Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 7, 1 Iulai 1994 — Kalaupapa memorial resolution [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kalaupapa memorial resolution

by Abraham Aiona Vice-chairman and Trustee, Maui As the youngest child of a family of eight growing up during the Depression years, I always accompanied my father, who was a lay kahu for a Hawaiian church at the end of Pu'uhale Road in Kalihi. At the time, I saw a lot of native Hawaiians gathered there, all seemingly concemed about "something" that I knew nothing about. However, it was evident that there was mueh eoneem about what was happening or about to happen, whieh was the separation of families because

people were betng processed to be shipped out to Kalaupapa on Moloka'i. They had the "ma'i ho'oka'awale 'ohana," the "disease that tears families apart." The church in Kalihi was not a happy plaee because of this, and as young as I was at the time, I sensed maka'u, a feelins of fear.

Later in life and during my career as a poliee officer, chief, eouneilman and now OHA trustee, I have had the honor of visiting Kalaupapa. I recall visiīing Kalaupapa for the first time in 1960. I was recovering from a major traffic aeeident that year whieh nearly cost me my life. The trip to Kalaupapa was an awakening for me. I met a lot of people, patients and staff, and was overwhelmed by the spirit and genuine aloha shown. Even though we had two lines of food being served because of the ruies for separation of patients and non-patients, it was a day that 1 shall always remember. There was good food. entertainment, fellowship, and giving honor to a great man, Father Damien, for his work and contributions at Kalaupapa whieh cost him his life. As Chief of Poliee for Maui County, 1 made several visits to Kalaupapa on offieial business. Later, as a eouneilman, I continued to make visits and eaeh time I did so, 1 became more interested in what

was going to happen to this isolated yet beautiful spot. The historv of Kalaupapa should never be forgotten because it is a memorial to many thousands of native Hawaiians, Hawaiians and others so afflicted. They were banished to this remote area, separated from children, family and friends, and then buried in marked or unmarked graves. In memory of the more than 8,000 Hansen's Disease victims, 1 proposed a resolution titled "Recognizing the Hansen's Disease patients abandoned, sentenced and interned at Kalawao and Kalaupapa in the treatment of their dis-

ease." The major thrust of the resolution, passed by the OHA Board of Trustees at our June 7 meeting at Honoka'a, was to pay tribute to the special people who lived in Kalawao and Kalaupapa. It also resolves "that the OHA Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian

Attairs requests that the National Park Service in partnership with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, design and mount a plaqure honoring the thousands of people sent to Kalaupapa since 1866." Copies of the resolution are being sent to Hawai'i's U.S. Congressional delegation, the governor of the State of Hawai'i, the Senate President and Speaker of the House of the Hawai'i State Legislature, the Mayor and Councilmembers of Maui County, the director of the state Department of Heahh and the director of the Naīional Park Service, Pacific Area. 1994 is an important year to remember Kalaupapa. lt is a time to remember and reflect on the suffering of the victims; a time to honor Joseph deVeuster, our beloved Father Damien, for his lifetime dedication to the people of Kalawao and Kalaupapa, and a time to erect a fitting memorial for the victims and their sacrifices.