Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 7, 1 July 2004 — I mua e nā ʻōiwi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

I mua e nā ʻōiwi

Aloha e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino, nā 'ōiwi Hawai'i. June 13, marked the 35th annual Kamehameha Lei Draping Ceremony sponsored by the Hawai'i State Society of Washington, D.C., Hui Moku'āina O Hawai'i ma Wakinekona, D.C. This was the second year OHA trustees participated in the ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol Building, but marked the first time, trustees were joined by members of the Royal Societies - the Daughters and Sons of Hawaiian Warriors, Māmākakaua; the Royal Order of Kamehameha; 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu; and Hale O Nā Ali'i o Hawai'i along, with leaders of the Mainland Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs representing Alaska, California, Colorado, Nevada and Utah. The State Society's written program noted, "Eaeh year, on or about June llth, to coincide with the celebration of Kamehameha Day in Hawai'i, the Hawai'i State Society officiates the Kamehameha Lei Draping Ceremony in Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol, Washington D.C. Area Hawaiians, our Hawaiian 'cousins' ... friends and supporters make the trek from New York,

Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, Maryland, Virginia - adding Delaware and Connecticut in 2004 and even Hawai'i Nei to participate in the ceremony. This day of homage is filled with aloha for the people; we embrace ... and we renew our relationships with 'ohana. This day of homage is filled with aloha for the land, aloha 'āina. This day of homage is filled with aloha for the warrior king who united our island nation." The Hawai'i State Society has guided this 35year tradition to honor King Kamehameha from the year of the first unveiling of his statue to the present. Historic accounts of the unveiling reveal that, "on Tuesday, April 15, 1969, the statues of King Kamehameha I and Father Damien were unveiled in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Washington D.C. The momentous event was televised in Hawai'i. Dignitaries in attendance were Spark Matsunaga, U.S. Representative; Myron Thompson, administrative assistant representing Governor John A. Burns; Ainsley Mahikoa, president of the Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association; Gladys Brandt, principal of the Kamehameha School for Girls; Harold Dole Māhealani

(Mahina) Bailey, president of the Hawai'i State Society; Dale Nohle, music director, with the men and women of the Kamehameha Schools Concert Glee Club." The 2004 ceremonies opened with Māmakakaua Kuhina Hope, Kawao Durante and 01ive Souza leading the oli kāhea and "Mele Inoa o Kamehameha /." Students of the Peaee Team of 'īao School, Wailuku, Maui presented oli supported by their kupuna and their kumu Lei'ohu Ryder. Congressional Speakers along with Senator Akaka shared mana'o with those in attendance. It brought back to mind mana'o I shared at the 2003 Kamehameha Lei Draping gathering in my following remarks, "As Hawaiians and as people who love our Hawai'i, we gather at the shores of this oeean, the Atlantic, in the bosom of our nation's capitol, to commemorate the legacy of Kamehameha — the 19th century warrior and indigenous leader who united the governanee and political structure of Hawai'i. Today's simple but profound act of lei draping — the recollection, commemoration and tribute to our ancestor, recognized here among other leaders historic to this

nation, serves to renew the mission and vision of indigenous Hawaiian leaders of the 21st century and to focus our energies toward unifying Hawaiian governance and advancing Hawaiian self-determination. Native Hawaiians in Hawai'i and across this country away from our Pacific Island shores have a ehallenge to shape unification that builds upon the 19th century efforts of Kamehameha. Native Hawaiians have the opportunity to design our future governance and political structure as indigenous people — balanced by tradition — in the eontext of the 21st century. We must work to advance the appreciation for Native Hawaiians, through policy makers and policy implementers and through those who make the difference in determining both. The voice of our 20th century mō'īwahine and indigenous leader Queen Lili'uokalani went unheeded in these hallowed halls of democracy. In this 21st century, let our voices remind this nation that reconciliation with the indigenous people of Hawaii'i is not yet complete." Hele paha kākou ma Iune 2005? 44/48 ■

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Haunani Apoliona, MSW Trustee, At-large