PBS Hawaiʻi Presents
PBS HAWAIʻI PRESENTS: Pau Hana Years | Edith Kanakaʻole
Special | 56m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
Pau Hana Years aired on KHET-TV, now PBS Hawaiʻi, for 16 years, from 1966 until 1982.
Edith Kanakaʻole sits down for a two part interview with Pau Hana Years. Edith discusses what it was like growing up in Keaukaha on Hawaiʻi Island, traveling the world sharing hula and her love of poi. Along with her two daughters and grandchildren, Edith performs a number of songs and hula and even teaches an improptu Hawaiiana class. CLASSICS #206
PBS Hawaiʻi Presents is a local public television program presented by PBS Hawai'i
PBS Hawaiʻi Presents
PBS HAWAIʻI PRESENTS: Pau Hana Years | Edith Kanakaʻole
Special | 56m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
Edith Kanakaʻole sits down for a two part interview with Pau Hana Years. Edith discusses what it was like growing up in Keaukaha on Hawaiʻi Island, traveling the world sharing hula and her love of poi. Along with her two daughters and grandchildren, Edith performs a number of songs and hula and even teaches an improptu Hawaiiana class. CLASSICS #206
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PBS Hawaiʻi Presents is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Try to remember, try to remember.
Pau Hana Years a new day for older Americans, a time for living.
Your host, Bob Barker.
Bob Barker: Hi and welcome to the program for and by the senior citizens of Hawaii.
Today Pau Hana Years is on the Orchid Isle.
Here on the grounds of Hilo’s newest hotel, overlooking the bay, The Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, we’re presenting Edith Kanakaole.
Akahi hoi a ike kuu maka I ka nani ao Waiakea Aohe lua e like ai Me ka nani a me ka nani Ao Kuhio Bay Me ka nani a me ka nani Ao Kuhio Bay Mahalo ae au i ka nani ao Hilo Me ka ua a e hoopulu nei Oni ana Mokuola au i ke kai O ua aina e Kaulana nei Akahi hoi a ike kuu maka I ka nani ao Waiakea Aohe lua e like ai Me ka nani a me ka nani Ao Kuhio Bay Me ka nani a me ka nani Ao Kuhio Bay BB: Kuhio Bay with Edith Kanakaole Hawaiian educator, lecturer, composer, and entertainer.
Edith where is Kuhio Bay?
Edith Kanakaole: Ae!
Kuhio Bay is all of this area here and down that way where you’re just going to the wharf.
All of this area is Kuhio Bay.
BB: I thought this was Hilo Bay!
EK: I think that’s just because the place for Hilo, you know, but it’s actually Kuhio Bay.
BB: Originally called Kuhio Bay.
EK: Right, the pier is also called Kuhio.
BB: Oh Yes, were you born and raised here on the Big Island?
EK: Right, I was born and raised in Big Island.
I was born over at a little place that’s called Honomu, it’s very close to Akaka Falls.
BB: Oh, oh yes.
EK: So that’s my home, out in Akaka Falls.
BB: Did you come from a large family?
How many brothers and sisters did you have?
EK: Oh Yes!
I did come from a very large family.
There were very many of us brothers and sisters, and I think I was either number nine or number ten in the family.
BB: Oh yes, how many, how many altogether?
EK: Well there were twelve of us.
BB: There were twelve of you.
Your mother and father were they Big Islanders also?
EK: Yes, they are Big Islanders.
My mother, her family originates from Kau, and Puna which is over on that side, although she is born right over here in the bay area which is called Kaipalaoa, by the light house.
And my father comes from Kohala, his people come from Kohala and Waimanu Valley, and Waipio and they met kind of in between.
BB: *chuckles* have to travel half-way each way.
Uh, growing, were they, were they entertainers like uh you I mean were they musical?
EK: They were entertainers.
My father did all kinds of music, even the great big harp, and played the violin and the mandolin very well.
