Guest guest Posted June 11, 2004 Report Share Posted June 11, 2004 >Bill Maioho >Kahu/Curator of the Royal Mausoleum at Mauna Ala >Sovereign Hawaiian Kingdom Land > >By Don Chapman > >This is the first in a two-part series. > > With all that has changed in Hawaii during the >185 years since Kamehameha the Great ruled these >islands, one thing remains the same. The family >of William Kaihe'ekai Mai'oho still serves the >kings and queens of Hawaii by tending to their >iwi, their bones. > > Mai'oho is the kahu/curator of the Royal >Mausoleum at Mauna Ala in Nuuanu Valley, where >rest the iwi of every royal since Kamehameha but >one. It's a job previously held by his mother, >grandmother and grandfather, also named >Kaihe'ekai, and two of his grandfather's >forebears. His son, another Kaihe'ekai, will one >day succeed him. > > More than just a family name, Kaihe'ekai offers >the only known clue to one of the great mysteries >in Hawaiian history - where lie hidden the >remains of Kamehameha? > > The resting place of the great king's iwi is a >question no less relevant today than it was when >he died in 1819, as evidenced by the ongoing feud >over the bones of long-dead ali'i, royalty, on >the Big Island - should they be left sealed in >their original burial cave near Kawaihae, which >had previously been raided, or moved to the >Bishop Museum? More than 30 groups have declared >an interest in the debate, including descendants >of those chiefs, who fear descendants of rival >chiefs of yore might desecrate the iwi. > > This is not an unreasonable concern because, as >we shall see, ancient Hawaiians made an art form >of desecration. > > > THERE are few areas where modern Western >sensibilities bump up harder against traditional >Hawaiian beliefs and values than on the issue of >human remains. While bones in the English >language are plural, a rather impersonal >collection of calcium deposits that tend to lose >density as a person ages and to show up at >Halloween on cartoonish costumes, in Hawaiian iwi >is singular, defining one connected entity, the >repository of mana, spiritual energy, what might >in other cultures be called karma or soul. > > So in recent years, Hawaiian iwi have rerouted >highways, moved the sites of hotels and delayed >or stopped construction of other projects. > > "The iwi are incorruptible," Kaihe'ekai says. >(In attributing quotes to the man friends call >Bill, we're using Kaihe'ekai, for he's speaking >not just on his own behalf but also for the >ancestors who have carried on a tradition and a >responsibility since 1819 and for those he hopes >"will be speaking of these things a thousand >years from now, whatever that world looks like.") > > "It is so much like the Christian way of looking >at it," he says. "The flesh is weak, but the iwi >remain in its wholeness and sacredness. There is >mana attached to the iwi of our ancestors. I >believe that these iwi continue to sustain us as >a people." > > The Hawaiian dictionary co-authored by Mary >Kawena Pukui, the great Hawaiian scholar (and >ohana, family, from Ka'u of Kaihe'ekai's >grandmother Emily Kekahaloa Namauu Taylor), >defines iwi simply as bone, and then explains >"bones of the dead, considered the most cherished >possession, were hidden." > > "From what Mary Kawena has written," Kaihe'ekai >says, "and what my mom and grandpa said, the iwi >is the essence of a person. That's why we revere >and honor sites such as this at Mauna Ala, and >other heiau in Hawaii, because it holds that >total mana and essence of our ali'i, contained in >the iwi. > >"All our lifelong works, the iwi become saturated >with that, and it tends to hold on to that. Not >only the physical Š the spiritual entity remains. >The iwi is encased in the mana of the person Š >But because of the ancestors, we incorporate what >they did in their lifetime Š In that way, the >totality of the person remains in the genetics of >your ancestral line." > > In that, Hawaiians were intuitively centuries >ahead of modern science, which only in recent >years is finding ways to discern DNA, the >genetics of our ancestral lines, in human bones. > > >HIS photo is on the cover, but this story is not >about Bill Kaihe'ekai Mai'oho. "I wish you could >have done a story on my mom," he says. "She was >better at this kind of thing. Or my grandpa." > > A shy and humble man, he agreed to be >interviewed by MidWeek largely because his >friend, musician Palani Vaughnn, suggested the >story to us after being featured in a recent Old >Friends column. He agreed, he says, not for >himself, but for his family, for the royals he >still serves, to dispel false notions about the >Royal Mausoleum - such as the one that Mauna Ala >is closed to the public (not since 1947) - and to >remind native Hawaiians and all others of the >peace