LEO 'ELELE - TRUSTEE MESSAGES

A beacon in the storm

Haunani Apoliona, MSW, Chairperson, Trustee, At-large

E o e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino, nā pulapula a Hāloa, mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau, puni ke ao mālamalama.

The Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts recently honored Cecilio and Kapono, Sons of Hawai'i, Keola and Kapono Beamer, John Pi'ilani Watkins and George Helm with 2009 Lifetime Achievement Awards. George Helm's award was presented to his family with the following remarks:

"George Jarrett Helm Jr., a native of Moloka'i, was passionate about surfing, music and activism. Ironically, he died in the seas of his island home while protesting the bombing of Kaho'olawe, in March 1979, ultimately becoming a hero for a cause and a beacon of Hawaiian nationalism.

Helm was born on March 23, 1950, in the village of Kalama'ula on the island of Moloka'i, the fifth of seven children raised on Hawaiian Homestead Land, 'āina ho'opulapula. At a young age, Helm took an interest in playing the guitar and singing. But his musical education was galvanized when in 1965, Helm relocated from Moloka'i to Honolulu to attend Saint Louis School where he played baseball and basketball thanks to an athletic scholarship. He was also a glee club member on campus and his teacher, John Keola Lake, saw potential and a future in singing, so introduced Helm to Kahauanu Lake, the leader of the Kahauanu Lake Trio.

Helm, one of the finest falsetto singers is remembered both as a marvelous falsetto singer and Native Hawaiian activist; he is credited with coining the term "aloha 'āina." His musical artistry and his Hawaiian activism came to an abrupt end when he and fellow activist-cousin Kimo Mitchell were swallowed by the seas while they were on surfboards attempting to protect the island of Kaho'olawe from military bombings. Neither has been found. A plaque bearing their names was placed on the beach at Hakioawa on Kaho'olawe in 1987.

As a member of the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana, Helm was a firm believer in Hawaiian self-determination, a brilliant writer, a powerful orator and a true Hawaiian, maloko o ka na'au. Helm's efforts to protect Kaho'olawe and his personal sacrifice made the significant difference: the bombings were halted at the close of the 1980s and in 1994 President Bill Clinton returned Kaho'olawe back to Hawai'i; clean up completed on the island in April 2004, after a 10-year, $460 million cleanup. His dedication cost him his life, but his goal has been realized: The Navy completed its hand over of Kaho'olawe.

However, as a Hawaiian singer and recording artist, Helm never experienced fully that achievement. His lone album – a snapshot of his raw, soulful talent – was released posthumously. Helm, who entertained in between his "activism," had completed a "live recording" at the Gold Coin Restaurant. It was soulful – Helm singing and Helm strumming the guitar – and low-tech. Helm's former boss, Richard Wong, had the session in the can and decided to release it. The album, The Music of George Helm: A True Hawaiian, sold 20,000 copies in the wake of his disappearance, galvanizing his impact and appeal as a performer, softening his rigid and controversial stance as an activist. It remains a treasure today – the lone document of his personal and inspirational musical style.

Helm's international travels as a musician validated and reaffirmed the Hawaiian values on which he was raised and thus honed his courage and focus to protect Hawaiian lands and to preserve and perpetuate Hawaiian culture.

Thus we bestow the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award to George Jarrett Helm Jr. for his contributions to island music and for his personal action as a change agent fueling his peaceful but powerful activism to make sure "ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono" lives for generations to come ... mau a mau. We celebrate George – his 'ohana – and his kūpuna." 5/48