Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 5, 1 May 2010 — Kohala Kuamoʻo [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kohala Kuamoʻo

New book comes on 200th yean of Kamehameha's unification of islands By Lani Eugenio On Thursday, June 10, from 6 to 8 p.m., a new book, Kohala Kuamo'o: Nae'ole's Race to Save a King, by 10-year-old author Kekauleleanae'ole Kawai'ae'a will be officially launched at the Kohala Senior Center behind the Kamehameha Statue. The title, Kohala Kuamo'o refers to the trails and paths in Kohala that are integral to the story of Nae'ole and Kamehameha. The book-signing event will be sponsored by Kamehameha Publishina, the Kohala-

based Kamehameha Day Celebrations Committee and the Kohala Hawaiian Civic Club in honor of the young author, Kekauleleanae'ole; his illustrator father, Aaron; and his mo'olelo-sharing grandparents, Walter and Luana Kawai'ae'a. The book is not what one would expect of such a young author, who was 9 when he wrote it. Kohala Kuamo'o is wonderfully composed, written in both English and Hawaiian, with translations by Keoni Kelekolio. Its grammatical, cultural and historical accuracy was checked by the publisher with Kohala's historian, Fred Cachola, as consultant. Kohala Kuamo'o comes alive in a bold art form, illustrating the strength of the characters and the severe conditions NTap'r\lp fanc*r I in laie npp trx ea tTir«

King. Kohala Kuamo 'o is the culmination of three generations of talent that began with Kekaulele's grandparents: Walter, a musician, and Luana, a stewardess (and "Lucky You Live Hawai'i" poster girl), who both did promotional work for Hawaiian Airlines. Their airline connection allowed their children - including the author's father - to often travel from Honolulu to Kohala to visit with Luana's parents, Louisa and Lavon Pugmire, and the family of her sister Leilani Scovel. As a result, they heeame familiar with the land of their ancestors and were immersed in the culture with

its emphasis on 'ohana (genealogy), mālama 'āina (ecology) and aloha. These values were practiced in their families, whieh included their historian-kūpuna, Armstrong Yamamoto and Dale Sproat. Although Luana's family were natives of Kohala, it was Walter's maternal genealogy that tied into Nae'ole's line. Walter's sixth greatgrandmother, 'Ō'ūmakaokawauke'oi'ōpiopio, was born in 'Āwini and was the great-great granddaughter of Kaha'ōpūlani, foster mother of Kamehameha and half sister to the great runner and Kohala Chief, Nae'ole. The story of Kamehameha being whisked away to the valleys was well known, but the details of the story were not known until Fred Cachola recorded Keoki Pinehaka's mo'olelo. In 1974, Marie McDonald asked him to write the story in the Kohala High School yearbook. This mo'olelo of Nae'ole and the community that protected the baby Kamehameha is the story Walter and Luana passed down to their children, Kaihilei, Aaron and Maūhew. By age 5, Aaron was a gifted artist with a keen sense of color and detail. He was especially drawn to this story and imagined how Kamehameha was carried to 'Āwini by their ancestor Nae'ole. Aaron felt so connected to this ancestor that while still a child, he was prompted to tell his father that he was going to name his first born son "Nae'ole." Aaron's son was bom in 1999, and he hoped to name himNae'ole. However, in keeping with cultural traditions, the inoa had to be approved by a trusted kupuna or the keepers of the name, so Aaron requested permission from his father to use the name. Walter then asked for verifieahon from his mentor, fellow musician and kumu, Kahauanu Lake. Several days later the answer eame in the formon an inoa pō or "dream name." Kahauanu proclaimed the name to be "Kekauleleanae'ole," The Flight of Nae'ole. A person's inoa is a prized possession and Unele K advised Walter: "Tell your grandson the meaning of the name and tell him the stories. Do it over and over so he remembers and knows who he is and where he comes from." When the baby's name was confirmed, Aaron knew he needed to do a children's book on his favorite childhood story. He just had to wait for a good writer to eome along, one who was as passionate about the story as he was. While Aaron was waiting for an author for his book, Kekaulele was growing into a studious young man. He was an avid reader, and by the time he was in the second grade at Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu, his reading comprehension was at the fifth-grade level. At the end of second grade, Kekaulele began carrying a journal with him and writing his thoughts and feelings down every time he read a book. Grandfather Walter passed on the family mo'olelo and would tell Kekaulele to write them down, whieh he faithfully did. Meanwhile, Aaron mentioned to Anna

Sumida, Kamehameha Schools resource teacher, that his dream was to illustrate a ehildren's book and was looking for an author. To his surprise, she said: "You have a writer. It's your son." In 2008, Kekaulele wrote the Nae'ole story, his father illustrated it, his Grandpa Walter was the historian and Grandma Luana served as editor. Ironically, instead of correcting his work, his grandmother had to scale down the story and simplify the words because Kekaulele was so eager to use words from his advanced vocabulary. After winning the Golden Peneil award, sponsored by Kamehameha Schools, Ms. Sumida then sent the story and pictures to Kamehameha Publishing's editor and the team decided to fast-track the project for 2010. Keola Akana of Kamehameha Publishing stated: "For a book to make it to the front of the line is pretty remarkable. This year marks the 200th year of Kamehameha's uniheahon of the Hawaiian Islands, and as the namesake of Kamehameha Schools, it gives more value to the book and story. In addition, because KS focuses on family education and building community, we felt that it is important to highlight the efforts of the three generations of the Kawai'ae'a 'ohana and the story the Kohala community played in protecting Kamehameha." Keoki Pinehaka's mo'olelo was recorded, researched and perpetuated by Fred Cachola. Dr. Kēhau Abad, director of Kamehameha Publishing, is Fred Cachola's daughter. Interestingly, people who played major roles in the fruition of this book have ties to Kohala. The kūpuna say that it's their 'ohana calling them back to their ancestral home. Kekaulele feels a great sense of pride in belonging to such a rich heritage originating in Kohala. He knows that with his inoa, Kekauleleanae'ole, comes a level of responsibility to carry that mo'olelo with honor and humility. "I feel a sense of connection to my ancestors. I wanted to write this mo'olelo to inspire others my age to write their family stories," he said. It is believed that a special inoa comes at a certain time and the ancestors know to whom and when such a name is to be given. Nae'ole means "without shortness of breath," and his name sustained him as he ran with the baby Kamehameha throughout Kohala and the valleys. The name "Nae'ole" was for his time, for his calling, for his era. This is the time of Kekauleleanae'ole, The Flight of Nae'ole. It is the time to put the mo'olelo in book form to be shared and cherished. It is the time to turn to family genealogy, for children to research their forefathers. The "flight" is now the race to collect the oral mo'olelo from our kūpuna, who will tell their stories "without shortness of breath." Kekauleleanae'ole is this time of inspiration! ■ Lani Eugenio, a grant writer anel writer of radio jingles, lives in Kohala.

Book launeh June 10 6-8 p.m. Kohala SeniorCenter The puhlie is weleome to meet the young author anel his 'ohana for a book signing featuring food and entertainment. Copies will be sold atthe discounted price of $12 both here and atthe June 11 Ho'olaule'a at Kamehameha Park in Kohala. Proceeds from the sales will benefit the Kohala-based Kamehameha Day Celebrations Committee.

Kohala historian Fred Cachola, center, with Kekauleleanae'ole Kawai'ae'a and his father, Aaron. - Photo: Courtesy of Kamehameha Publishing