Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 4, 1 April 2005 — The Kaholokula ʻOhana: A Hawaiian rainbow under gray Washington skies [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Kaholokula ʻOhana: A Hawaiian rainbow under gray Washington skies

By Keaumiki Akui America's Great Northwest boasts the second largest contingent of Native Hawaiians living on the continent. Nearly 20,000 reside in Oregon and Washington, states known for their dismal weather. It seems ironic that Hawaiians would trade our island sunshine for the rain, sleet and snow the Northwest is famous for. Nevertheless, we find large Hawaiian families thriving there. Take the Kaholokula family from Maui, for example. Two brothers and a sister have raised families in Washington and are doing quite well, thank you. However, the magic and uniqueness of the islands still permeate their lives in many ways. Keith and Rosemary Kaholokula have traveled extensively. From O'ahu, Keith moved to the Marshall Islands where he met Rosemary, then a vacationing Texas college student. They returned to the Fone Star state and tied the knot before returning to the Valley Isle, where their first daughter was bom 12 years ago. They named her Ka'imina'auao Ikaika Morrigan Kaholokula, but just eall her Ka'imi. Three months later, with baby in her bassinette they moved again, this time

to Sāmoa where Rosemary worked as a prosecuting attomey. It was in Sāmoa where their second

daughter, MahinaDiana A'o Ka'eo Kaholokula was born. Then eame time to leave Sāmoa, and a difficult decision it was. "We were deciding whether to retum to Hawai'i or move elsewhere," recalls Rosemary. "We elected the mainland," she said, "because we ean afford to do things for our kids that we wouldn't be able to afford in Hawai'i." They chose the coastal city of

Bellingham, Washington, just below the Canadian border. Today, Rosemary continues her work as a prosecutor while Keith works as a dealer at the popular Skagit Valley Casino, one of the many Indian casinos that thrive in the Northwest. Although there are a number of Hawaiian clubs in the Northwest, the

Kaholokula family has yet to actively join one, but they do attend loeal ho'olaule'a events, especially

in the Tacoma area where Keith's brother resides. Hawaiian culture continues to play an important role in the lives of this family, who say they are also supporters of federal recognition for Native Hawaiians. Twelve-year-old Ka'imi, always interested in her Hawaiian roots, entered a National History Day Competition last year at the private >chool she attends. Hie theme had to do

with cultural exchange and its impact. Ka'imi's entry followed the historical events leading to the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and the life of Queen Eili'uokalani. Not only did she win for her school but eamed a plaee in the regional and state competitions. This year's National History Contest deals

with eommunieahon, so Ka'imi's project will focus on the history of hula. When the time comes, she plans to attend the University of Hawai'i. Ka'imi and Mahina are both talented and competitive gymnasts. Even at the "ripe old age" of 10, Mahina already sees herself attending an ivy league college then settling in Hawai'i. When the girls finally leave "the nest," Keith and Rosemary plan to retum to the islands themselves. Meanwhile, the Kaholokula family will take a "pan-Pacific" trip next summer to O'ahu, Maui and Sāmoa so both daughters may revisit the places of their birth. Guided by the values instilled by their parents, it is easy to believe that Ka'imi and Mahina will succeed in whatever endeavor they choose in life while retaining that cultural perspective and aloha - a Hawaiian rainbow under Washington's gray skies Keaumiki Akui is the puhiie ajfairs specialist with OHA 's governance division. If you are a Hawaiian on the continent with an interesting story to teii. or if you know ofone. piease contact OHA Outreach Coordinator Aulani Apoiiona at 594-1912. or via e-mail at aulania@oha.org d

The Kaholokula family in their chilly adopted environment: the Great Northwest. Photo: Courtesy of the Kaholokula "Ohana