The guitar, the old slack-key style, real musician, other than that he sang.
My mother of course was a dancer.
So they really teamed up pretty well.
BB: They entertained professionally then too huh?
EK: Well not, well you know the old days they didn’t do things professional.
BB: They didn’t have, they didn’t do so much back then, oh?
EK: They just did that because this was their thing and they’d like to have enjoyment, one with the other, you know, whenever they were in locations.
BB: What was it like growing up in that old Hawaii that you know today?
As a little child, do you remember much of your childhood?
EK: Oh yes!
Very, very much I’m trying to relate some of those incidents into my courses I teach, see I teach at school today and the ohana system.
How we lived, and how.
I remember very well, how whenever it was clear down the beach, we would head down and spend the whole day.
Don’t take any dishes at all, because we would clean all the crevices on the stones and wash them clean, they would serve as our dishes.
They would catch fresh fish and put it in there.
And then when the ocean was rough, we go down to the river and catch the shrimps, we call them opae, and the river shells, and the river fish.
It was fun.
We always had to do some work, there was work to do in the taro patch, you know things like that.
BB: Always had work.
Now, we want another number, what will it be this time?
EK: Well, alright.
I will do a kind of special chant that is dedicated to the area and especially to the chief who really belongs from this area.
He was known as Hanakahi for which Hilo is referred to, Hilo Hanakahi.
And then I will bring the girls in, where they Hoopuka, which is an entry dance.
Then they will do a number for Kane which is the god, that’s Ka Welina.
Then we will do another number that is dedication to Pele, while we’re taking you down to Puna and all of that area.
Then we will have the little girls do a pebble number which is dedicated to King Kalakaua.
BB: The girls are your daughters?
EK: Right.
They are my daughters.
BB: And the little girls are?
EK: Yes, all my granddaughters.
Ae, E na kini lehu e, Mai ta poli o Kaliu a hiti i te tai, O kuili o Leleiwi E nihi a hoolono i ta pa mai o ta leo.
Ua noa teia hoolaulea ia oe e Hanatahi e, Ke alii o ta aina.
Ua noa.
Ae hoopuka i ka la ma ka hikina Hoopuka e ka la ma ka hikina E lululi ana na ale o Kauna, Haki kakala mai ana e Ka makani puka e ka hala Ka Lehua o Panaewa Hele I kai o Kawini A papa lohi a Pua e Ae ke welina mai nei ke kini o Lalo Ke welina mai nei ke kini o lalo Na hoa o ka uka nahele o Puna Akahi ka noho a ka ua i Kaukahi Noho o Kane i ka papa i lohia Lau o Kalohelani a Piilani la Ea la, ea la, ea Ua maona o Kane i ka awa Ua kau ke keha i ka uluna Ua hiolani i ka moena Kipa ia e ke kapa a ka noe Ka ho opa a kai a Kinilau la Ea la, ea la, ea He inoa no Kane Ae Kua Loloa Keaau I ka Nahelehele Kua loloa Keaau i ka nahelehele Hala kua hulu Panaewa i ka laau ino ka maha o ka ohia Kukepakepa ka maha o ka lehua Poohina i ka wela a ke akua Uahi Puna i ka olakaa pohaku Huna pea ia e ka wahine Nanahu ahi ka papa oluea Momoku ahi Puna hala i apua A ihu e, a ihu la A hulihia la i kai A ihu e, a ihu la A hulihia la i uka A ua awaawa A ua noho haahaa A ua helelei, helelei, helelei He inoa no Hiiakaikapoliopele EK: get your pebbles Pua i lehua ka makani Ae Pua i lehua ka makani Pua i Pua i Lehua ka makani la Koliliko i ka wai a ka ua Pua i Lehua ka makani la Koliliko i ka wai a ka ua Kilihea iho ai koekoe la I auau wai ke aloha Kilihea iho ai koekoe la I auau wai ke aloha Haina ia mai ana ka puana la Pua i Lehua ka makani Haina ia mai ana ka puana la Pua i Lehua ka makani He inoa no Kalakaua BB: Oh yes, these are wonderful.
