Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 8, 1 ʻAukake 2010 — Aunty Haliʻa's legacy of language [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Aunty Haliʻa's legacy of language

By Dawn F. Kawahara Frances Nelson Frazier's important new book, Hali'a of Hawai'i, A Legacy of Language (soft cover, 6x9, 244 pages), published by Kaua'i's TropicBird Press in tandem with AuthorHouse, is now available. The Hawai'i-based TropicBird Press is also the Hawai'i distributor. Kupuna Frazier, known as "Aunty Hali'a" to her inner circle and designated a Living Treasure by the Kaua'i Museum, is a Hawaiian translator who studied directly underMary Kawena Pukui and

Samuel H. Elbert and worked on the preparation of the Hawaiian Dictionary. She worked as the State Translator for many years with land deeds and other archival documents, and occasionally defended the rights of people in court. She is the translator of two award-winning books, The True Story ofKaluaiko 'olau as Told by Pi'ilani, anel Kamehameha anel His Warrior Kekauhaupī'o, and other works of importance. The author celebrated her 96th birthday on July 6, 2010, in Anahola, Kaua'i, with her daughter Stephanie Frazier and a close circle of friends. In her memoir, Hali'a, the author gives granddaughter Lisa Leinaala and her sisters - as well as her general puhlie - her personal history against a backdrop of almost 100 years of history in Hawai'i, weaving her special blend of anecdote, genealogy, story and viewpoint in 27 compelling chapters, whieh also take in her "Travels with Hal," her engineer husband, the late Harold Frazier, and a sojourn abroad. I feel most honored to have been entrusted with this book project by the author, her daughter Stephanie, and her hānai daughter Kathy Valier. Stephanie Frazier provided alhum photo-

graphs and papers, as well as the archival papers of her grandfather, "The Diary and Ships' Log" of Capt. Richard Nelson, whieh is included as a bonus at book's end. My commitment to bring this book into being since I received the first computer files in April of 2008 has been a labor of love for a woman whom I greatly admire and wish to emulate in my own life and work. Valier, also an author, organized the original computer files and worked with me and with Frances in the editing process. Also included in the book is a "Photo Alhum," whieh includes archival photos of Lani Kai pre-development, and the sailing ship īillie E. Starbuck - the first, and maybe the only, iron ship to be built in the United States. It was on the Starbuck that Richard Nelson first arrived at Brewer's Wharf in Honolulu, from an arduous and adventurefilled journey around Cape Horn in the early 1900s. Hali'a of Hawai'i is divided into six sections: "Beginnings" (1914-1950s), whieh includes Kupuna Frazier's genealogy and opening letter to Lisa Leinaala, one of her three granddaughters; "Travels with Hal" (1960s to early 1970s), covering their eomings and goings and the author's

observations of culture shock living in East Pakistan, drawing from her "Pakistan Diary," a furlough at home on O'ahu, and an unforgettable trip on the Orient Express; "Photo Alhum"; "Hawai'i Nei" (1970s-present), covering court cases, a stint at the State Archives, Hurricane 'Iniki and book projects; "Et Cetera" from the Papers of Frances N. Frazier, including a 1972 letter from Kenneth P. Emory of the Bishop Museum and the author's notes on Ko'olau "the Leper," titled "Profile of Courage," prepared for the Jack London Society Sympo-

sium. The sixth section is the special addition: "The Diary and Ships' Log (Condensed)" of her Master Mariner father Capt. RichardNelson (1876-1960), detailing his seamanship training, voyages and sea challenges, and captaining the Interisland steamers during Hawai'i's "sugar days." Hali'a of Hawai'i and other TropicBird Press books are available at this time on Kaua'i at Borders Books & Music, (Llhu'e), Kaua'i Museum Shop (Llhu'e), Kōke'e Natural History Museum Shop (Kōke'e State Park), Nā 'Āina Kai Gardens gift shop (Kīlauea), and the Waimea General Store (Kekaha). Hali'a has also been placed as gift of cover photographer Dana Edmunds and Mrs. Ginger Edmunds in Kailua Regional Library; as a gift of Molly Kaimi Summers in the Kaua'i Community College Learning Resource Center; and by the publisher in the Līhu'e and Koloa regional libraries. For information or to order a copy fromoutside Kaua'i, contact Editor/Publisher Dawn Kawahara via www.tropicbirdpress.net, or by mail: TropicBird Press, 5753 Noni St., Kapa'a, HI 96746. ■ Dawn F. Kawaham i.s the Edi.tor and Publi.sher ofTropi.c Bird Press.

Hali'a ofHawai'i, A Legacy ofLanguage TropicBird Press and AuthorHouse

Hali'a of Hawai'i, A Legacy of Language Dawn Kawahara will present "The Story Behind the Book and its Stories" at 2 p.m. Aug. 7 at Borders Books & Music in Lihu'e, Kaua'i. Special guests will be announced.

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The new memoir by Kaua'i Living Treasure Frances Nelson Frazier, noted Hawaiian translator. - Coverphoto by Dana Edmunds Photography, Kailua, O'ahu

Frances "Hali'a" Frazier, 96, signs a copy of her book for her daughter Stephanie Frazier. - Photo: Courtesy of īropicBird Press/Dawn F. Kawaham