Monday, February 13, 2012

Hale ‘o Akau

LF Kaipoleimanu Akau

Hello world! My name is Lin Fat Kaipoleimanu Akau. I was born in 1943 as the fifth surviving child of Charles Awana Akau [Yuen] and Jennie Wahine Ko'olau Ka'iu on the island of Kaua'i Kingdom of Hawai'i. My father was of Chinese and Hawaiian descent and my mother was Hawaiian Chinese. I am kanaka maoli.

I was raised in a small ahupua'a called Waipouli located between the towns of Kapa’a and Wailua, my earliest recollection takes me back at a very small house in Waipouli with "kukui hale po" (kerosene lamps) and kerosene stove and very dark and beautiful starlit nights.

My oldest brother was Charles Awana Akau, Jr. My older sister is Janet Kanui Hepa who still resides on the island of Kaua'i. My brother Milton Ku'ulei Aukai Akau lives in northern California. Next was my brother Stanley Lani Akau, Sr. And finaly, my hanai'd (paperless adoption)sister Cheryl Ku'ulei Spock. As you can see there are three surviving siblings and three deceased siblings.

Charles Awana Akau,  Jr Nowemapa 8, 1930 - 'Apelila 7, 2001

Awana 001.jpg'O Awana, ko'u kaikua'ana hiapo! My oldest brother joined the US Army Air Corp (US Air Force) when I was a keiki. He wasn't around when I was growing up since he was a career Air Force person, although he did make it back to the islands often, and had also been stationed at Hickam AFB, Oahu.

After retiring from the Air Force, he resided on Kaua'i and enjoyed being a tour bus driver, especially, with the Japanese tourist as he had a gift for languages and quite a practical joker.

He is survived by his children Adriane "Healani" Akau, Charles A. Akau III and step-children Larry P. Akau, Theresa Carol Casil and Sapphire l. Winston.

Stanley Lani Akau, Sr  'Aukake 10, 1939 - Nowemapa 7, 2006

Lani 001.jpg
Wala'au i keia la about my braddah Lani. Ey! I get plenty to talk about Lani. He kolohe nui!!! One of my earliest recollection, I was about 4 years old (neva go school yet). Was one Sunday morning. We stay sit in the pew. Lani bin lean ovah and say, "E Lin Fat, Butchy boy said he can bus' you up". He stay keep on needling me, until I had get so mad that I jump over the pews and put'um (Butchy boy)in one big headlock! Needless to say, my 'okole been get busted!! Dat was only da beginning. Even doh he was foah years oldah den me, we use to fight like hell. I tell everybody, that all the scars I get on my head had come from Lani. He da one bin make me tough.

But, bumbye, da buggah bin come my protectah! Wen I had get to high school, he stay always look out for my back! I get plenty to wala'au about that, but maybe bumbye.

Just fo now, 'ekahi moa story. Lani was so kolohe, dat dey bin send'um to one university by da name of Ko'olau U on O'ahu. He bin come so smaht ovah dea, dat the US Army bin draf'um. Gud ting too, because he had go Korea, and all dah wahines ova dea bin fall in love wit him (ass one more story too)!

Lani's children are, Braddah Jr., Stanford, Kyle, Kalei, Hannah, Charlene, Chantel and Gwen.

Cheryl Ku'ulei Spock  'Aukake 1, 1945 - 'Apelila 26, 2009

Cheryl.jpgThis is probably the hardest entry for me to write. Sister Cheryl's zest for life was one of the greatest feats of courage that I have ever witnessed in my lifetime. What can I say? I admired her fortitude. I was blessed to have spent some time with she and her family a few months before she was taken to heaven. And I watched her live her life with dignity.

I remember well when Cheryl wanted “the family” to meet her future husband John (Jack) Spock. Finding out that he was a haole, and me being kolohe, I made sure that he would be served some poke, the real Hawaiian style poke with limo kohu and inamona and pepa! Not the shoyu, sesame kind! Guess what? The buggah ate the poke without making any faces..... and I thought to myself, that this was a good man for Cheryl.

In later years, Cheryl told me that when we were young she would get huhu wela loa at me because I would chase away all of her boyfriends. But I guess that it was kismet, because she had a great life and family with Jack, Ruhiyyih Napualani Spock and Jamal Kamuela Spock!

HOUSE GUESTS FROM HELL - WHEN WILL THEY SAY FAREWELL?

Let's pretend I visit your house. You offer me food and rest. I decide to stay.