Now we’d like to have some, more what do you have for the next number?
EK: We have more treats, we will have the two older girls, my older daughters, Nalani and Pualani will do with a feathered gourd.
And they will do a kind of song during the time of Kalakaua which takes you back to Honolulu.
When the people visited from the outer island they saw the first sewing machine.
How it went up, the needle went up and how it went down, the needle went down.
And oh they just marveled.
They thought, this is something very strange, you know.
Alright from that number we will take and bring in the little girls and they will do a very old number, it’s called Maluakiiwaikealo.
It’s a kind of love song.
It speaks of how the wind came and it dries up the whole area, and at the same time it takes the lava away.
That’s with the bamboo, the slitted bamboo, alright.
And then they will end up with the little girls doing a very, very good number which is dedicated to King Kamehameha.
It’s called a Mai dance and this is Moanalua.
It kind of speaks on Moanalua in Oahu, but it’s actually dedicated to King Kamehameha.
Ae e hoi ka nani i Honolulu A e hoi ka nani i Honolulu I ka Uluwehi ao ke kaona A e hoi ka nani i Honolulu I ka uluwehi ao ke kaona He aha ta hana a ke tu mai I luna i lalo wehe kui He aha ta hana a ke tu mai E ta humuhumu uila pa alo ai Haina ia mai ta puana A e hoi ta nani i Honolulu Haina ia mai ta puana A e hoi ta nani i Honolulu He inoa no Honolulu Ae Maluakiiwai ke aloha Malua Makiiwai ke aloha Hoopulu i ka liko mamane Maluakiiwai ke aloha Hoopulu i ka liko mamane Ule uleu mai na manu Inu wai lehua o Panaewa Uleuleu mai na manu Inu wai lehua o Panaewa E Walea paha i ke onaona I ke one wali o Ohele E Walea paha i ke onaona I ke one wali o Ohele Hele mai nei kou aloha A lalawe i kou nui kino Hele mai nei kou aloha A lalawe i kou nui kino Haina ia mai ka puana Malua kii wai ke Aloha Haina ia mai ka puana Malua kii wai ke Aloha He inoa no Maluakiiwa ke aloha Ae, Moanalua au Moanalua au la i ka heo oe e Kalihi Moanalua au la i ka heo oe e Kalihi O oe kau ike la e puana akepa ia O oe kau ike la e puana akepa ia Ua paha lihi atu oe la o ka mea ulu a o ko kino Ua paha lihi atu oe la o ka mea ulu a o ko kino O ia ala kau ike la lalaho ka newa i laila O ia ala kau ike la lalaho ka newa i laila Aua e hene Aua e hene la ko piko ma luna a ma lalo la Aua e hene Aua e hene la ko piko ma luna a ma lalo la E ala e ala ea He inoa no Kamehameha BB: I suppose you taught your daughters to dance and sing.
But who taught the granddaughters, did you or?
EK: Oh, well we all had a hand in that, yeah.
My two daughters, you know, ‘cause one of them is the mother of those girls.
BB: Yes.
EK: She’s taught them, too.
And I’ve taught them also to do the dance and they can chant along, too.
BB: Yes, your family are the first homesteaders here in the Big Island?
EK: Right, on the Hawaiian Homes of Keaukaha.
My mother was the first homesteader.
She applied very early in the 1924.
See my father had to build the wharf and he was a carpenter.
So we had to move where it was close to our place for him to go to work.
So she applied and we lived there.
We lived in a very small home that was 14 by 16, he built himself.
Each one of us children had to pack one lumber at a time from the wharf and bring it down.
It was like a kind of picnic you know, because everything was done outdoors.
The cooking was outdoors.
We had to draw the water and stick the barrel by the puhala tree, and kind of make a flue so the water would come in there.
That was our drinking water.
