Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 12, 1 December 2004 — Kamehameha honors Julie Williams, Patience Bacon and the late Abe Piʻianāiʻa with prestigious award [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kamehameha honors Julie Williams, Patience Bacon and the late Abe Piʻianāiʻa with prestigious award

By Manu Boyd Three notable kūpuna (elders) — all inspiring kumu or sources of knowledge and insight — were honored by Kamehameha Schools with its

revered Order of Ke Ali'i Pauahi Award acknowledging their extraordinary contributions to the Hawaiian community and for exemplifying the values and vision of the founder of Kamehameha Schools, Princess Pauahi. Joining the impressive roster of 59 individuals honored over

the past five decades were the late Abraham St. Chad Kikiakoi Kaliliokū Pi'ianāi'a (KS '33), Patience Elmay Nāmakauahoaokawena 'ulaokalaniikiikikalaninui Wiggin Bacon and Julia Kaho'oki'eki'e Stewart Williams (KS '46). In an elegant ceremony Nov. 9 at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Memorial Chapel on Kamehameha's Kapālama Campus, Pi'ianāi'a, Bacon and Williams were fittingly honored with testimonials by Kamehameha trustees and administrators, as scores of 'ohana and hoaaloha looked on. Kahu Kordell Kekoa officiated, and musical selections were offered by

the KS Concert Glee and Children's Chorus. "Unele Abe did so mueh for the Hawaiian community," said Kamehameha Trustee Nāinoa Thompson. "He was fluent in Hawaiian, taught Hawaiian at

Kamehameha, and helped establish the Hawaiian Studies Program at the University of Hawai'i. He promoted Hawaiian language and protocol in the context of Polynesia," he said. Pi'ianāi'a's mo'opuna (grandson), Chrisptopher Kaliko Pi'ianāi'a, accepted the posthumous award on his grandfather's behalf.

Patience Nāmaka Bacon, known affectionately as "Aunty Pat" to many, is the longtime senior cultural advisor at Bishop Museum, and continues to share her knowledge of Hawaiian language, poetry, chant and hula — traditions she learned from her family. Bacon, born on Kaua'i in Feburary 1920, was adopted at birth by Nathaniel and Pa'ahana Wiggin and later raised as a "hānai" by their daughter, Mary Kawena Pūku'i. Along with Pūku'i, Bacon studied hula under Keahi Luahine, Kapua and Jospeph 'īlālā'ole. Pat Bacon eonducts workshops on hula traditions in Hawai'i and abroad and regularly

serves as a judge in hula competitions including the King Kamehameha Hula Compeition and the Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competition. Kamehameha educator Julie Stewart Williams served for many years as an elementary school teacher and was a mainstay in Kamehameha's Ho'omāka'ika'i summer program. She continues at Kamehameha in her retirement as a kupuna in the KS Hawaiian Studies Institute's Ka 'Ike O Nā Kūpuna Program. In addition, Williams has authored several childrens' books used in curricula statewide. In memory of Princess Pauahi, the Kamehameha 'ohana maintains a high standard of excellence in honoring individuals who exemplify the character and values that contribute to the vibrance of the community as their founder so desired. ■

Julie Stewart Williams

Pat Namaka Bacon with her daughter, Dodie BrOWne. Photos: Manu Boyd