Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 10, 1 October 1993 — OHA kūpuna conference convenes this month [ARTICLE]

OHA kūpuna conference convenes this month

'Aha Kūpuna, OHA's sixth annual kūpuna conference, was scheduled for Sept. 30 through Oct. 3 on the island of Hawai'i at King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona. "Kūpuna" are defined as Hawaiians who are age 55 and over or who are grandparents. Hawaiians believe kūpuna to be their source of traditional cultural beliefs, practices and values. The theme for this year's conference is "Mālama i ka Ipu - Mai ka Ipu Nui Mai, Ka

Po'okela (Care for the Ipu, Within the Big Gourd there is Excellence)." The ipu, or gourd, was selected because it symbolizes belonging, binding and connecting as a means of healing, first as individuals, then as 'ohana, community, nation and the world. At the 'aha's conclusion three awards were to be presented to exemplary kūpuna, one eaeh from the OHA trustees, the kūpuna planning committee and the 'aha participants. .