Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 3, 1 April 2002 — Kamakakūokalani [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]
Kamakakūokalani
Center for Hawaiian Studies named for educator Gladys K. 'Ainoa Brandt
By Naomi Sodetani At her birth, Gladys 'Ainoa Brandt inherited her maternal grandmother's inoa, Kamakakūokalani, meaning 'the upright eyes of heaven,' alluding to 'the divine imagination of the artist,' Now, Brandt passes on that poetic name with its profound legacy to new generations of Hawaiian scholars, Beloved and revered for her involvement in the community and staunch advocacy for Native Hawaiian issues, the former OHA trustee and retired Kamehameha Schools administrator offers an inspiring example of leadership and dedication to excellence, especially in Hawaiian education, On Feb, 28, more than 700 eame to pay fond tribute to the comimmity leader at the University of Hawai'i's rededication of the Kamakakūokalani Gladys K, 'Ainoa Brandt Center for Hawaiian Studies, īn fact, the renaming only makes official what Hawaiians have called the center "from the start," Director Lilikalā Kame'eleihiwa smiled: "īt was kaona," īnstrumental in establishing the center, Brandt "is truly the mother of this plaee," she said, Adorned in her grandmother's red and yellow lei hulu, the snowy-haired 95-year old Brandt stood as regal as a
kāhili during the maile-untying ceremony, flanked by UH President Evan Dobelle, Lt, Gov, Mazie Hirono and U,S, District Senior Judge Samuel King. The Board of Renents voted
in October to rename the center for Brandt, waiving a policy requiring that the honoree must be deceased for five years, Joking that some thought having a building named after them an honor worth dying for, Brandt said, "Fortunately for me, the regents have abdicated that
rule," Brandt recalled that "it was not long ago that this university was challen2ed to answer the
question, 'Where are the Hawaiians?'" īn 1987, the fledgling center was relegated to a few cramped rooms in Moore Hall. But Brandt envisioned the center as an expansive "womb that would nurture and spew forth new generations of Hawaiians fulfilling their potential through brilliant achievements," said Willa Tanabe, the dean of the School of Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific Studies, While chairing the board of regents in the 1980s, Brandt argued that the center deserved its own home, and ushered the project through the Board
and, subsequently, the Legislature, īn 1997, the center opened to students in its new Dole Street site, Brandt's own legion of accomplishments have amply fulfilled the
prophetic kaona inherent in her name, Her longtime friend, Judge King, joked, "She has received more honors than there are in a royal flush," including an honorary UH doctorate degree and being named a living treasure.
For 17 years, Brandt was the first and only woman high school prineipal, After serving as district superintendent of Kaua'i's public schools, Brandt became principal of Kamehameha Schools for Girls, then Director of the school's high school
aivision, Derore retirmg in 1971, she successfully pushed to reverse the trustees' prohibition against
the girls performmg hula standing up, "But retirement only meant that she was in great demand for public service," King said, Brandt sat on numerous boards and commissions, including the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, the Cancer Research Center of Hawai'i, and the John A, Burns School of Medicine, īn 1997, Brandt and King were among four who criticized estate mismanagement at the Bishop Estate in a scathing article titled uBroken Trust ," whieh See BRANDT on page 14
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REDEDICATION — Kurnu Hula Vicky Holt īeikeimine receives ho'okupu from Brcinclt, Center Director Lilikeilā Keime'eleiwei, UH Presiclent Evcin Dobelle einel UH-Mōnoei Chcincellor Decine Neubciuer, At top-right, ein 'ilimei lei is pleieeel on the pō ilinei on behcilf of the Keiwāneineikoei Fcimily, At bottorn-right, Hōleiu Kū Mōnei stuclents weleome guests into the center's Hōleiu o Heiumeei,
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DELIGHTED Brcincit enjoys ei moment with Lt, Gov, Hirono,
BRANDT from page 1 ignited the controversy resulting in a state investigation and the trust's reorganization. No doubt, Brandt has so often voiced her conscience in order to obey and manifest her cherished vision of uplifting her eommunity. That vision is symbolized by a water sculpture by īpō Nihipali at the piko of Kamakakūokalani. For Hawaiians, "the act of conferring a name fuses the mana of both giver and bearer and helps define the recipient's goals, aspirations and qualities," Brandt said. "Giving one's name also conveys responsibility." Today, the center flourishes as a vital hub of Hawaiian learning linking Hawaiian programs statewide, and also houses the Hālāu Kū Mānā charter school. "At this center, we're making a differenee" Brandt said. "Pulelo, like the one risen triumphant from obscurity," "īn education, not anger, resides our future. īn education, not ignorance, resides hope. īn education, not fear, resides justice." ■