Then, I order you and your family around, use your things and rearrange the rooms. I take down your photos and religious symbols, replace them with my own and make you speak my language.

One day, I dig up your garden and replace it with crops that I can sell. You and your family must now buy all of your food from me.

Later, I invite my father and his buddies over. They bring guns. We take your keys. I forge a deed and declare my father to be the owner of your house. I bring more people. Some work for me.

Some pay me to stay in your house. I seize your savings and spend it on my friends. You and your family now sleep on the porch.

Finally you protest. Being reasonable, I let you stay in a corner of the house and give you a small allowance, but only if you behave. I tell you, "Sorry, I was wrong for taking the house." But when you demand your house back, I tell you to be realistic.

"You are part of this family now, whether you like it or not," I say. "Besides, this is for your own good. For all that I have done for you, why aren't you grateful?"

Free Hawaii Blog

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Iwi Na Kupuna (Our Ancestors Bones)

No pun intended, but Free Hawaii has a bone to pick with OHA's grant to Kawaiaha'o Church. Posted in January. Don't forget to turn off the audio on Kaulana Na Pua.

Kaulana Na Pua Background Music

Aloha kakou! Just a quick note for all of you when viewing this blog. When viewing any of the imbedded videos, you can turn off the "Kaulana Na Pua" background music by clicking on the 'X' on the player gadget. I decided to change the background song to "Kaulana Na Pua"

For those of us who have always "felt" something about the mele "Kaulana Na Pua" I offer the translation to this mele.

Famous are the children of Hawai`i
Ever loyal to the land
When the evil-hearted messenger comes
With his greedy document of extortion

Hawai`i, land of Keawe answers
Pi`ilani's bays help
Mano's Kaua`i lends support
And so do the sands of Kakuhihewa

No one will fix a signature
To the paper of the enemy
With its sin of annexation
And sale of native civil rights

We do not value
The government's sums of money
We are satisfied with the stones
Astonishing food of the land

We back Lili`ulani
Who has won the rights of the land
*(She will be crowned again)
Tell the story
Of the people who love their land

Please read the citation below for the history of "Kaulana Na Pua".

Ebert and Mahoe Na Mele 'o Hawai'i Nei Written Jan. 1893, published in 1895, this himeni opposed the annexation of Hawai`i to the United States. The original title was Mele `Ai Pohaku or The Stone-eating Song, and was also known as Mele Aloha `Aina or the Patriot's Song. This song was composed as Ellen Wright Prendergast was sitting in the garden of her father's house in Kapalama. Members of the Royal Hawaiian Band visited her and voiced their unhappiness at the takeover of the Hawaiian Kingdom. They begged her to put their feelings of rebellion to music.

Kahu Hanalei - Hewa of 1893 at Iolani Palace

Pretty good insight on the wrong done to the Hawaiians.

Hawaiian Reports Vol. 17 Supreme Court of the Territory of Hawaii

Aloha kakahiaka! Here are some stuff concerning our family in 1906:

  • Matter: Estate of S. Kaiu - p.514
  • Matter: Guardianship of Isaac Kaiu - p.517
  • Matter: J.O. Carter v (Wahine)Koolau Kaikainahaole, et al (Uncle John guys) - p.528
Click on this link, Hawaiian Reports then you can scroll to the pages to read a little bit of history!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Deborah Kapule, Simeon Kaiu, Josiah Kaumualii (Simon) Kaiu

From "A Residence of Twenty-One Years in the Sandwich Islands, by Bingham, Hiram 1848 Our Great Great Grandmother, Great Great Grandfather, Great Grandfather The previous sentence is a link to slice of na ali'i heritage.

Pinky's Show: Hawaii vs U.S. Imperialism

A history lesson concerning the Nation of Hawaii. This is a 25 minute presentation that looks at the statehood issue of Hawaii. Check it out when you have time!

Onipa'a

Translation: (Be) steadfast.

Explanation: Take your stand and be steadfast in doing what is right no matter what others say. This was the motto of Queen Liliuokalani who was overthrown by the Americans in 1893. Since 1993, the centennial commemoration of that event, Onipa'a has become a rallying cry for Hawaiians seeking redress and Hawaiian sovereignty.

Pukui, Mary Kawena. 'Olelo No'eau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings. Hawaii, Bishop Museum Press

Kala mai ia'u

I would like to apologize beforehand for some of the information that will be posted on this site. Essentially for the amount of information that will be posted to this site can already be found on the internet. So instead of re-inventing the wheel, I'll be citing other works that I have like knowledge and understanding and that I have researched.