Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 10, 1 October 2014 — Ka Himeni ʻAna: Ua piha ka ʻumeke ola [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ka Himeni ʻAna: Ua piha ka ʻumeke ola

Aloha e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino, nā pulapula a Hāloa, mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau, puni ke ao mālamalama . "To every thing there is a season. . ." andthe seasons of the past three decades, 30 years, was celebrated on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, in the final dedication of Ka Himeni 'Ana 2014 to Richard Munro īowill. His 'ohana recalls, "His fondest childhood memory was the sweet sound of nahenahe Hawaiian melodies, shared by Hawaiian

musicians, who would travel the neighborhood during the holidays in a touring car in Kapa'a, on Kauai." Those sweet melodic childhood memories carried Richard Munro īowill, born to Roswell Murray and Jeannie Munro īowill on June 29, 1929, throughout his lifetime until his peaceful passing in the afternoon Jan. 31, 2014. He attended Hanahau'oli, Punahou School class of 1947, at MIT earned a Civil Engineering Degree, and served in the Air Force. Unon

returning, he assumed the Presidency of RM īowill Corporation, one of the largest civil engineering, surveying and aerial mapping companies in Hawai'i. Notable engineering projects included: Honolulu Airport's reef runway, the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway on Hawai'i Island, the Sand Island and Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plants and the Mount Ka'ala access road. Additionally, Richard published his grandfather "Pa" Munro's The Story ofLāna 'i that is filled with Hawaiian genealogies and images of ranching days on Lāna'i. Today particularly, we celebrate his achievement and gift given 30 years, Ka Himeni 'Ana. His childhood, inspired by Kaua'i melodies and musicians, truly blazed the trail for many Hawaiian musicians and concurrently brought great benefit to those who love and support Hawaiian music. From the humble beginnings of UH Orvis Auditorium with assistant Marge Hansen at his side, Richard stayed committed to the performance of "unamplified" nahenahe Hawaiian music up to and through the final

years at the Hawai'i Theatre. Eaeh concert brought an evening of aloha, fragrant 'awapuhi "wafting" and fine music. Between 1983 and 2014, first-place performances went to: Waikahe, Na Wahine Lei Nani, Kahanakealoha Serenaders, Kipona Leo Hawai'i, Malie, Kamaka, Beazley& Kumukahi, Na 'Ike, Hoahanau, Pomaika'i, La'akea, The Kanile'a Connection, Moana Chang & Family, Kanilau, Pa'ahana, Na Pu'ukani, Ale'a, Pai'ea, Lihua, Ho'omali,

Kamalani, 20th Anniversary Concert, Holunape, Pilialoha, UH Hawaiian Combo, Keauhou, Kaiholu, Ho'op'i 'Ohana, Mokoli'i, Kuini, Kaiao and Kono 'Ohana. For eaeh first-place performanee over the 30 years, generally, there were three, four or five additional groups participating in the competition whieh would suggest that Ka Himeni 'Ana welcomed more than 140 groups to the stage. Richard said of Ka Himeni 'Ana, it was "a treat to the senses and where all of

the participants were winners!" Over the same time period, special "honorees" were recognized by Ka Himeni 'Ana for their contributions to Hawaiian music that included: A. Namakelua, J. Almeida, M. Pukui, A. Cummings, S. Bright, C. Davis, I. Aluli, R. Kinney, C. Sproat, K. Maunakea, H.D. Beamer, B. Kaiwa, I'i Rodrigues, L. Collins, K. Lake, M. Hohu, Kealiiwahamana, J. Cooke, H. Apoliona, L. Machado, N. Beamer, C.K. Beamer, C. King, A. Mahi, K. Kumukahi, N. Nahulu, E. Kamae, E and G. Keawe, M. Beamer, Leo Nahenahe Singers, and R.M. īowill. We say mahalo to the man who believed in and celebrated "nahenahe" Hawaiian music and extend his family's message: "The īowill 'ohana are humbly proud of the incredible successes of Ka Himeni 'Ana! Whenever we hear the lovely mele of a winning group throughout Hawai'i nei, it warms our hearts and makes us smile. Mahalo nui loa to all that gave graciously of the time and talent that contributed to KHA's (Ka Himeni 'Ana) success!" 22/48 ■

Haunani Apnlinna, MSW TrustEE, At-largE

Richard Munro īowill. - Courtesv oholo