Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 11, 1 November 1993 — This year's ʻAha Kūpuna "the best of all" [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

This year's ʻAha Kūpuna "the best of all"

Three outstanding kūpuna were honored in October by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs during 'Aha Kūpuna, the sixth annual convocation of elders. The conference was presented by OHA's education division Sept. 30 through Oct. 3 on the island of Hawai'i at King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona. The Rev. Leon Sterling was selected by OHA's Board of Trustees to receive the Ka Hā Mai Kalāhikiola Nāli'i'elua Award. Kahu of Healani Church in Kailua-Kona, Sterling is vicechair of the Native Hawaiian Historic Preservation Council and a member of the state CBED eouneil. He had an influential role in the 1978 state Constitutional Convention, and sits on the board of the Kona Hawaiian Civic Club. He was born and raised in Waiklkī. Lei Collins was selected by OHA's Kūpuna Team to receive

the Ka Hā Mai Nālani Ellis Award. She was for many years curator of Hulihe'e Palaee in Kailua-Kona. Elizabeth Maluihi Lee was presented the Kupuna Po'okela Award. Born and raised in Kona, Lee is skilled in Hawaiian language, farming, fishing, medieine, and the fine arts. The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, the Merrie Monarch Festival, Daughters of Hawai'i, the Maui Historical Society and Aloha Week are just some of the organizations and events that have benefitted from her kōkua. This year's speakers included Alu Like President and CEO Haunani Apoliona, Paul Pearsall, Ph.D., and OHA chairman Clayton Hee. The opening oli was chanted by Unele George Naope. Participants attended workshops on a variety of Hawaiian subjects, from genealogy and mo'olelo to aquaculture

and petroglyphs. OHA education specialist Ka'iulani Vincent said the talks are intended to encourage "the strengthening of the family, because the kūpuna are the heads of our families." "This was the best one of all," Vincent said of the conference. "The keynote speaker, Dr. Paul Pearsall, was really outstanding. Although he isn't Hawaiian, he was very 'in-sync' with the kūpuna, and he had a lot of heart."

This was the first 'Aha Kūpuna held outside of O'ahu. To encourage participation by more of the state's kūpuna, the division plans to take the conference to neighbor islands on alternating years from now on. "For a lot of the neighbor island kūpuna, the airfare and hotel room and ground transportation ... it's really hard. So we want to bring the conference to them," Vincent said.

From left , the Rev. Leon Sterling, Lei Collins, and Elizabeth Maiuihi Lee, recognized as exemplary kūpuna during 'Aha Kūpuna '93. Photos by Sabra Kauka