Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 6, 1 May 2008 — Winona Beamer [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Winona Beamer

Aug. 15, 1923 - April 10, 2008

Winona Beamer's reeent reeognition as a reeipient of the Governor Linda Lingle Fine Arts Award at the Hawai'i Musie Awards' 2008 Legaey Awards eapped off deeades of honors in musie and lifetime aehievement. A eomposer, ehanter, storyteller, edueator, author, aetivist and matriareh of the Beamer family of island entertainers, "Aunty Nona" passed away the morning of April 10 at her home in Lahaina. Her aeeomplishments were many and varied. She was part of the first Hawaiian group to perform at Carnegie Hall, in 1948, with her brother Keola and her eousin Mahi; she started the Hawaiian Studies program at Kamehameha Sehools, eoining

the term "Hawaiiana" to deseribe the entire fteld; and as an edueator, she sueeessfullv

toppled rules prohibiting students from daneing hula while standing or speaking Hawaiian on eampus - rules that had gotten her expelled as a student. Born in Honolulu and spending mueh of her youth on Hawai'i Island, she learned hula starting around age 3 from her "Sweetheart Grandma." She is survived by many family members, ineluding sons Keola and Kapono, brothers Franeis "Pono" Beamer Jr. and C. Keola "Unele Keola" Beamer, sister Tita Beamer Solomon, hānai daughter Maile Beamer Loo-Ching, and eousins Mahi and Sunbeam Beamer. Her only grandehild, Kamana Beamer, pietured below, wrote this loving tribute, in her memory for KWO. Ē3

He momi ma ka lei hulu kupuna, He hiwahiwa na ka mo'opuna I have been asked to write a short pieee on my tūtū, Winona Kapuailohiamanonokalani Desha Beamer. Having gone to be with her kūpuna less then a week ago, I will do my best to briefly articulate some thoughts about her life and what she has been for me. E kala mai ia'u, for I am certain that my words, thoughts and composition will fall short of the strength, grace and aloha that she carried with her throughout her days as an composer, educator, activist and kupuna. Most knew her as "Aunty Nona," and she onee told me that the Kamehameha administration in the 1950s abhorred her desire to have the keiki she taught refer to her as "Aunty Nona" rather than the formal Ms. Beamer. Education was her life, and when I began to teach at the university, she often spoke with me about the importance of having aloha for students while empowering them to explore themselves through their Hawaiian culture. As a child I began to eall her "Ano" and that was what I have called her ever since. Being her only mo'opuna, I was lucky to have been showered with her aloha, but it was not until I had reached my 20s that I began to comprehend the nurturing support that

I had received from her throughout every aspect of my life. I am thankful that I eame to this realization in time to tell her the many ways that she had been responsible for the person that I am and strive to be today. Ano had an ability to be the most kindhearted, loving, compassionate person I have ever met, while also displaying courage, strength and a warrior spirit to challenge any policy, elite board or political maneuvering that did not sit well in her na'au. When I imagine the range of positive changes for Hawaiian children she was able to witness and be a part of in her lifetime, I am at a loss for words. As a student, she challenged Kamehameha educators and was expelled for chanting and performing standing hula; as a teacher, she introduced Hawaiian culture and hula into the Kamehameha curriculum; as a kūpuna, she challenged the improper

management of the Kamehameha Schools trust. Following a double bypass open-heart surgery, kidney failure and a constant struggle with diabetes, one of her most recent actions was to author a letter to "The President and Congressmen of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," whieh sought to rid Hawai 'i of future LInited States military installations and declared among other things for the LInited States to: "Give heed to our voices. We have extended aloha to you, and you seek to extinguish our very being. Respect us; be aware that we were onee a sovereign international nation. We are descendants of a mighty civilization and deserve to be listen to in our own homeland." Like many mo'opuna, the life of my tūtū has been an inspiration to me. I only hope that I ean have the aloha, empathy and forgiveness that she had for people, while staying true to my na'au and being fearless in the face of injustice. The relationship that we shared will forever be an essential part of who I am. I miss her immensely, more than the most profound heartfelt musical composition could express. She was my rock, but she has prepared me to stand on my own. S 'O au nō me ke aloha ana 'ole, Kamana Beamer A mo'opuna of 30 years

Neil Hannahs, pictured at top, was affectionately dubbed Aunty Nona Beamer's "No. 3 son." He shares memories of her in a tribute he wrote for KWO. Here is an excerpt. To read Hannahs' entire tribute, visit www.oha.org/kawaiola. "Our daughters were exposed to hula at a very early age and Līhau also took an interest in learning to oli. One day in 1993, Līhau had an opportunity to chant for Aunty Nona. "Aunty sent Līhau a note with constructive and loving feedback that showcased her cultural depth, encouraging

teaching style and penchant for writing in shorthand. Dear Līhau - How pleased I was 2 hear yourfine ehanh Your voice is very good - clear & pleasant. I hope U will keep up w/ your chanting. You have a talentfor it. Don't rush yourseJf - breathe deeply & sustain your tones. Think about. the meaning ofyour words & your heart will ovetflow in your voice. This will give you great. u.nderst.anding & you.r voice will reflect.you.r love. Mueh love 2 U dear & 2 t.hefamily. Come C me anyt.ime! Au:nty Nona " [3

HE HO'OMANA'O - IN MEM0RIAM —