and power of this remarkable place. > > So our story is about the Kaihe'ekai connection. >It's about the ali'i his family cherish and >serve. It's about Mauna Ala, a place alive with >the mana of largely altruistic men and women who >loved, led and served the people of Hawaii. It's >about a quiet place nestled between the rush and >bustle of Pali Highway and Nuuanu Avenue, where >if you listen, you can hear the whispers of >kings, queens, high chiefs and chiefesses, and >feel them walking beside you, just as they once >walked among their people. > > As Kaihe'ekai, a bachelor, says: "I'm never alone here." > > > OUR story is also about the only place in Hawaii >where neither state nor federal land laws apply. >These peaceful 3.5 acres are the last surviving >remnant of the Kingdom of Hawaii. > > "Yes, this is it," Kaihe'ekai says. > > "And who made it safe in that respect was Queen >Lili'uokalani and George Wilcox. Although they >were political rivals and really didn't like each >other, they worked together - he had the in as >Hawaii's first delegate to Congress. > > "In May 1900 (seven years after the overthrow of >the native monarchy) when the Organic Act was >passed by the Congress of the United States, >creating the Territory of Hawaii, Lili'uokalani >and Wilcox worked to have Mauna Ala removed from >the public domain. Which means that federal land >laws do not apply to the grounds of Mauna Ala, >nor now state laws. Mauna Ala is the only place >that flies the Hawaiian flag by itself, honoring >our ancestral chiefs. By American law, whenever a >public facility opens, the American flag is >highest, the state flag second. Here at Mauna Ala >is proudly displayed only the flag of the nation >of Hawaii, created by Kamehameha. So it's even >more intense, even more of a symbol of Mauna >Ala's separateness and sovereign status. I tell >people, when you come to Mauna Ala, you enter a >different world. > > "It'############# and overwhelming, this thing, >for lack of a better word, they created to care >for us, the Hawaiian people. So Mauna Ala in this >sense, this separateness again, it is a place of >refuge. It is where our iwi, the most important >part of our being, links us through the >generations, to remember them and their aloha to >us. > > "The example I use for children (on school >outings), when they built Pali Highway it would >have been cheaper to come straight down Nuuanu >Avenue, but because of Mauna Ala they couldn't. >Oahu and Nuuanu cemeteries could have been moved >- they've done it at Kawaihao Church to widen >Queen Street, exhumed and moved iwi, for the >public good it's called in the law. But because >of Mauna Ala's removal from the public domain, >they had to go and blow up Pacific Heights and >make Pali Highway go down into Bishop Street. > >"Mauna Ala is immovable, and Queen Lili'uokalani >did that for her ancestors, and for the >Kamehamehas, to keep them secure and sacred, to >have this inserted into the Organic Act. So only >the flag of Kamehameha and the nation of Hawaii >flies here." > > Queen Lili'uokalani, perhaps, is winking >somewhere. Her kingdom was stolen, but she >preserved a bit of it for all time at Mauna Ala >by using the laws of the nation that helped steal >her throne. > > And how different would life be in 21st century >Honolulu if Nuuanu Avenue and not Bishop Street >were the downtown receptacle of highways from the >Windward and Leeward sides of Oahu? > > > THE name Kaihe'ekai dates to 1819, when >Kamehameha the Great understood the end of his >reign and his life were at hand. There were plans >to be made, for the infant nation, for the >afterlife of a king in his 67th year. As >Kaihe'ekai tells his family story, the names of >ancient kings and queens and long-ago dates roll >off his tongue as easily and matter-of-factly as >you talking about your sister's wedding or your >cousin's graduation. The oral tradition of old >Hawaii is alive and well at Mauna Ala. > > "My tenure here at Mauna Ala is through family >genealogy," says Kaihe'ekai, 58, who has been at >Mauna Ala since age 2, kahu since 1995. > > "Two high chiefs, Hoapili and Ho'olulu, were >chosen by Kamehameha to hide his iwi after his >passing. Hoapili and Ho'olulu were the sons of >Kame'eiamoku. On the coat of arms of the nation >(and today the state) of Hawaii are the royal >kapu twins, Kame'eiamoku and Kamanawa, uncles of >Kamehameha the First. They were a generation >older than Kamehameha. Kamehameha had terrific >insights into psychology, and Hoapili and >Ho'olulu were the next generation of chiefs who >were trusted by Kamehameha. These two high chiefs >became his very, very trusted chiefs, especially >Hoapili." > > Hoapili was born Ulumaiheihei, but Kamehameha >gave him the name Hoapili, "attached to the >bosom," a sign of his trust and