless Hawaiians living at

Sand Island, and a volunteer for Kalihi-Kai and Fem Elementary Schools. Johnson, professor of Hawaiian at the University of Hawai'i-Mānoa, has given the community more than 30 years of inspired college-level instruction. She has been a field researcher, lecturer, and consultant, and has studied 12 languages. Acclaimed for her translation of the Kumulipo, the Hawaiian creation chant, Johnson won the Hawai'i Award for Literature in 1988. 0'Sullivan is a former DOE teacher, counselor and administrator who founded the Hōkū Le'a Preschool. She serves on the Advisory Council of the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center, sits on the board of the Girl Scouts Council of the Pacific, and is a volunteer with the OHA Kūpuna Program. She is currently the O'ahu island representative for Alu Like, ine. Pi'ianāi'a is a professor in the geography department at the

University of Hawai'i-Mānoa. He founded the university's Hawaiian studies program, and is president of the new Office of Hawaiian Affairs Education Foundation. Also receiving nominations were Historic Hawai'i Foundation executive vice president Dion-Magrit Coschigano, kumu hula Robert Cazimero, retired Department of Education (DOE) educator/administrator A. Keakealani Char, Nānākuli High and Intermediate teaching and reading specialist Caroldean Nālani Tollefsen Fischer, Waiau Elementary Kupuna Elizabeth Kauahipaula, Saint Louis School teacher John Keola Lake, retired DOE educator/administrator Nina Lane (posthumous), Hongwanji Mission School Hawaiian studies resource teacher Cecila Lee-Lindo, Pearl City High Hawaiian studies/ language teacher Nova-Jean McKenzie, and retired DOE educator/administrator Kaupena Wong.

"In general, Hawaiians have the worst of everything in terms of education - the statistics show that. The 15 people who were nominated are examples of people doing things for Hawaiians, either by being role models or utilizing innovative teaching styles that reflect Hawaiian ways of learning," said Rona Rodenhurst, who heads OHA's education division. 'These people show us that there are programs that work, that there are good people in the system. If we could have more people like them, that are innovative and dedicated, not only would Hawaiians benefit, the whole system would benefit. "When people think of education, they think of the classroom, but that's not all there is to education," Rodenhurst said. "Hawaiians have consistently said that education is the priority. Education is life learning, and we need to recognize people who are doing innovative things."