NŪ HOU - NEWSBRIEFS

Nū Hou

By Ka Wai Ola Staff

Princess Abigail Kawananākoa sat near one of the royal thrones; Aaron Mahi was her attendant and La'akea Suganuma, armed with spear, stood sentinel during a recreation of Kalākaua's 1883 coronation. Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

Kalākaua coronation remembered

The 125th anniversary of the 1883 coronation of His Majesty Ka Mō'ī, David Kalākaua and Queen Kapi'olani was observed on the grounds of 'Iolani Palace on 12 Pepeluali 2008 with a recreation of the original ceremonies. The bandstand-coronation pavilion featured two royal thrones, a golden pūlo'ulo'u and a Hawaiian royal standard (flag).

Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawananākoa, great-grandniece of Queen Kapi'olani and King Kalākaua, and her nephew, David Kawananākoa, sat in two large chairs beside the thrones. Former Royal Hawaiian bandmaster Aaron Mahi attended to the princess, and Hawaiian warrior La'akea Suganuma, armed with a spear, stood as her sentinel.

The Royal Hawaiian Band and dignitaries from across the state and globe sat under large tents near the bandstand.

Dignitaries included prominent Hawaiians in business, education, medicine, government and the royal societies; kūpuna; high-ranking members of the Masons; local government and military leaders; representatives of several consulates; and descendants of the Kalākaua dynasty.

The recreation was taken from an account published by the Advertiser Steam Printing House in 1883. Princess Kawananākoa sponsored the recreation, along with the Friends of 'Iolani Palace.

After the noontime ceremony, a queue snaked around the palace of people waiting to see a one-day exhibit of jewels associated with Kalākaua: the 18-karat gold ring he wore to his coronation, an 18-carat gold necklace of miniature royal orders made of diamonds, and a 11.75-carat capstone diamond that he wore before presenting it on a pendant to his queen. The pieces were on loan by Princess Kawananākoa and the Bishop Museum.

NEW DHHL DEPUTY

Gov. Linda Lingle has named Kaulana Park, the state's homeless solutions team leader, to become the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands deputy director, the position vacated by Ben Henderson.

Kaulana Park

Park, a Kamehameha Schools and Stanford University graduate, has a background in banking, and previously managed the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund.

Park served as the executive assistant to DHHL chairman Micah Kane before being tapped as the state's homeless solution coordinator. Under his watch, more than 2,100 people were helped through state-funded and state-supported homeless shelters and more than 900 received help transitioning into housing through a joint effort of state agencies, the military, homeless advocates, businesses and others. Park also oversaw the development of two emergency transitional shelters on O'ahu's Leeward Coast, where three more are slated to open this summer.

In a Feb. 15 news release, Park said he was proud to have been part of a team that “took immediate action on reducing the large-scale homeless crisis. I now look forward to focusing my attention on helping Native Hawaiians realize the dream of home ownership.”

OHA salary increase

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustees received salary increases effective Feb. 11, under recommendations by the OHA Salary Commission. The salary increases are effective unless the state Legislature disapproves them by passing a concurrent resolution before the legislative session ends May 1.

The approximately 20 percent increase augments the Chairperson's salary to $57,000 from $47,000, and the Trustees' salary to $50,004 from $41,000. The increase also calls for annual cost-of-living increases of about 3.5 percent for three consecutive years starting July 1, 2009.

Commissioners cited a desire for “fair and equitable” salaries on par with those of state lawmakers and county councilmembers statewide, which would attract qualified candidates and would reflect the breadth of Trustees' responsibilities, including setting policy, managing revenues from ceded lands, and providing grants.

Commission vice chair Ben Henderson said Trustees “are full-time elected officials who have a fiduciary responsibility to manage the OHA Trust. I hope the Legislature will acknowledge the important work they do by supporting the salaries recommended by the commission.”

The commission's report was hand-delivered Feb. 11 to Gov. Linda Lingle, Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and House Speaker Calvin Say. The commission is formed every four years to study and make recommendations to the state Legislature on appropriate salaries for the Board of Trustees. The seven commissioners are appointed by Lingle from nominations submitted by Native Hawaiian organizations.

Blaisdell dinner

Dr. Richard “Kekuni” Blaisdell will be honored at a March 14 dinner to benefit his endowment, which aims to increase the number of Native Hawaiian physicians in the state through improved access to health care for Native Hawaiians and improved access to educational opportunities for Native Hawaiian students pursuing careers in medicine.

The Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell Endowment Fund for Native Hawaiian Health.

The 6:30 p.m. dinner at Hawai'i Prince Hotel will feature keynote speaker Dr. Benjamin Young, former dean of students at the University of Hawai'i School of Medicine and former UH vice president of student affairs.

The evening will include memorable songs from Hawai'i's rich musical history by performers Palani Vaughn, Marlene Sai and Nalani Olds.

For ticket information, call Helen Victor at 586-7476 or email hvictor@hawaii.edu.

Superferry EIS

Seven public meetings are planned for March on the environmental impact statement related to the Hawai'i Superferry.

The informational meetings will cover the scope of the study and a proposed schedule. The EIS process will be overseen by the state Department of Transportation, which named Belt Collins to perform the study.

A state law passed in special session in December allows for interisland ferries such as the Hawai'i Superferry to operate while an EIS is performed.

Meetings are scheduled for: 6-9 p.m. March 11 at Kaunakakai Elementary School cafeteria, and 6-8 p.m. March 31 at Lana'i High cafeteria. The meetings at the following sites will be held from 2-5 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.: March 14 at Farrington High auditorium, March 17 at Baldwin High auditorium in Wailuku, March 19 at Kaua'i Community College Performing Arts Center, March 24 at Hilo High auditorium, and March 27 at Kealakehe High auditorium in Kona.

For more information, call the state DOT at 587-2160.