aloha. So it was >that Hoapili, the older brother, and Ho'olulu >were chosen to hide the iwi of Kamehameha. > > "Ho'olulu went to Ahu'ena Heiau in Kailua-Kona >and retrieved the iwi of Kamehameha, and met >Hoapili in a canoe," Kaihe'ekai continues. "In >our family history it talks about these two >chiefs, along with Keopulani, Kamehameha'###### >sacred wife, and they went into an undersea >cavern to hide the iwi of Kamehameha, which until >today still has never been found. (A kapu, taboo, >remains on the site in perpetuity.) > > "Ho'olulu comes back from this responsibility to >the king, and about a month later he has a son >born to him, and he names him Kaihe'ekai, after >the event. (Siblings would also receive names >commemorating the hiding of the king's iwi.) In >the literal translation, Kaihe'ekai means >ocean-octopus-ocean. But in the kauna, or hidden >meaning, it means the receding waters, like the >octopus recedes and hides in the puka. They went >into this undersea cave, came up in a cavern, and >hid the iwi of Kamehameha. > >"So our family has been connected with the caring >of the Kamehameha family, and now the Kalakaua >family, since the passing of Kamehameha in May >1819." > > And the secret of the cave's location? > >"It went with those three individuals, Keopulani, Hoapili and Ho'olulu." > > Today, the modest residence on the grounds of >Mauna Ala where Kaihe'ekai lives is called Hale O >Ho'olulu. > > > THE dying king had good reason to fear the >desecration of his iwi. Kamehameha had done a >little desecrating in his time. > > "There were good chiefs and bad chiefs, and the >bad ones, whole groups of people rebelled against >them," Kaihe'ekai says, explaining the finer >points of the art. "They didn't need the >leadership of the ali'i to make war. If the chief >was bad, he was done away with and his iwi were >made into fish hooks. Or arrow points, and then >used to shoot rats - they had bows and arrows, >didn't use them in warfare, but they'd shoots >rats. And they'd turn around and tell the family, >oh, look what your grandpa went catch for me - >desecrating them. Or using the fishing hook made >of boneŠ in Hawaiian stories, the canoes coming >in with a big fish, the other family going out, >they say, 'oh, you're not going catch the big >fish - look, your grandpa already caught this for >us, so you can just go back home.' > > "Kamehameha, when he was conquering Oahu, the >high chief Kalanikupule ran away into the >mountains, but was caught a few weeks later and >sacrificed in Moanalua Valley. And Kamehameha >takes his thigh bone and uses it as a kahili (a >feather-topped symbol of royalty). That kahili >went into the collection of Queen Emma and is now >at the Bishop Museum. > > "So the iwi had great significance, both good >and bad, and when you dispel your opponent, when >you take away their life, you also want to take >away the family connection, desecrate the family >so no one will rise up from that family to >overtake or displace you as a high chief." > > > MAUNA ALA translates literally as fragrant >mountain. "But when you look at the kauna," >Kaihe'ekai says, "mau is to perpetuate, na is >the, ala is path. And so you perpetuate the path >of our ancestors, and we speak about them in the >most sacred way. I am here with them, and I speak >of them and their families in the most reverent >way." > > Before it became the final resting place of >every Hawaiian royal since Kamahemahea's iwi were >hidden in that Big Island sea cavern except one >(King Lunalilo, interred at Kawaihao Church), >Mauna Ala was the property of Kamehameha III >(Kauikeaouli) and Kamehameha IV (Alexander >Liholiho) and Queen Emma. > > "They had lo'i, taro patches, private ones for >the king and his family," Kaihe'ekai says. "There >were little puuwai (small streams) along Nuuanu >Avenue in ancient times. Laura Judd lived across >the street and writes in her journal of seeing >the king and queen and their retainers come here >and create the lo'i patches, and the king's >horses inside packing down the dirt. And a lot of >these old pohaku (lava rocks) are pohaku >Kamehameha the Fourth himself placed here, >creating the lo'i." > > Now so tranquil and quiet, a lovely place for >prayer or meditation, Mauna Ala was once the >scene of high-decibel warfare. > > When up to 30,000 warriors of Kamehameha >attacked in his ultimately successful bid to >unite the Hawaiian islands for the first time >under one chief, Mauna Ala was the first battle >encampment of the Oahu chief Kalanikupule. > > "This is the first prominent spot in the >valley," Kaihe'ekai says. "Up on the hill beside >the Kamehameha crypt, there are ship chains >wedged into the rock - Kalanikupule had his >cannons strapped down here at Mauna Ala to repel >Kamehameha. Oahu warriors, Maui