But there’s lots of water to wash out clothes, and other things, brackish water nearby.
It’s real pioneering.
BB: What was the area like when you started to build there?
Was it just nothing?
EK: Oh just nothing but pili grass that we don’t see today.
There was no foliage at all.
The guava trees were very little, and you could see from the Kalanianaole Avenue, which is the first avenue, you could see it way back because only this pili grass was growing very low.
BB: Did they have any roads or anything like that?
EK: No road at all, just little bitty trails.
And the people who, there were people in the area but they lived down near the ocean.
They were not on Hawaiian Homes.
BB: Oh I see, What was it?
Was it all work in those days in your life?
Was it all work or did have time for any fun?
EK: Oh, we had fun.
BB: Fun while you were working?
EK: There was time to work and there was time for fun.
And whatever little families that moved in onto the homesteads and of course, we made friends with other families who already lived there.
And we always got together, the folks got together and they had a little paina, you know, kind of bring your potluck kind of at the end of the week.
And sometimes they did that it went for days.
And until all the food was gone and of course all the drink was gone too, you know because they had their little bit of awa root and things like that to drink, you know.
But they did that for a period of maybe about three days at the most and it was time to work again.
BB: What was the teenager life like then?
Did you socialize like the teenagers today?
Did you have dates?
EK: Right, oh yeah, we did.
Well, I think, to me all of the families were like brothers and sister, so we didn’t really think much about dating.
And when we went swimming we just swam you know, There was no such thing as bathing suit or things like that.
BB: Oh really?
Oh.
EK: Really, we just took off our clothes and swam because there was nothing you know, we didn’t look at each other and just look, at each other, no.
Because we felt, we just lived like a whole, one large family.
BB: Well Edith, we’d like a final number for this program but could continue our talk and the music on the Pau Hana Years?
EK: Oh, surely, we sure can.
BB: Oh, great.
Okay what will we wind up with?
EK: I want to especially do this number with the women folks you know.
This is the number that I did compose and do my own thing about ten years ago.
It’s called the limu, but the real name is Ka Uluwehi o Ke Kai because it speaks about all the different kinds of seaweed that’s on the beach.
Because I love to go to the beach, so I said well I have to do this one.
He hooheno ke ike aku Ke kai moana nui la Nui ke aloha e hiipoi nei Me ke ala o ka lipoa He hooheno ke ike aku Ke kai moana nui la Nui ke aloha e hiipoi nei Me ke ala o ka lipoa He lipoa i pae i ke one Ke one hinuhinu la Wela i ka la ke hehi ae Mai manao he pono keia Hookohukohu e ka limu kohu Ke kau i luna o na moku la O ia moku ula la e ho Oni ana i o i anei Haina mai ka puana Ka lipoa me ka limu kohu Hoapili oe me ka pahee Anoni me ka lipalu Haina mai ka puana Ka lipoa me ka limu kohu Hoapili oe me ka pahee Anoni me ka lipalu BB: And that’s Pau Hana Years today from Hilo, but Edith Kanakaole and her dancers will be back on our next program.
So until then, this is Bob Barker leaving you with this thought: So sad, so fresh, the days that are no more.
[singing] Deep in December it’s nice to remember although you know the snow will follow.
Deep in December it’s nice to remember without a hurt the heart is hollow.
Deep in December it’s nice to remember the fire of September that made us mellow.
Deep in December our hearts should remember and follow, follow, follow, follow.
.
.
Try to remember, try to remember.
Pau Hana Years a new day for older Americans, a time for living.
Your host, Bob Barker.
BB: Hi and welcome to the program for and by the senior citizens of Hawaii.
Today we greet you again from The Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, where in this lovely setting we continue our presentation with Edith Kanakaole.
