Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 6, 1 Iune 2006 — Henry Pali "Bumpy" Kaulia Jr. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Henry Pali "Bumpy" Kaulia Jr.

Cūlette Y. Machadū TrustEE, Mūlūka'i and Lāna'i

£ e ke aloha pau 'ole a hui \ \ /I hou. With love and affec--1. ▼ Ation until we meet again." Family and friends gathered together at Ka Hale Hoano O Ke Akua Church in Kalihi one last time to say aloha to Henry Pali "Bumpy" Kaulia Ir. At a youthful age of 44 years, Bumpy died in a car accident on April 9 in Gaston, Oregon. Bumpy was a loeal boy, born and raised in Wai'anae on Aug. 14, 1960. The son of Henry Pali Kaulia and Marilyn Kaulia, Bumpy made his way through a rough, poverty-stricken childhood that taught him humbleness, discipline and respect. Encouraged along the way by family members and influential people like his high school football eoaeh, Larry Ginoza, Bumpy persevered and heeame an exceptional student and football player. In 1977, Bumpy helped the Wai'anae Seariders win the coveted Prep Bowl title. Poised to make a better life for himself and his family, Bumpy graduated from Wai'anae High School in 1978. Flanked by a group of fellow Wai'anae football teammates, Bumpy left Hawai'i to attend eollege thousands of miles away on the mainland. He chose a private college in Oregon named Pacific University. His All-State football honors while a student at Wai'anae helped him heeome a solid player at the college level. When he wasn't studying, Bumpy dedicated time toward his role as the president of the schooFs Hawai'i Club. Being so far from Hawai'i, Henry found comfort in his friends, whieh was supplemented by the occasional eall back home to Wai'anae. As a college student, Bumpy continued to excel in his academic studies and eventu-

ally went on to graduate with a bachelor's degree in education. The first in his family to graduate from college, he proved that no matter what the circumstances, it could be done. Not wanting to let go of Pacific's foothall program, Bumpy heeame a member of the team's coaching staff for a number of years. For the next 23 years, Bumpy served as a physical education teacher within the Gaston School District. Through athletic mentoring, his aloha spirit spread throughout Forest Grove. In his spare time, he coached basketball, softball, baseball and football for Gaston High School. He was the kind of eoaeh that never stopped stressing respect and cooperation. Enduring a financially tight upbringing, Bumpy never let money stand in the way of making a difference with kids. No one really knows how mueh he spent on team uniforms, equipment, functions and the like. Whatever it was, no amount could match the value of time that he spent with the kids. Encouragement coupled with hard work was his way of helping. At his memorial service here on O'ahu, the family talked about how Bumpy enjoyed playing cards and spending time with family and friends. A slide show presentation helped family and friends get caught up with Bumpy's life since he left Hawai'i. A recurring theme throughout the presentation was that of a smiling Hawaiian man surrounded by lots of smiling Caucasian kids. Shortly after Bumpy's passing, his mother and brother attended memorial services held for him in Forest Grove. They were greeted by a gymnasium packed full of students, teachers and community members. As a testament to Bumpy's academic tenacity, his mother was presented with a master's degree diploma in education, whieh Bumpy was set to receive during the sununer. Me ke aloha pau'ole Bumpy, until we meet again.