warriors, Hawaii >warriors, Kauai warriors, their blood was shed >here, and that lends itself to Mauna Ala'###### >and power. > >"The largest encampment, of course, was at (what >later became) Queen Emma's Summer Palace (a short >distance up the valley). The road in the back is >called Puiwa, which means to frighten. The valley >kind of narrows at that point. And Kamehameha's >largest cannon, which he called Lopaka, made by >John Young (one of six white men interred at >Mauna Ala) and Isaac Davis, reverberated through >the whole valley, it frightened the Oahu >warriors, and they fled (up the valley, many >leaping to their death from the cliffs of the >Pali)." > > Petroglyph carvings along the ancient trail that >parallels Nuuanu Stream, so close Kapena Falls >can be heard at night from Mauna Ala, also add to >the historic specialness of this place. Carvings >in stone depict warriors with a rainbow curving >protectively over their heads, the original >Rainbow Warriors. Then there's the legend of >Kaupe, ghost dog of Nuuanu, that would bark to >warn people of the fearsome coming of night >marchers. > > All of it "lends itself to the sacredness of >Mauna Ala," Kaihe'ekai says. "I truly believe >that Mauna Ala was chosen for the site of the >Royal Mausoleum by King Kamehameha the Fourth and >Queen Emma because of that." > > > HOLD on a second. Did Kaihe'ekai really say "I'm never alone here"? > > Yes, he did, and next week we'll get into the >subject of ghosts and spirits, as well as how >Kaihe'ekai was "protected" by a debilitating >illness that kept him bed-ridden from age 14 to >21, and a poetic conclusion to one of the >greatest love stories ever told. > > ***** ***** ***** ***** > >This is the second in a two-part series. > >A Family Tradition Born in Mystery > > > By DON CHAPMAN > > IT DOESN'T always happen this way, but the >cameras worked just fine when a scene for a John >Wayne western was filmed at Mauna Ala, the Royal >Mausoleum, where rest the iwi, bones, of every >Hawaiian royal since Kamehameha the Great but one. > > Maybe the Duke got lucky, or maybe his crew just >had to learn a lesson, as happened on the more >recent day an Olelo TV crew came to Mauna Ala in >Nuuanu Valley. When it was time for lights, >camera, action, and they started shooting, the >viewfinder stayed blank, the tape rolled but >recorded nothing. > > "We forgot to ask permission," says Dr. Peggy Oshiro, acupuncturist. > > They stopped, in a lingering moment of silence >asked the spirits of high chiefs and chiefesses >who reside at Mauna Ala for their blessing. > > "When we turned the camera on again," Oshiro >says, "everything was clear and in focus and the >tape recorded just fine." > > Other kinds of unusual things can happen to >cameras at Mauna Ala. Things like people the >photographer didn't see showing up in photos. > > William Kaihe'ekai Mai'oho, kahu/curator of the >Royal Mausoleum, pulls two photographs from his >desk. The first, taken from near the Kamehameha >crypt, looks out toward the gilded gate and the >kamani tree that curls low like a protective >centurion. In the branches of the tree appears to >be a male face. It is wearing glasses. It looks a >lot like the man wearing glasses in the photo >behind the desk, his grandfather William >Kaihe'ekai Taylor, kahu here from 1947, the year >Mauna Ala opened to the public, until '56. > > The second photo was taken from the gate looking >in at the chapel. Near the top, in a circular >stained-glass window designed by Queen >Lilu'okalani, appears to be the silhouette of a >man. A haole man. It looks a lot like Charles >Bishop, who built the Kamehameha crypt. > > That Hollywood film, by the way, was Big Jim >McClean. In the brief scene shot at Mauna Ala, >John Wayne is seen walking toward the chapel for >James Arness' funeral. > > > GHOSTS? Spirits? Funny kine things with cameras? What's going on here? > >"Whenever I have a group visiting, especially >when it's keiki, they ask about ghosts," >Kaihe'ekai says. "That's the first thing, 'Do you >see ghosts?'" > > (For readers who missed last week's >introduction, in attributing quotes to the man >friends call Bill, we're using Kaihe'ekai, for >he's speaking not just on his own behalf, but >also for the ancestors who have carried on a >tradition and a responsibility since 1819, when >Kamehameha the Great asked two brothers of high >chiefly status, his cousins, to hide his bones >after his death. Shortly after fulfilling that >obligation, a son was born to one of those >brothers, Ho'olulu, and he named the boy >Kaihe'ekai, which hints at the secret location. >Ever since, the family has served the kings and >queens of Hawaii by tending to their iwi, >following the Kamehamehas as the capital moved >from Kailua-Kona to Lahaina to Honolulu. He's >been kahu at Mauna Ala