Ae, he moku no Kaula He moku no Kaula i Nihoa me Niihau I ka ulu la ia Kawaihoa a Kane He moku no Kaula i Nihoa me Niihau I ka ulu la ia Kawaihoa a Kane O kaulana a ka la i Halalii Hala ka la kau ma ke kua o Lehua O kaulana a ka la i Halalii Hala ka la kau ma ke kua o Lehua Kau ma lehulehu o ke ahiahi la Moe e no Kauai i luna o ka la e Kau ma lehulehu o ke ahiahi la Moe e no Kauai i luna o ka la e Eo ana no o Lehua i ke kai e Eo ana no o Lehua i ke kai e He moku no Kaula, he inoa BB: Edith, what was that number?
EK: Oh, that number was He Moku no Kaula.
It is a number that was taught many years ago by a man who taught me some of this ancient dances.
He is from Kauai, his name is Akoni Mika, this is a special number.
I don’t think too many people know this number.
It speaks about Niihau and Kauai and the little island of Kaula and Lehua all of those little bitty islands around Kauai.
BB: And your daughters were dancing.
EK: And my daughters were dancing, doing it you know.
It’s very unusual because you know this great big ka laau, the long stick, and a little one.
Very expressive.
BB: I’ve never seen that particular, the long stick and short stick before.
Very interesting.
EK: Well, it’s supposed to be done with the long stick and the short stick and you’re supposed to have a flat rock underneath of your foot, that’s used for support, like as a paddle to give the rhythm, BB: Oh, I see.
Now on the first program the other day, we talked about your background and your girlhood and that older Hawaii, your homesteading days.
When did you first begin to learn the ancient hulas?
EK: Oh, I learned ancient hula when I was very young.
I started, say the age of six, seven, eight.
BB: Oh yes, who taught you?
EK: My mother taught me yeah, and she also had this other companion who is a man.
They both worked together as a team.
BB: Now, way back, only the males danced the hula.
When did the women start dancing it?
EK: Well, I think that all depends on the alii of that area if he would select only males because women folks also danced.
BB: Oh they did?
EK: And the women folks they just specialized in certain kinds of dances.
BB: Certain kinds.
Mhmm, I like to see the men dance the hula.
EK: Right.
BB: Your chanting did you learn that as your learned the hula as a child?
EK: Right, when you learn a dance you have to learn the chant for the dance also.
BB: You went on to professional entertaining.
Did you always work as a soloist?
Or did you work with others, did you have your own troupe?
EK: Oh yes, we had our own troupe, one of my daughters, my last daughter, Nalani, she was the one that really taught the girls you know.
The dances, I just kind of advised and took care of the music part.
We did entertain professionally in many of the hotels across the mainland, and the orient, places like that.
BB: You being raised in, on and taught the ancient hulas and traditions.
How do you react to the modern do you resist or accept or compromise?
EK: Well I think I accept the modern to a certain extent.
But my first thing in mind is to always do the traditional dance.
Because this is, nothing can take its place.
BB: We’re going to have another number now, this will be something different.
Won’t it?
EK: Oh, now were we going to have the language?
BB: Language.
Yes.
EK: Oh yes, this is very different.
We’re going to have the language that the children and of course we’re going to have a couple of teachers also.
BB: This is the way you teach the Hawaiian Language to them?
EK: Right to the children at home, and also we have the language study in school.
At the Keaukaha School.
(Singing) Ulaula, Melemele, Poni, Polu, Eleele, Akala, Alani, Keokeo, Ahinahina, Omaomao Ulaula, Palaunu, Poni, Polu, Eleele, Akala, Alani, Keokeo, Ahinahina, Omaomao Ulaula, Palaunu, Poni, Polu, Eleele, Akala, Alani, Keokeo, Ahinahina, Omaomao EK: Ae Maikai, paipai ka lima.
Ae maikai.
Ae pehea oukou keia la?
Kekuhi Kanahele: Oluolu no.
EK: Ae oluolu maikai o Nalani.
Ua welona, pehea oe e Huihui?
Huihui Kanahele: Oluolu no.
EK: A o wai kou inoa?
