Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 2001 — RE-OPENS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RE-OPENS

Ready for residents after ^ !?vfour-year renovation

By Manu Boyd Barely visible from the East O'ahu road that bears its name, Lunalilo Home, the 118-year-old adult care facility, is ready onee again to serve those King Lunalilo revered. After four years and nearly $4.5 million, the badly needed renovation project is complete, breathing new life into the facility that for generations has given comfort, dignity and pride to kupuna. Last year, the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs approved $500,000 to the home for surmounting construction costs. Previous grants from OHA provided equipment for the facility, and helped to subsidize costs for resident care, estimated at approximately $3,000 per month for one adult. According to Lunalilo Home

\dministrator Gregg Meyer, an outpouring of support ™ from Hawaiian civic clubs and other communitv groups such as "Lokomaika'i" headed by recording artist Ku'uipo Kumukahi and friends, also helped to make the dream a reality. "We must continue to cultivate community support," said Meyer, underscoring the need to subsidize resident costs without touching the trust corpus. "Renovations were necessary and long overdue," said Meyer of the 88-year old structure. "In 1997, residents were transferred to other homes, or returned to live with their families. Since then, more than half have passed on, and many others' health deteriorated, requiring nursing home facilities," he said. The structure was built in 1914 by Marconi Wireless as a radio receiving station on land leased from Princess Pauahi's estate, and was built from the blue prints of another Marconi facility in Marshall, Calif., a near exact replica, including stone fireplaces not typical in Hawai'i's topical climate. The land was purchased and gifted to the trust in 1927 by the family of Irene 'Ī'ī Kahalelaukoa Brown Holloway, whose father, O'ahu Governor 'Ī'ī, was a close associate of Lunalilo's father,

Kana'ina. "Lunalilo was very concerned about the well-being of his Hawaiian people during increasingly difficult times." Meyer said. "His was the first ali'i tnisl to benefit the Hawaiian community. "As a youngster, Lunalilo had a 'soft spot' for kupuna. many of whom were retainers in his household. His mother. Kekāuluohi. from whom he inherited vast tracks of land, died when he was young. His father, Charles Kana'ina, put him under strict guardianship whieh lasted well into his adult years. Lunalilo's assets supported Kana'ina until his death in 1877. The original home opened in April 1 883 at Kewalo, ma kai of the present site of Roosevelt High School. lronically, the first resident at the Makiki home was Keolokū. from Maunalua, where the home would be relocated in 1927," Meyer explained. After King Lunalilo's death in 1874,

Comfortabte rooms. a spockxjs dining area ar>d a full-sca(e kttchen atfOfd LunaHo Home opportunittes to expand its servtces Ptctured in kttchen photo is LunaHo Home Administrator Gregg Meyer. PtxDtos by Manu Boyd his will instructed that a perpetual trust be established, and that a fireproof facility be built for the poor, destitute and infirm people of Hawaiian blood or extraction, giving preference to the elderly. Three supreme court-appointed trustees would manage the assets of the estate. Currently, Eugene Tiwanak and R-M Keahi Allen serve. w ith a third to be named shortlv

by the probate eoun. Onee a lonely dirt path, Lunlilo Home Road is a busy thoroughfare through the eastern end of Maunalua, named "Hawai'i Kai" by development

giant Henry J. Kaiser. Street names in the immediate vicinity of the home honor Lunalilo's family and define his chiefly status: 'Auhea and Kekāuluohi, names of his mother; Kaleimamahū, his grandfather, half-brother of Kamehameha I, and Kalakua. his grandmother, older sister of See LUNALILO on page 4

Lunalilo Home

w Carroll/Barrett removed from court calendar

At a status conference March 28, Federal Judge David Ezra removed the combined Carroll/ Barrett cases from the court schedule, pending a motion by OHA to dismiss the case and a motion for summary judgement by the State Council of Hawaiian Homesteaders Association. "It appears that Judge Ezra wants to take court proceedings in

an orderly fashion," said OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona. "OHA's motion to dismiss will be heard first," she said. In early April, calendars will be set for hearings on the OHA and SCHHA motions. Barrett vs. State of Hawai 'i ehallenges the constitutionality of the Article XII of the State Constitution supporting native rights and entitlements. ■

King Lunalilo

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LUNALILO from page 1

Queen Ka'ahumanu. Those interested in Lunalilo Home as a residence for themselves or for a family member may request an applieaūon by calling 395.1000. According to Administrator Meyer, the facility ean accommodate 42 individuals in both private and multi-bed rooms. Unlike nursing homes, adult care facilities are designed for those who are continent - that is, self-

restrained - and ambulatory. Community groups and individuals may contribute to Lunalilo Home by participating in the "Adopt a Room" program, where monetary donations are applied to furnishings and equipment to a room of your choosing. Lunalilo Home is readier than ever to weleome qualified residents - potential beneficiaries of the oldest ali'i trust of the king described by his people as "lokomaika'i" — generous and benevolent. ■