since 1995, a job >previously held by his mother, grandmother and >grandfather, and two of his grandfather's >forebears.) > > There is a g-word involved, but it's not spooky. Not ghosts, gifts. > >"I call them gifts of power, things that are >given to me by them, that I keep for myself," >Kaihe'ekai says. "I won't speak about it, it'#### >treasure, it helps me to do what I do at Mauna >Ala. > > "When the keiki used to ask my mom, 'Oh, Auntie, >you not scared to live ovah heah?' she'd say, >'I'm not scared of the ones who have passed, it's >the live ones who frighten me.'" > > Introducing the people of Hawaii, and those from >other shores, to the historic deeds and graceful >spirits of native royalty is one of the reasons >he agreed to be interviewed by MidWeek. > > "To let them come feel the presence of our >ancestors, to be among them - not to be ho'okano, >shy or embarrassed, or think ghosts, scared, no," >he says. > > "Because the spirits who are here Š I believe >Kamehameha, where else would he go in the >islands? Spiritually, he would travel throughout >all the islands, but his family is here, his sons >are here, his favorite wife, where else would he >come to visit and be? I believe that they are >here 24/7. They go and they come, or they present >themselves and they hide themselves again. But it >is because the chiefs are so powerful (in the >mana, spiritual energy, infusing their iwi) that >they still have that awareness. And in that >awareness, it links to the living. > >"My mom called this the piko, the center, the >source, where you can come and get inspiration by >meditating, praying, looking at the example of >their lives and what they did for the Hawaiian >people." > > The presence of royal spirits, he says, "it's an >ever-present feeling, but it's beyond a feeling Š >So when people come seeking knowledge about our >ancestors and the culture, when they leave they >can go out and talk to people, perpetuate the way >of life of our ancestors - the word has gone out. >And they'll remember how they felt, just >chickenskin throughout their time here at Mauna >Ala. > > "So it is a powerful thing to be among them and >to help give the knowledge of our culture." > > In researching this story, the author made five >visits to Mauna Ala, plus a couple of slow >drive-bys, and there's definitely something going >on. Something chickenskin and more. And in a very >positive way, if you come respectfully and >quietly. It's because, Kaihe'ekai says, these >Hawaiian royals were largely altruistic, and >their spirits remain so. > > "In life they set the policy for the culture," >he says. "In that sharing, in that always giving, >in that always supporting the people, they knew >they would get support from the people they >supported. It was a give and take that was almost >equal Š There was a stewardship, and it continued >from the ancient time down to the modern era." > > Ghosts, spirits, whatever Š "I'm never alone here," Kaihe'ekai says. > > > SPIRITS must have been out and about on the >night of Oct. 30, 1865, when King Kamehameha V >(Lot Kapuaiwa) in formal procession brought 18 >members of the Kamehameha family to Mauna Ala >from the original royal mausoleum on the grounds >of Iolani Palace. > > "The king is on foot and leads the procession, >using all the rituals of the Kamehameha family," >Kaihe'ekai says, "their feathered kahili, their >puloulou, symbols of the high chiefs. And they >lay wreaths and pili grass all along King Street >and Nuuanu Avenue and onto the grounds of Mauna >Ala." > > Thus, the first public arrival of chiefly iwi at >Mauna Ala. Others, on other nights, had secretly >preceded them. More on that momentarily. > > That first royal mausoleum was built in 1825 on >the diamondhead-makai side of the palace grounds >to hold the iwi of Kamehameha II (Liholiho) and >his Queen Kamamalu, who in London contracted the >measles and died in July 1824. > > "England's King George IV had them placed in >beautiful mahogany caskets with silver shields in >which were etched names and birth and death >dates," Kaihe'ekai recounts. "He chose Lord >Byron, cousin of the poet, to escort the king and >queen home on HMS Blonde." > > Until Kamehameha I, the iwi of all royals were >secreted, sometimes in caves on sheer lava >cliffs. The kauna, hidden meaning, of Kaihe'ekai >hints that Kamehameha's iwi were placed in an >undersea cavern - probably in ka'ai, sennet >cordage woven around the bones, "so you can make >out the upper torso of the human form," >Kaihe'ekai says. Mother of pearl was often inlaid >for the eyes. > > Seeing the British caskets changed the way >Hawaiian royalty would choose to be buried. So >was built the first mausoleum, a small >cottage-like structure of coral blocks and adobe. >You can see where it was - a plaque and a