Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 7, 1 Iulai 1996 — He hana keaka e pili ʻana i ka ʻohana a Kaluaiko ʻolau [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

He hana keaka e pili ʻana i ka ʻohana a Kaluaiko ʻolau

eia no he wahi iwi o ka mo'olelo ku kamaha'o no ka mokupuni kā'ili lā 'o Kaua'i pili iā Kaluaiko'olau, Ke Ahikao Lele O Kamaile. A ma'i i ka ma'i lepela, holo mahuka 'o ia i Kalalau me Pi'ilani. kāna wahine a me Kaleimanu, kā lāua keiki i 'ole e ho'oka'awale 'ia ka 'ohana. 'Oiai lākou e noho ana ma Kalalau, hiki mai ka māka'i, a kupu ka pilikia; ki 'ia ka hope māka'i o Kaua'i e Ko'olau. Lima nui mai ke aupuni PīKī me nā koa e ki'i iā lākou 'ekolu i ka holo mahuka 'ana ma Kalalau no 'elua makahiki a 'oi. I ia noho 'ana i ka 'īnea, hala akula ke keiki hiwahiwa a lāua a hala pū 'auane'i 'o Kaluaikoo'lau. Ho'i ho'okahi 'o Pi'ilani i ka ao kanaka a nāna i ha'i i ka mo'olelo 'oia'i'o i kupu ma Kalalau. Haku 'ia kēia hana keaka me ka 'ike i loa'a ma ka puke mo'olelo no Kaluaiko'olau i kākau 'ia e Kahikina Sheldon. 'O Kahikina Sheldon kahi loea o ka po'e haku mo'olelo Hawai'i, a he luna ho'oponopono 'o ia ma ka nūpepa Ka Leo o ka Lāhui. Pa'i 'ia ua mo'olelo nei i ka makahiki 1906 ma ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i, e heluhelu nō 'oe i ka mo'olelo 'o Kaluaiko'olau: Ke Kā'e'a'e'a o nā Pali Kalalau, na John Kahikina Sheldon.

This story is based on the events that happened in the Kaluaiko'olau family on the island of Kaua'i, the land that "snares the sun." In 1893 the Hawai'i Provisional Government ruled that Hansen's disease victims were to be sent alone to Kalawao on Moloka'i. Ko'olau is diagnosed with the disease, but Pi'ilani, his wife, refuses to be seperated from him, and the two decide to hide in the Kalalau valley with

their son, Kaleimanu. The deputy high sheriff pursues them. When Ko'olau is forced to shoot the sheriff in self-defense the Provisional Government labels him an outlaw and sends soldiers to bring him back dead or alive. The family goes deeper into the valley, where they hide for nearly three years. During this time, Kaleimanu contracts and dies from the disease. Soon after, Ko'olau also succumbs. Pi'ilani returns to her family after grieving in solitude for two months. After her return, she meets Kahikina Sheldon, who records the events whieh she and her family endured in Kalalau valley. The play Kaluaiko'olau was based on the true story of Pi'ilani Kaluaiko'olau, whieh was written by Kahikina Sheldon, a prominent newspaper editor at the turn of the century. Sheldon was one of the great poetic writers of his time. His works are very well respected in the Hawaiian speaking community for their great historical value and his remarkable command of the Hawaiian language. Sheldon was also regarded as an authority on ancient Hawaiian folklore. For more information on the story of Kaluiko'olau, seek out a copy of John Kahikina Sheldon's book, Kaluaiko' olau: Ke Kā'e'a'e'a o nā Pali Kalalau, written in 1906. Kaluaiko' olau will be playing on Maui, O'ahu and Kaua'i in July and August. On Maui, Saturday, July 20 (eall 'Ahahui 'Olelo Hawai' i for the location); on O'ahu, July 27 at the Ke'elikōlani Theater at Kamehameha Schools; and on Kaua'i, Saturday, August 3 at the Kaua'i Community College Theater. Tickets are $10 eaeh and ean be purchased from members of the play, the 'Ahahui 'ŌIelo Hawai'i office at 850 Richards Street or from Native Books and Beautiful Things at 222 Merchant Street. For more information eall 'Ahahui 'Olelo Hawai'i at 528-5453.

Photo of Kaluaiko'olau standing with his wife, Pi'ilani, their son, Kaleimanu, and Kukui, mother of Ko'olau; (left) The cast and directors of Kaluaiko'olau .