"Boogie" Kāhilihiwa runs the Kalaupapa bookstore. He talked about the sometimes-endless jam sessions that go on at the settlement. "Sometimes, everybody sitting around doing nothing. Then all it takes is one guy for pick up one guitar, next thing you know, everybody join in. Might go on all night, before you know it!" Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

Meet the Kalaupapapa residents in these personal interviews
By Lisa Asato, Ka Wai Ola

“Boogie” runs the Kalaupapa bookstore, where his wife of more than 30 years, Ivy, helps out after working at the gas station. He was raised in Kalapana on Hawai'i Island, and got his nickname from his sister around World War II because of his “boogie man” appearance when wearing a gas mask. He talks about a longtime policy on the settlement that doesn't allow children under 16 unless accompanied by an adult.

	Boogieʻs wife, Ivy, helps out at the bookstore when sheʻs pau work at the gas station.

My issue right now with our people is let the children come over here, that's No. 1. And for me, I thinking this way: eh, everybody stay up here. All in the 80s us guys. We're the youngest you know, me and Ivy.

I like the kids come in today. Now. No wait till we dead. No wait till we all gone and then you come. We can tell them the stories now, we living now.

Our people can go outside. It's not restricted. The problem is this: I think some of our patients are selfish. And you can quote that's what I say. The remarks, the excuses they say, they blame on the skating, the skateboard and all that time it was alright. If we get any minors coming younger than 16 you gotta be accompanied by the guest or your host. But they still cannot come in the settlement proper. It used to be that they stay outside of the settlement proper.

Not too long ago we lost a good friend. We lost Paul Harada. Nice man. And they brought in young children, maybe that's his grandnephews or something. That's good, but why come when the person is dead?

Ivy Kāhilihiwa chats with another resident at the settlement's lone gas pump. Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

For more vignettes from Kalaupapa residents, visit Ka Wai Ola online, www.oha.org/kawaiola

(Several more Resident interviews are awaiting approvals from Kalaupapa.
They will appear here when approval is received by Ka Wai Ola.)