small >mound surrounded by a hedge of ti and a small >fence. > > That structure was already full by the time >Prince Albert, son of King Kamehameha IV >(Alexander Liholiho) and Queen Emma, died at the >age of 4 in August 1862. > >"Mauna Ala was conceived in the hearts of King >Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma after the passing of >their son, Ka Haku O Hawaii," Kaihe'ekai says. >"So they chose to turn the royal lo'i (taro >ponds) at Mauna Ala into the Royal Mausoleum." > > They hired Theodore Heuk, a German, to build it >in the shape of the Roman/Greek cross, each side >equal in length, in Gothic style. Today it is a >koa-lined chapel used for celebrations on the >birthdays of the royals of Mauna Ala. > > As that building, too, began to fill, three crypts were built. > > "Charles Bishop had the Kamehameha crypt built >after Princess Pauahi died in 1884," Kaihe'ekai >says. "With the passing of Queen Emma in 1885, >there were no more Kamehamehas directly linked to >the throne of Hawaii. On Nov. 9, 1887, the iwi of >all Kamehamehas except the first were moved in >another nighttime ceremony. > > "After Charles Bishop's death in San Francisco >in 1915 (he'd left Hawaii shortly after the >overthrow of the native monarchy in 1893), his >ashes were returned to Hawaii. Prince Kuhio >carried his urn into the crypt, placed it on the >casket of his wife, Princess Pauahi, and the >vault was forever sealed." > > Theirs is one of the greatest love stories ever >told - the childless inter-racial couple who >established a trust for the education of Hawaiian >children, who created the Bishop Museum to bring >preservation and serious scientific study to a >Hawaiian culture and history they saw being >overwhelmed by foreign influences - and there is >something wonderfully poetic in this conclusion >to their noble romance. > > Royal palms roughly trace the parameters of the >Kamehameha crypt, but because many of Charles >Bishop's papers were lost in the great San >Francisco earthquake of 1906, it is a mystery >where each inhabitant is located. Consider it, >Kaihe'ekai says, the final Kamehameha kapu, >taboo. > > > A TIDBIT related to nothing else, and to >everything: When infestations of white flies >began to whitewash entire neighborhoods on Oahu >in the 1980s, it was discovered that their only >known natural predator is the black ladybug. >Turned out Mauna Ala was black ladybug central, >one of the rare places they flourished. Boy >Scouts from Kamehameha Schools collected the >little bugs and gave them to neighborhoods >hardest hit. > > > AMONG other good deeds performed by Princess >Pauahi and Charles Bishop was to hanai, >unofficially adopt, the orphaned and abandoned >William Kaihe'ekai Taylor. > > "My grandpa was born in 1882, and when his mom >died when he was 5 he was hanai'd to the >Bishops," Kaihe'ekai says. "They had wanted to >adopt, but my great-grandmother didn't want that. >There were symbolic kapus attached to Princess >Pauahi (children she'd formally adopted sadly >died young), but they became my grandfather's >godparents and stood at his baptism. So when my >great-grandma passes away at the age of 28, her >husband moves to California and leaves the kids. >Four girls live at St. Andrew's Priory, Grandpa >was raised with the help of Mr. Bishop." > > When Charles Bishop fulfilled his late wife's >wish to establish the Kamehameha Schools, "Mr. >Bishop walked him onto campus and he became the >first student admitted at Kamehameha, in October >1887 Š Later, Mr. Bishop helps my grandfather get >his position with the Dillingham family. He was a >railroad engineer with the OR&L, and served the >Dillinghams his whole life Š When he got throat >cancer, Walter Dillingham paid for the medical >bills." > > William Kaihe'ekai Taylor, who for reasons >unknown would graduate from Iolani, was a member >of the early Kamehameha Lodge. Because he was >descended from the non-ruling side of King >Lunalilo's family, he was a trustee of the >Lunalilo Estate. At Lunalilo Home, the >Dillinghams named the elevator for him, where his >picture still hangs. And though he could have >been interred at Mauna Ala, his iwi rest at >Kawaiahao Church with Lunalilo, the people's king. > >"He had this essence about him," Kaihe'ekai says >of his namesake. "He had this relationship with >people - an amazing man. I adored him." > > When he passed in 1956, his wife Emily Kekahaloa >Namau'u Taylor of Ka'u lineage succeeded him. She >was a genealogist, fluent in Hawaiian, and wrote >several songs, including Kuu Lei Awapuhi, written >for the Jeff Chandler film Bird of Paradise and >later recorded by Hapa. > >"My grandparents put a lot of themselves into me. >They had this aloha and I was the receiver. This >treasure that is our tradition Š they really >imbued me