Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 7, 1 July 2003 — Ua hala akula i ka moe loa o Niolopua [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ua hala akula i ka moe loa o Niolopua

Two beloved kupuna who embraced and promoted 'ōlelo makuahine pass into the eternal rest of Niolopua

Kupuna Elizabeth Kauahipaula nurtured the revival of 'olelo awai'i

By Sterling Wong Elizabeth Kauahipaula, the longest-serving kupuna in the Department of Education's Hawaiian language and Hawaiian Studies programs, passed away June 8. The Hawaiian community mourns the passing of Kauahipaula as well as two other revered kūpuna, Mary Lindsey and Lilia Wahinemaika'i Hale. Lindsey helped establish the Hawaiian language program in Waimea. Hale worked with the Hawaiian language program at the University of Hawai'i. At the age of 88, Kauahipaula continued to serve as a kupuna to numerous educational programs, hālau hula and organizations. She worked up until earlier this year as a kupuna at Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Waiau Hawaiian language immersion school and also volunteered as a kumu at Ānuenue and Samuel Kamakau immersion schools.

Kalani Akana, a DOE Hawaiian language teacher and a colleague of kauahipaula for nearly 20 years, said that all the accolades she received reflected her love for helping and serving the community. "She was always willing to share over and beyond what was required of her," said Akana. Kauahipaula received many honors for over 20 years of educational commitment to the community. She was awarded the Hawai'i Allianee of Language Teachers award for excellence in teaching in 1999 and OHA's Ke Kukui Mālamalama Excellence in Hawaiian Education award in 2000. Kauahipaula hosted " Mānaleo ," the first and only Hawaiian language talk show. The seven-year-old show, whieh airs on 'Ōlelo Ohannel 53, perpetuates the Native Hawaiian voice. Kauahipaula was born in 1914 in Honolulu and moved to the homestead in Keaukaha, Hawai'i island, as a child. She was raised in an old-

style Hawaiian atmosphere: fishing, practicing traditional medicine and speaking Hawaiian. At school, she was punished by her teachers for speaking Hawaiian. Kauahipaula's mother told her that if her teachers had a problem with her speaking Hawaiian they should talk to her mother. Her teachers eventually gave up trying to stop her from speaking Hawaiian. Kumu hula Māpuana de Silva of Hālau Mōhala 'Ilima said Kauahipaula was well connected to the land and the past, yet she fit into today's world. "She didn't need to change to maintain her simple lifestyle," de Silva said. "It's very hard to find people like that." Akana said that even though Kauahipaula only went to school up to the eighth grade, she was a natural teacher who taught through her life experiences and by example. Kauahipaula served as a kupuna to Hālau Mōhala 'Ilima on various

occasions. De Silva said that when Kauahipaula corrected the students, she never said they were wrong. "She just showed them the right way to do things - through example," de Silva said. Kauahipaula is survived by one son, four children, 18 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren, and 19 great-great-grandchildren. n

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Elizabeth Kauahipaula August 31 , 1914 - June 8, 2003