Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 9, 1 September 2013 — Kuʻu Tūtū Aloha ... Kaʻahaʻāina Naihe [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kuʻu Tūtū Aloha ... Kaʻahaʻāina Naihe

Aloha e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino, nā pulapula a Hāloa mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau a puni ke ao mālamalama. She is a "card-carrying rider" of TheBus, attends Royal Hawaiian Band concerts at 'Iolani Palaee, by bus, travels to Waiklkl to the International Market Plaee, hangs out with Ke Ola Pono No Nā Kūpuna of ALU LIKE sharing in their educational sessions and related activities. But, she makes sure not to neglect time

to elean her yard and care for her plants; as well as to regularly attend Sunday church services. She exudes ealm, peaee and humility and embodies vigor, independence and self-sufficiency. Her outlook on life's wonders far exceeds her 94 years. As the offspring of Rachel Ha'ani'o and George Kahale'ani'ani Ka'imihana, she has experienced mueh. Needless to say, every 'ohana has special stories to tell, memories to cherish and gifts of the spirit beyond measure. This is a snapshot of hers. (See top photo.) This kupuna wahine is Eliza Ka'imihana Nāho'eu, born March 26, 1919, in Keauhou, Kona. She shares the same birthdate with Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole, and noted that the old folks had told her of aenealoaieal ties to

Prince Kūhiō through a princess of Kaua'i named Kaila. On a recent afternoon at Mu'olaulani in Honolulu, Tūtū Eliza reminisced about her "kamali'i and 'ōpio" days. As a youngster, both her parents were not able to adequately care for her; consequently, she was cared from age 3 to 16 by her Tūtū Ka'aha'āina Naihe, who resided in Honolulu.

Tūtū Eliza recalls that while residing in Honolulu, Ka'aha'āina Naihe also looked after children from the Cooke family, including Montague Cooke, who grew into his adulthood as an archaeologist at the Bishop Museum. Tūtū remarked: "The Cooke's were very kind to my Tūtū Naihe. I believe that because she took such loving care of the Cooke children, like Montague, the Cookes in turn made sure that my Tūtū always had adequate provisions to sustain her while in

Honolulu. Theirkōkua was long term. In fact in later years when my Tūtū Naihe longed to return to Kona, the Cooke's provided her with a residence down by the heaeh. And that is where Tūtū Ka'aha'āina and I resided until I was 16 when she fell gravely ill and I had to go to Hilo to live with her 'ohana Ho'ā until I was about 18." "My Tūtū Naihe was a kind woman; never spanked or spoke harshly." Speaking only in Hawaiian, Tūtū Naihe would instruct and say, "Mo'opuna, mai hana me kēlā, 'a'ole maika'i kēlā." (Come, please don't do that again, what you did was not right). Eliza would reply, "I'm sorry, Tūtū, I won't do it again." Eliza says, "Tūtū Ka'aha'āina Naihe would sit in her rockina chair eaeh dav and

read her Bible; and, she would take me (Eliza) to church every Sunday. My Tūtū was the most kind and loving grandmother." Tūtū Eliza remains ever grateful to her kupuna, herTūtū Ka 'aha 'āina Naihe ' 'no kona lokomaika'i a me kona leo heahea." 8/48 ■

Haunani Apnlinna, MSW TrustEE, At-largE

Eliza Ka'imihana Nāho'eu. - Courtesy photos

Tūtū Ka'aha'āina Naihe.