with it." > > His grandmother stayed as kahu until 1961, retiring to Lunalilo Home. > > At this point the family line at Mauna Ala is >briefly broken. Iolani Luahine, the legendary >kumu hula, she of the illuminated eyes who would >fall into a trance while dancing, served at Mauna >Ala until 1965, then moved to become kahu at >Hulihe'e Palace in Hilo. > > > FATE, or something like it, brought the family >of Kaihe'ekai back to Mauna Ala. > >"We didn't take the newspaper," he says, "so one >of my mom's friends calls her, there's an article >about the position opening up." > > Chief, so to speak, among qualifications was genealogy. > > "They required a letter, and three people >interviewed the finalists - Liliu'okalani >Kawananakoa Morris, Prince David Kawananakoa's >daughter from Princess Abigail, Monsignor >Kekumanu and a public works official. When >Liliu'okalani Morris saw my mom's genealogy, she >said that's it." > > On Jan. 3, 1966, Lydia Namahana Taylor Mai'oho >was named kahu. Known to everyone as Auntie >Namahana, she would serve 28 years, the longest >tenure at Mauna Ala. She is legendary and beloved >as much for her knowledge of the old ways as for >her strong personality and sense of humor. "I >wish you could have interviewed her," Kaihe'ekai >says. "She was a great lady." > > When she retired in December 1994, Gov. John >Waihee appointed her son to continue the >tradition. > > > DOWN a steep set of stairs, through an ornate >gate opened with a solid brass key that weighs at >least five pounds, is the white-marbled Kalakaua >crypt, which opened in 1910. To stand in its >center, to see in gold the names of King >Kalakaua, his Queen Kapiolani, his sister Queen >Liliu'okalani, his sister Princess Likelike, his >niece Princess Kaiulani, Prince Jonah Kuhio >Kalanianaole and several of the Kawananakoa, and >two ancient chiefs, to feel the mana gathered >there, is both humbling and uplifting. > > David Kalakaua Kawana-nakoa died in 1953 and >filled the last space, the end of royalty as it >was known in Hawaii for roughly 1,500 years. > > Liliu'okalani, who suffered the overthrow of her >kingdom by local sugar planters and businessmen, >with American blue coats conveniently bivouacked >nearby, conceived the idea of a separate Kalakaua >crypt, and as she planned it, says Kaihe'ekai, >"Her mana'o (intent or mind) was to convert the >mausoleum into a chapel so the Hawaiian people >can gather and celebrate the birthdays of our >kings and queens and high chiefs and high >chiefesses and their legacy of aloha to the >Hawaiian people." > > It is not open for weddings, baby luau or graduation parties. > > Other landmarks at Mauna Ala include the Wyllie >crypt. "Robert C. Wyllie, originally from >Scotland, came to Hawaii in 1840 and served the >Kamehameha dynasty for over 20 years," Kaihe'ekai >says. "He was the foreign minister of Hawaii and >helped Hawaii become recognized as an independent >nation among the other nations of the world. For >his 20 years of loyal and dedicated service to >the nation and to the Kamehameha family, he was >given the honor of being the third person placed >inside the mausoleum. In 1904, friends of the >Kamehamehas built what is now known as the Wyllie >crypt. In it are members of Queen Emma's family - >her mama, her hanai parents, her mother's >sisters, they raised Queen Emma, and John Young >II." > > At the rear of the property is John Young the >elder's grave. "John Young and Isaac Davis, the >two kane kea, the two white men, helped >Kamehameha create the nation of Hawaii," >Kaihe'ekai says. > > "John Young with his second marriage marries >into the Kamehameha family, the daughter of >Kealiimaikai, younger brother of Kameha-meha, and >John Young and Kaoena become the grandparents of >Queen Emma." > > The queen planted the centurion-like kamani tree >that swoops low over the entrance gate and the >two tall kamani at her grandfather's grave. > > > WHEN it'########### to Kaihe'ekai that he could >have been born to an island ohana like the >Beamers, known for their music, or the Guilds, >known for their canoes, or a family of butchers, >bakers or ukulele makers, he smiles, nods, seems >on the verge of a tear. Admirable, all of those, >butŠ > >"I feel so blessed," he says. "I came here for >the first time at 2, and the spirits fell in love >with me, and I fell in love with them." > > Even seven years bedridden in what should have >been the most active years of life seem now, from >the vantage of Mauna Ala, a blessing. "The way I >look at it, I was on my way to juvenile >delinquency when I took ill," he says. > > In the summer of 1959, at age 14, he contracted >pleurisy around the lungs. At the old Kaiser >hospital in Waikiki, first he caught pneumonia, >then a staph infection. Then osteomylitis grabbed >hold of his