Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 2, 1 Pepeluali 2010 — ʻAha Hīpuʻu ... 21 st century leaders [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻAha Hīpuʻu ... 21 st century leaders

Aloha e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino, nā pulapula a Hāloa, mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau a puni ke ao mālamalama. Aloha e nā kūpuna kahiko, nāna e ho'oūlu mai nei, iā kākou e holopono, a loa'a e ka lei lanakila. In a 2006 publication registered with the U.S. Library of Congress is recorded the first and historic convention joining the four Hawaiian Royal Societies together, the 'Aha

Hlpu'u. The significance of this name is enlightened by author Hailama Farden, who recounts mo'olelo shared by JimBartels withmembers ofMāmakakaua (the Hawaiian Royal Society, Daughters and Sons of Hawaiian Warriors) regarding the term 'aha. Bartels is noted to have said, "If you were to look through the jewels of Kalākaua and the monarchs of the late 1800s, you might be surprised to find, among the rubies, emeralds and other precious jewels, a spool of 'aha. One might wonder why the King would have a spool of cordage? Well that spool was just as precious as any precious gem. At the birth of an ali'i, a cordage of olonā or coconut sennit was woven. Into this cordage, or 'aha, words were chanted as if the words themselves helped to bind the 'aha. As the ali'i child grew, so too did his 'aha. When the ali'i heeame the custodian of an area or even district the 'aha was strung to surround his compound. Two other pieces of 'aha were strung across the doorway of the ali'i's house. It is said that when an ali'i of higher rank entered the area of the ali'i's compound, the 'aha would mysteriously drop to the ground signifying that a higher ali'i was present. At the death of the ali'i, the same 'aha was used to wrap the bleached bones of the said ali'i creating his kā'ai or woven casket." Hailama attributes this story as the significant building hloek for the historic gathering ('Aha), the first convention of

the Hawaiian Royal Societies held in 2006. Hailama notes, "The word 'aha means 'gathering.' Hlpu'u refers to the clasp of a neeklaee, holding it securely, thus 'Aha Hīpu'u means 'the clasped gathering' or the 'secure cordage.' " And holds the spirit of the name 'Aha Hīpu'u to be the eall for unified effort, productivity and leadership into the future for Hawaiians by members of the Hawaiian Royal Societies, The Royal Order of Kamehameha I, The 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu,

The Hale O Nā Ali'i O Hawai'i and the Daughters and Sons of Hawaiian Warriors - MĀMAKAKAUA. Even prior to the 2006 convention, the spirit of the 'Aha Hīpu'u established itself and began to grow. In his recorded account, Hailama Farden attributes mueh of the credit for the formation of the 'Aha Hīpu'u, in 2003, to Edward Akana, who at that time served as the Ali'i 'Ai Moku of the Hawai'i Chapter of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I. For it was he who called leaders of eaeh of the Royal Societies to caution and to be alert to the challenges Hawaiians were facing politically and in the courts, referring to published accounts that the U.S. Senate was trying to remove Hawaiians as recipients of funding from Congress. Leaders of Royal Order of Kamehameha I, The 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu, The Hale O Nā Ali'i O Hawai'i and the Daughters and Sons of Hawaiian Warriors - MĀMAKAKAUA sought out the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, met with me and Administrator Nāmu'o to raise the concerns about the tone of the Congressional challenge to Native Hawaiians and expressed their desire to join in the effort to defend Hawaiian interests. As we say, the rest is history, as that timely meeting launched active participation of the 'Aha Hīpu'u in matters at the nation's Capitol ( . . . to be continued). 14/48 ■

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Haunani Apuliuna, MSW ChairpErsūn, TrustEE, At-largE