Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 3, 1 March 1997 — Papa Auwae ana Martha Hohu are recognized as "Livina Treasures" [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Papa Auwae ana Martha Hohu are recognized as "Livina Treasures"

Two outstanding Hawaiians were recognized a: "living treasures" last month by the Hongpa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple of Honolulu. Hawaiia herbal healer "Papa" Henry Auwae and composer Martha Hohu were recognized by Hongpa Hongwanji for their unique accomplishments and outstanding contributions to the community of Hawai'i. "Papa" Auwae, 91, is a native of Kokoiki, Kohala, and now lives in Keaukaha, Hawai'i. He is noted for helping to bridge the gap between traditional Hawaiian la'au lapa'au herbal healing and western medical methods. He has shared his knowledge of Hawaiian herbal healing with Queen's Health Systems, Nahonal Cancer Institute and North Hawai'i Community Hospital, with Native Americans, and at many community gatherings throughout Hawai'i. He is a seventh-generation la'au lapa'au healer and was , trained from the age of seven by his great-great-

grandmother. He is recognized as a master kahuna la'au lapa'au with knowledge of the use of 2,500 medicinal herbs. His students not only learn about use of the plants but also about preservation of the environment in whieh they grow, and the spiritual basis of true healing, whieh he believes comes from God. Martha Kamakaokalani A Oi Poepoe Hohu , 90, is a native of O'ahu, and daughter of the former Rev. and Mrs. Henry Poepoe of Kaumakakapili Church. She is known as a developer, keeper and propagator of Hawaiian music. Music, family and church have been the great loves in her life, and from the earliest age she was steeped in music, particularly Hawaiian music. She was for 60 years an organist for Kaumakapili Church. Her daughter, Leila Hohu Kiaha, is

an organist and music teacher at Kamehameha Schools, and a composer and arranger like her mother. Mrs. Hohu's son Clarence also shared his mother's musical gift and is a retired music teacher. Also honored were: island businessman Ralph Honda, who has been a leader of many community service organizations and a primary force in developing good relations between Hawai'i and Japan; Iwao Mizuta, an educator and poet whose published works have gained nahonal recognition; and Robert Aitken, who has devoted several decades of work to the development of Zen Buddhism in Hawai'i.

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