right hip and ate away at the head of >the femur and the socket. Joint-replacement >surgery wasn't then what it is now. The result >was "a lot of operations Š It was a very >disheartening time for me. I wanted to go to >Kamehameha and play football, my uncles had gone >there." He's a big guy, looks like he'd have made >a rattle-your-teeth linebacker, but as a result >of osteomylitis never suited up and walks with a >limp. > > "It was in that time my mom was taking me around >to various kahuna lapa'au, Hawaiian healers, and >ministersŠ Because Hawaiians, if you got ill >there was a process to it, not only in the sense >of being cursed, but maybe there was something >the family wasn't doing right, or the person. So >she was making this search, along with me. They >told my mother that my grandfather was protecting >me. My mom asked, from what? Just protecting him. >There was no other explanation, just the word >protection. I've always felt, the family name >(Kaihe'ekai) kept me apart from total >socialization, it removed meŠ And through the >world of spirits and my ancestors, through my >grandfather, it kept me away from this world. It >put me in another place, in another realmŠ I feel >a certain grace." > > He'd always enjoyed hanging around the grownups >as a child, quickly learning that once he >"started to hanuhinu them, make trouble, get >antsy, they would take you and place you in your >room. If you're able to be behave yourself again, >you can come out. So I was able to listen to the >kupuna (elders), listen to my grandparents talk >to different people who came." > > He continued listening in the years he lay in >bed. Today, the names of ancient kings and queens >and long-ago dates roll off his tongue as easily >and matter-of-factly as you talking about your >sister's wedding or your cousin's graduation. The >oral tradition of old Hawaii is alive and well at >Mauna Ala. > > "I believe it is genetic, in the oral tradition," he says. > > > MAUNA ALA's aforementioned mystery iwi were >discovered by shocked workers when overdue >restoration of the chapel began in 1976. > > "Trenches were dug along walls, inside and >outside, three feet wide, six to eight feet deep, >reinforcing steel and cement to shore up the >building," Kaihe'ekai says. > >"And they find the remains of 19 individuals >wrapped in kapa (fabric pounded from coconut >bark). People on the inside, their heads faced >out. People on the outside, their heads faced in >towards the building. Artifacts found with them >proclaimed their high lineage Š We don't know how >many more burials there might be in the middle of >the building Š In talking with my mom and other >kupuna, because Kamehameha V was known as the >last chief of the olden type, comparable to his >grandpa Kamehameha the Great, we think he placed >those individuals around the building to >spiritually protect his family inside the >building. It's just amazing, mysterious." > > After renovation was complete, the mystery bones >and artifacts were returned to where they were >found. > > The iwi of those ancient chiefs will continue >their eternal guard when this Kaihe'ekai's son, >Bill, also named Kaihe'ekai, 30, a cook at >Michel's and an avid skateboarder, hands the >family responsibilities to the as-yet unborn, but >hoped and prayed for next generation of >Kaihe'ekai. Thus will continue the tradition that >began on that mysterious night in 1819. > > May it always. > > The Royal Mausoleum is located at 2261 Nuuanu >Ave. It is open to the public 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. >Monday through Friday, closed on weekends and >holidays, except those honoring Hawaiian royalty, >such as the upcoming Kamehameha Day (June 11). To >schedule a visit, call 587-2590. > > > > ><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>> > Note: the content of forwarded messages reflects the opinion of > the authors, not necessarily that of the list maintainers. > _______________ > This list is provided as a free service. Donations may be made to: > Aloha First, PO Box 701, Waimanalo, Hawaii 96795 > _______________ > Hawai`i - Independent & Sovereign > info http://hawaii-nation.org > _______________ > "The cause of Hawaii and independence is larger and dearer than > the life of any man connected with it. Love of country is deep- > seated in the breast of every Hawaiian, whatever his station." > - Queen Lili`uokalani > _______________ > Post message: hawaii-nation > Subscribe: hawaii-nation- > Un: hawaii-nation > List owner: hawaii-nation-owner ><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>> > > Links > > > > > _______________ FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar – get it now! http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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