Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 5, 1 Mei 2013 — Autism not a barrier for May Day King [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Autism not a barrier for May Day King

ByTreenaShapiro When Chanz Palau went out for a spot on his school's May Day court, he was hoping for a spot in the background where he could honor his heritage without being the center of attention. However, at the school assembly to announee the court, there was only one position left when the sixth-grader's name was called out -May Day King. "I was so surprised. I wanted to be na kahu," Chanz says, referring to a May Day attendant. "We were literally dumbfounded," said Chanz's mom, Teri "Pua" Kamahoahoa, who was with her son at Blanche Pope Elementary School during the assembly. Since the announcement, the family has embraced the honor, whieh Chanz earned with a 350-word essay, an interview andrecommendations from his teachers. "He'U appreciate it more than they'll ever know," Pua says. Instead of wearing a traditional white May Day outfit with a sash, Chanz will be dressing in the style of King David Kalākaua because he, like Chanz, was an out-of-the-box thinker, notes Pua. Chanz, 12, tends to do things differently fromhis peers. It began roughly a decade ago when he started having developmental setbacks. "Hejustkind of went mute," Pua describes. He wasn't just quiet. He'd stopped eating the normal Hawaiian fare like fish and poi that he'd previously enjoyed. Worse, he wasn't smiling. Chanz was ultimately diagnosed

with autism at age 3, making his mom apprehensive when it eame time for himto start kindergarten two years later. "We were really troubled. We worried the other kids wouldn't accept him" Luckily his home school was Pope Elementary, whieh has a high Native Hawaiian populahon anda dedicated staff that has helped Chanz grow into a very articulate and inquisitive young man with a talent for math and science and a passion for Legos and gardening. "They treated him very well," Pua says. "Normal." The Waimānalo school has actually helped the whole family, impressing on them the importance of perseverance and pahenee. Pahenee is so important to the family that it heeame the name of Chanz's younger brother. As for perseverance, Chanz's family moved to Pearl City after his mother married his stepfather, Paiea Kamahoahoa, but they still find a way to get Chanz to and from Waimānalo every school day because, as Pua asks rhetorically, "What is your child worth?" Chanz spends most of his school day in regular classes, where he hasn't had the social problems his mother feared. In fact, he's a member of the student eouneil. "My friends and I, we've been helping A-plus kids with their homework," Chanz points out. It tums out Chanz ean also dance and keep a beat, something that thrills his parents, who both dance hula. By early Apiil, Chanz knew the music so well that he was able to keep practice going when the students were missing a CD. Chanz is writing his own oli for the ceremony to thank the school he'll be graduating from this year. "They helped him big time," Pua explains. "He wants to tell his teachers thank you." ■ Treena Shapiro, afreelance writer, is aformer reporterfor the Honolulu StarBulletin and Honolulu Advertiser.

I Chanz Palau, second from left, wilh step- | dad Paiea Kamahoahoa, brother Pahenee and mom Teri. - I Photo: īreena Skpiro