KK: O Kekuhi Kanahele kou inoa.
EK: Ae o Kekuhi Kanahele kou inoa.
A o wai oe, kou inoa?
Nalani: O Nalani kou inoa.
EK: Ae, a o oe?
HK: O Huihui Kanahele kou inoa.
EK: O Huihui Kanahele kou inoa, ae he mau moopuna ekolu keia nau.
A o Kamaile keia no hoi a o Mapalu keia no hoi ma ke kika.
EK: E Kekuhi, e olelo moolelo ana oe ia kakou, a nan i kou kii.
Nana i kau kii a e walaau.
KK: Ekolu keikikane.
EK: Ae ekolu keikikane.
KK: Papale loihi keia.
EK: Ae, Papale loihi ka lakou, ae.
Pehea ke ano o ka luaoho?
KK: Loihi.
EK: Ae, Loihi, he aha ka waihooluu o ka lauoho?
KK: Eleele EK: Ae, he lauoho eleele.
Maikai.
A, Pehea lakou?
KK: Maikai.
EK: Ae maikai, ano hauoli e?
Ae hauoli, walaau hou ae oe kekahi kii.
Ka moolelo ke kahakii.
KK: Hookahi, popoki ma lalo ka moe.
EK: Ae, a nana oe ma lalo o ka moe, kuhi kou lima ma lalo o ka moe.
KK: Hoomaemae ana ia ia iho.
EK: Ae pehea kekahi hou?
Kekahi kii?
Ua pau ka moolelo o kela popoki?
KK: Ae.
EK: Ae, maikai!
Mahalo ia oe Kekuhi.
E Nalani nei, e walaau ana oe e pili ana i ka ilio?
NK: Ae.
EK: E Walaau oe e pili ana ka ilio.
NK: Ae.
EK: Walaau nui.
Maile e Kamaile, e kokua oe ia Nalani i ka ilio eleele.
Kamaile: O Kanani kona inoa?
NK: Ae.
EK: Ae.
K: Hiki oe e walaau, e walaau oe.
NK: Ae K: O Kanani, kekahi mea?
EK: Speak louder EK: O Kanani ka inoa?
NK: O Kanani ka inoa o ka ilio.
EK: Pehea kona ihu?
NK: Poepoe.
EK: Ae poepoe, a pehea kona huelo?
Kona huelo no hoi?
Ku pololei e?
Ae.
A Huihui o kau manawa keia.
Olelo mai oe e pili ana i kou kino no hoi, ka poo, na maka, ka ihu no hoi, ka opu, na wawae.
Walaau mai oe.
Ka poo.
Ae he poo keia.
HK: He poo keia.
EK: Ae, A pehea ka maka?
HK: He maka keia.
EK: Ae, he maka.
Nana, nana no hoi ka maka nui, ae, maka nui keia.
A ka ihu?
HK: He ihu keia.
EK.
Ae he ihu kena, o ka opu.
Ka opu.
HK: He opu keia.
EK: Ae, he opu kela.
Na wawae, he wawae?
HK: He wawae keia.
EK: Ae, na wawae, hiki oe ke mele i ka mele o ka pakaukau.
Himeni oe, himeni oe ka pakaukau.
HK: (singing) Pakaukau is a table.
Noho is a chair.
Moena is a bed or carpet.
Papahele floor.
Puke is my books.
Penikala is a pencil.
Lula ruler sound alike, E hoomau aku.
EK: Ae maikai, pehea ka inoa o kuu makuakane me kuu makuahine?
E himeni oe e Huihui.
Awiwi Huihui.
(singing) HK: Noho au me kuu makuakane.
Noho au me kuu makuahine.
Noho au ma kou home, nui kou hauoli, nui kou hauoli.
EK: Himeni again.
HK & EK: Noho au me kuu makuakane.
Noho au me kuu makuahine.
Noho au ma kou home, nui kou hauoli, nui kou hauoli.
