Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 2, 1 February 1999 — PASSINGS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

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PASSINGS

Ua hala aku nei 'o Thomas Kananiokeaupunimālamalama Maunupau Jrv he kanaka kūpa'a i nā pono 'ōiwi a me ka ho'omau 'ana aku i ka 'ōlelo makuahine. Thomas Maunaupau Jr., an advocate for native rights and language preservation, passes.

n December, Hawai'i lost another treasure with the passing of "Unele Tommy" Maunupau, a teacher, performer, friend and advocate for native rights. He was 72. The son of Thomas Sr. and Euniee Maunupau, Unele Tommy was surrounded from the time of his birth with Hawaiian language and culture. His father was a noted scholar of Hawaiian language and ethnology, and assited Dr. Kenneth Emory in compiling invaluable information on Kaupō, Maui. Unele Tommy was born and raised in Kapahulu. He attended St. Louis and briefly served in the military. He was fluent in Hawaiian and Japanese, and taught at the Women's Prison, Waiawa Correctional Facility, Kamehameha Schools and at various commuity centers and kupuna programs. "He taught all over and loved to play music," remembers Apolei Bargamento of OHA's Goverenment Affairs Office. "He would often take our class on field trips to Kupuna Maunakea's house in

Nānākuli so we could hear Hawaiian spoken beautifully by the old-timers. He was encouraged by his family to teach." Unele Tommy is survived by sisters Gladys Minehew, Abigail Maunupau Puh, Veronica Maunupau Moiikawa, Mālamalama Maunupau, nieces, nephews, grand neices and nephews, as well as many in the community who he considered him extended 'ohana. ■ Unele Tommy. pictured in the second row at the far right. was embraced by his family, the Muanuapau elan, of Kapahulu. The entire family was involved in cultural pursuits including music, hula and Hawaiian language.

"Huaka'i Māka'ika'i a Kaupō, Maui," at right, was eompiled from writings by Unele Tommy's father, Thomas K. Maunupau Sr., and published in Ka Nūpepa Kū'oko'a, a Hawaiian language newspaper, in the early 1920s. Bishop Museum Press recently announced the publication of this valuable book that provides insight into the numerous significant cultural sites at Kaupō on the southern slopes of Haleakalā on Maui. The senior Maunapau, however, was originally from a fishing family in Kona, Hawai'i. The survival of the Hawaiian ianguage was one of his top priorities motiviating him to teach classes to many during a time when speaking Hawaiian was discouraged. His son, Unele Tommy, foliowed his father's efforts in promoting the native language.

Thomas K. Maunupau Jr. 1926-1998

PHOĪO FROM "HUAKA 'I MĀKA 'IKA '/ A KAUPŌ, MAUI"