Cultural icon Edith Kanaka‘ole celebrated at UH Hilo

Posted on May 8, 2023April 22, 2024 by Staff

It was a day of celebration and reverence for the beloved Kumu Edith Kanaka‘ole, who played a pivotal role in laying the foundation for Hawaiian studies programs in higher education and throughout the community.

Person takes a photo of the mural of Edith Kanaka‘ole portrait on the side of Edith Kanaka‘ole Hall, UH Hilo campus. — An attendee at the celebrations on May 6, 2023, takes a photo of the new Edith Kanaka‘ole mural by artist Kamea Hadar. The mural is located at Edith Kanaka‘ole Hall, named after Aunty Edith, on the campus of UH Hilo. (UH System News)

By Susan Enright.

The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo co-hosted a day of celebration May 6 to honor the life and legacy of legendary educator and cultural icon Edith Kanaka‘ole.

Aunty Edith worked as a teacher at Hawai‘i Community College from 1971 to 1974 and at UH Hilo from 1974 to 1979. At both schools, she created courses and seminars on subjects including Hawaiian language, ethnobotany, Polynesian history, genealogy and Hawaiian chant and mythology, laying the foundation for Hawaiian studies programs in higher education that continue to grow and expand to this day.

Alapaki Nahale-a at the podium delivering remarks. — UH Regent Alapaki Nahale-a, vice chair of the Board of Regents and representing Hawaiʻi County, delivers remarks at the May 6, 2023, event honoring Kumu Edith Kanaka‘ole. (Alyson Kakugawa-Leong/University Relations )

“Aunty Edith sang literally and figuratively in a way that not only taught, it inspired,” says UH Regent Alapaki Nahale-a, vice chair of the Board of Regents representing Hawaiʻi County, about the award-winning composer. “She delivered sacred knowledge, life affirming and perpetuating knowledge, in a way that was powerful and reverent while also being accessible and joyful.”

Saturday’s “He Ka‘ao No Aunty Edith Kanaka‘ole” events started at the campus Performing Arts Center with a kīpaepae (welcoming ceremony) and hoʻokupu (ceremonial presentation of gifts and tributes) and was livestreamed on YouTube. The event was co-hosted by Hawai‘i Community College, the United States Mint, the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. The celebration then continued with the unveiling of a mural of Aunty Edith at Edith Kanaka‘ole Hall, along with hula and other activities.

The ceremonies held at the Performing Arts Center tied into the release of a U.S. coin honoring Kanaka‘ole. On March 27, the United States Mint released into circulation a coin from the American Women Quarters™ series honoring the cultural icon. She is one of five American women being honored in new quarters in 2023 as part of the American Women Quarters™ Program. Each year, the U.S. secretary of the treasury selects the honorees following consultation with the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, the National Women’s History Museum, and the Congressional Bipartisan Women’s Caucus.

A pahu on stage draped in lei, with a photo of Edith Kanaka‘ole in the background. — On stage at the May 6 event at UH Hilo honoring Edith Kanaka‘ole is a pahu (drum) draped in lei with a portrait of the Kumu Hula in the background. (Courtesy U.S. Mint)

Two women at the podium with a replica of the Edith Kanakaole quarter. — Kristie McNally, deputy director of the United States Mint delivers remarks alongside a replica of the quarter created in honor of Edith Kanaka‘ole. (Courtesy U.S. Mint)

An image of the performing arts center filled with people for the event. — Audience at the “He Ka‘ao No Aunty Edith Kanaka‘ole” event. (Courtesy U.S. Mint)

A staffer with the US Mint hands out Edith Kanakaole quarters. — Attendees at the May 6 event received an Edith Kanaka‘ole quarter. (Courtesy U.S. Mint)

Unveiling of the mural

Chancellor Irwin stands at the podium delivering remarks. — UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin delivers remarks at the May 6, 2023, event honoring Kumu Edith Kanaka‘ole. (Alyson Kakugawa-Leong/University Relations )

At the opening event, Chancellor Irwin delivered remarks about the mural of Edith Kanakaole created on campus this week by local artist Kamea Hadar in collaboration with Kūha‘o Zane who is Edith Kanaka‘ole’s grandson and creative director at Sig Zane Designs, a local textile and clothing business in Hilo renowned for a signature aesthetic rooted in Native Hawaiian culture. The mural was created with the support of UH Hilo Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Services.

“As a faculty member of both Hawai‘i Community College and the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Aunty Edith openly shared her deep ancestral knowledge passed down to her through her familia hula lineage,” says Irwin. “Her early contributions to the university’s Hawaiian language program and numerous community initiatives have set a foundation that continues to be built on today. It is an immense honor to share her story through this mural and have her portrait serve as a prominent feature on campus.”

Located at Edith Kanaka‘ole Hall, which was built in 1982 and named after the beloved kumu hula, the mural was unveiled at ceremonies shortly after the event at the performing arts center. The 1,000 or so attendees then enjoyed hula performances and other cultural activities.

A large mural of Aunty Edith on the side of a building with four people standing at the base for their photo: UH Regent Wayne Higaki, artist Kamea Hadar, UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin, and UH Regent Alapaki Nahale-a. — Standing below the new mural of Kumu Edith Kanaka‘ole, from left, UH Regent Wayne Higaki, artist Kamea Hadar, UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin, and UH Regent Alapaki Nahale-a, May 6, 2023, at the unveiling. (Alyson Kakugawa-Leong/University Relations)

Large crowd gathers to watch hula presentation. — Crowd gathers to watch hula performance in honor of Edith Kanaka‘ole, May 6, 2023, Edith Kanaka‘ole Hall, UH Hilo. (UH System News)

Hula Halau performs. — Hula hālau performs during celebration honoring Edith Kanaka‘ole. (UH System News)

Photo of Miles Walsh during interview. — Miles Walsh (UH System News)

Miles Walsh, a UH Hilo alumnus who attended the event, says about Aunty Edith, “The amount that she has touched so many people is just astounding, not just through her hula, but thorough her teaching and through everyone that’s her legacy.”

“I’ve never known anyone with such a big legacy as Edith Kanaka‘ole,” Walsh adds.

The mural project at Edith Kanaka‘ole Hall will continue over the next few months in different areas of the building but as one contiguous mural with thematic design elements created by Kūha‘o Zane, who collaborated on his grandmother’s portrait.

“UH Hilo students will be an integral part of the process by contributing to the mural throughout the summer,” says Chancellor Irwin.