“E Ho‘ohanohano a E Ho‘omau. . .
. . . To Honor and To Perpetuate”
Into the Future
F
ounding members of Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa came together with future leaders for three days in August of presentations, discussions and talk story on how to keep the ‘Ohana growing with the same spirit that spearheaded its formation in 2003. It was the first major step in passing the baton of the ‘Ohana to the next generation. “It’s important that our newer leaders have a good understanding of the history of Kalaupapa and how Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa came to be,” said Clarence “Boogie” Kahilihiwa, a founding member of the ‘Ohana who has served as President since 2009. “You can’t move forward without knowing where you came from.” The goals of the workshop, held at the St. Anthony Retreat Center on Oahu, were to give newer ‘Ohana leaders insights into key chapters of the history of Kalaupapa and a solid background of Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa from its earliest days to recent accomplishments. It is hoped that additional sessions held over the next year will result in a team that is well-versed and dedicated to carrying out the mission of the ‘Ohana. Transition planning of a nonprofit is one of the organization’s most significant—and challenging—times. Executive Director Valerie Monson, who helped organize the 2003 workshop, said she has been thinking about this necessary process for six years. “It was when I was on a tour of ‘Iolani Palace in 2011 and was so impressed with the docent we had,” said Valerie. “She had a great personality, made the history so interesting and could answer every question. When I got home, I looked for information on their docent program and started thinking about the ‘Ohana doing something similar.”
Char Woodward, great-granddaughter of Kalaupapa businessman David Kamahana, makes sure her 6-year-old son, Nainoa, understands his Kalaupapa ancestry. The two of them stand in front of a photo of descendants at the site where The Kalaupapa Memorial will be located. Henry Law photo
Valerie began writing down her ideas for transition and applying for grants a few years ago. This past year, she has been working with three descendants—Marci Lyons, Lopaka Ho’opi’i and Kehaulani Lum—on becoming docents to accompany families on visits to Kalaupapa. She has also been consulting with specialists about Strategic Planning and working with the ‘Ohana graphics designer to revamp the ‘Ohana website to make it a more encompassing resource. Continued on page 6
k a la upa pa o ha na .o rg