Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 38, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 2021 — A Renaissance Wabine and Advocate for Traditional Birthing Practices [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Renaissance Wabine and Advocate for Traditional Birthing Practices

HE HO'OMANA'O I N MEMORIAM 1

Cami Kameaaloha Kanoa-Wong July 15, 1982 - Sept. 22, 2021

By ūan Ahuna, OHA Trustee, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau

With the recognition of Makahiki and Lā Kū'oko'a upon us, I wanted to take time to acknowledge an inspirational kanaka who held space within the lāhui in many parts of our community by upholding important eultural traditions. For someone our 'ohana considers a tita, 'anakē, teacher, and friend - eia kekahi hali'a aloha no Kameaaloha. Cami Kameaaloha Kanoa-Wong transitioned from the physical realm during the 2021 fall equinox, known as Piko o Wākea. Though friends and 'ohana mourn her passing, I'd like to, along with others in our communities, recognize her in the light she's shown. Cami helped me to understand and have deeper regard for kānaka like her - wearing many hats, always carrying the knowledge of kūpuna, juggling many kuleana, raising keiki, and through it all, remaining in aloha. As modern Kanaka Aloha Āina, it's almost necessary, in one way or another, to live like this. She was a "Renaissance Wahine," shared her makuahine, Aunty Kim

Ku'ulei Birnie. Cami's range of activism, grounded in aloha, was vast for an opio. She reached into Native Hawaiian health and advocacy for traditional wahine birthing rights and practices, and testified at the legislature many times to bring awareness and life to the ongoing traditions that are involved in the caring for and raising of our keiki. She was a kumu, makua, and active supporter of Pūnana Leo, Kaiapuni, Hawaiian-Focused Charter Schools, Kamehameha Schools, and other educational programs with 'Ōiwi-driven missions and visions. Raised as she was, she avidly and vocally supported the ways of ceremony with 'ike kūpuna, along with her own 'ohana, and many other well-respected practitioners like the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana, Nā Lau a Hina, and Nā Pualei o Likolehua - our kaiāulu was witness to her soul in motion as an ongoing learner and doer of many things. I've often heard Cami being compared to Haumea, the wonderful wahine and creator, the one who births in many forms and throughout the generations. Cami birthed four beautiful children at home and serves as an inspiration to the process in whieh we hāpai

and hānau. She and her kāne, Lāiana, are esteemed by many as a eouple full of ea and fueled by aloha aina 'oia'i'o. Together they've continued to share and educate the lāhui through normalizing and building upon our 'ike Hawai'i by notably focusing on the history and stories of our Hae Hawai'i, Lā Ho'iho'i Ea, Lā Kū'oko'a, traditions in Makahiki, 'awa ceremony, and more - all perpetuating and breathing more into our ea over and over for generations to eome. Ihe olelo no'eau "awaiaulu ke aloha" (love made fast by tying together) comes to mind as I think about Cami and Lāiana. An amazing fusion of the energies raised in the malu of Kaho'olawe and olelo Hawai'i brought to fruition in the form of

Kānaka Maoli who journey among us. Their aloha for one another and this lāhui is held in such high regard. Lāiana shares, "I feel so grateful for our time together. It feels like I've fallen in love with a kinolau of Haumea. Cami lived a beautiful life of aloha aina, 'ohana and lāhui. I know she will be an amazing ancestor and an inspiration to our lāhui." Ua 'ike au iā Kameaaloha i ka mea aloha a ka mea aloha no ka mea aloha mau nō ke aloha o Kameaaloha nō ia. On behalf of myself, my 'ohana and staff, mahalo nui to the 'ohana Kanoa-Wong for dreaming, birthing, raising, and sharing a beautiful example of wahine mana, makuahine kupaianaha, and kanaka aloha 'āina with this generation. Cami will be missed tremendously. #kameaaloha Mālama pono lāhui. ■

Cami Kameaaloha Kanoa-Wong

Ka 'Ohana Kanoa-Wong. - Photos: Courtesy