EK: O maikai, mahalo!
Paipai ka lima no hoi no Huihui.
Pai i kou lima e Huihui.
Auwe ka maka hiamoe e Huihui.
BB: Now you’ve performed and entertained for many important affairs and occasions.
What were some of those?
EK: Well, there were really many important affairs that happen in and around the area Hilo, Kona, Kau, and you know all the places but some of the affairs that are still kind of vivid in my mind, I like to recall is when Mrs. Nixon came because everything had to be just so, there was a collection, there was so many girls to go out to the plane and meet her.
Just a spread of the red carpet cause all the senior citizens were there too.
But you can imagine so many people wanting to be right there to get a turn.
And then we did our performances and everything and was just tricky and just Hawaiian with the skirts on and the leis.
And then in the afternoon she went to our school at Keaukaha, where we have the Hawaiian Language.
And she’s very interested, well in the Hawaiian Language and the performance of the children.
We did a whole program out there on the lawn.
With the Hawaiian Language for her and the Hawaiian games and storytelling and other little things besides she went to visit all the classrooms.
And then of course another occasion I really enjoy, and that is we prepared for the opening of the Waiakea Village Resort Hotel and we having the Queen of Tonga come for that dedication.
So that’s kind of new for us, having this queen where we don’t have our queen, you know?
Well, they were being part of our Polynesian cousins, so here is this great big welcome we went to the airport and did the dances there.
But one particular thing I’m very grateful for, is that they allowed for me to have a select ten women and to train them how to do a special chant that I dedicated for the Queen.
All of the ladies wore the same kind of outfit.
We had a special tapa made by the worker’s in charge of the affair, which was a Tongan kind of tapa that we wore for the occasion.
And it was really something.
We prepared the whole banquet, you know, just set it up for her and you know, and all of the other guests so that was really something to remember.
BB: I guess your performances and banquet and all that were probably not too strange to her being a Polynesian herself?
EK: No I don’t think so.
In fact, the language that we speak are very similar.
Very similar.
Yeah, so there’s nothing too strange for us, you know, even if we were to converse.
All you need to do is listen and if you knew your language you are able to follow and know exactly what they’re speaking about.
BB: You mentioned, going to the mainland and to the orient.
Where else have you traveled with your troupe?
EK: Well about a year ago we went to Canada, you know, all up in those lovely places of Canada.
We entertained there also.
And then we came down the coastline and entertained here and there.
But I think the most enjoyable time I could remember was when we took a group there about thirty of us.
About six years ago, maybe seven to the Orient and we entertained in Japan and the Philippines and Hong Kong and Taiwan and Okinawa.
Places like that, you know, we put on some of our traditional, really traditional dances and many of them have never seen this kind of dance and their food was very delicious.
Everyone came back just didn’t fit the costume by the time our tour was over they just barely make it into the costume.
The girls did.
BB: Have you travelled over the U.S. Mainland much?
Or just the west coast?
EK: Well my first tour was entertaining to the Mainland way over to the East Coast.
We went into the New York World’s Fair.
We didn’t entertain there we just visited but our entertainment was done only in the West.
But we went to New York and down to Mississippi and all of this area.
BB: How did you react to the mainland?
EK: Well, um BB: Nice place to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there?
EK: Right just to visit but I don’t think I’d really like to live there.
There’s no poi you know?
BB: No poi, that’s right.
EK: There’s no poi.
On our orient tour, you know at Bangkok we were fed with some kind of poi.
Well, the grew some kind of a plant that looked like our taro but actually poi is made, they put it into some kind of grinder and when they served us, you know they have some Hawaiians there, and I’m telling just had a very odd look.
The color was kind of green and we wonder whether we should eat that green poi or not eat the poi.
We tried it but it just didn’t make at all.
BB: They didn’t make it right.
Okay, now we’re going to have another number, what one will this be?
EK: Oh, pressure.
I have to speak about this number because say about very early September.
This is a number that I composed the chant and the dance of.
It takes us back to Akaka Falls, upon at Hilo over there which is the home of Kamapuaa the god, one of the demigod and how his sweetheart was Pele she get very aggravated because Kamapuaa always teases her and so she crosses the river and over into his area, and so this dance speaks about both of them.
Ae Aia i Kahuku kahi a Kamapuaa A Kahuku au i noho ai la Hoolono i ta owehe a ka wai Ka wai ohana a ka Holo malie e Huli aku huli mai huli lua e Huli aku huli mai huli lua e Ke nakulu mai la o Akaka a He hoapili no ka uka, Hamau ka leo o kahuli e Ke ako la me ka awelu Huli aku huli mai huli lua e Huli aku huli mai huli lua e Naue ka honua ia Kama e Eia ae o Pele ma hope Houlu ia ke kupua e Ua ena ka wahine o ta lua Huli aku huli mai huli lua e Huli aku huli mai huli lua e Malihini moe Pele no ka aina e He aina hunawai no Kama Mai Wailuku a Hiilawe e Ua pae a pa mau ia Huli aku huli mai huli lua e Huli aku huli mai huli lua e He mele he inoa keia No Kama a Pele o ka Lua Hoi noho i ke kapu Kahuku e Home no ka wao a Kama Huli aku huli mai huli lua e Huli aku huli mai huli lua e He mele he inoa keia e No Kama a Pele o ka Lua Hoi noho i ke kapu i Kahuku e Home no ka wao a Kama Huli aku huli mai huli lua e Huli aku huli mai huli lua e He inoa no Pele Kamapuaa BB: Now you’ve been an educator for many years, what all have you been teaching and where?
EK: Well, I’ve taught this side Sunday School and all of that for the Church.
I’ve taught at the community college.
The legends and the chants, I’ve even taught preparation for Hawaiian Food.
‘Cause some students go into to hotel and restaurant so they need to know some of these also.
And then I taught herbs and plants because herbs and plants is always in our family.
As far back as I can remember my father taught all of the techniques of herbs and plants, this is one thing that was handed down.
Then about three years ago, I was asked to move up and teach up at Hilo College.
And I’ve been under the department of humanities, you know with the language and I’m still there.
Of course I’ve taught besides language and I’ve taught subjects such as the ohana system which I really like.
The lifestyle of Hawaiian people and the guidelines.
BB: Briefly what was the purpose of the ohana system?
What did it achieve that wasn’t achieved in others?
EK: I think the ohana system is really focused around the family togetherness.
That they did not do anything other than what is told to them to do, and everyone must agree.
They all decide whether this is the best way.
They had all this kind of guidelines that today the sociologies just pick it up.
BB: Edith we want to thank you for visiting with us and for the beautiful dancing and chants in these past two programs what will we conclude with now?
EK: We will concluded with a good old song which we refer to as Hilo March.
‘Cause I think no one should have a program without that song, especially from Hilo.
BB: That’s definitely appropriate Mea ole i ke kono a ke aloha Ike hou ana i ka nani ao Hilo I ka uluwehiwehi o ka lehua Lei hoohihi Hii a ka malihini Mea ole i ke kono a ke aloha Ike hou ana i ka nani ao Hilo I ka uluwehiwehi o ka lehua Lei hoohihi Hii a ka malihini Mea ole i ke kono a ke aloha Mea ole i ke kono a ke aloha BB: And that’s Pau Hana Years for Today.
Our past two programs have been presented on the grounds of the New Hilo Hawaiian Hotel featuring the beloved Edith Kanakaole.
Until our next program this is Bob Barker leaving you with this thought: The finest gift a person can give to her age and time is a constructive and creative life.
Deep in December it’s nice to remember the fire of September that made us mellow.
Deep in December our hearts should remember and follow, follow, follow, follow.
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PBS Hawaiʻi Presents is a local public television program presented by PBS Hawai'i