Why We Need A New Building At Kawaiahao
At the height of emotion and disagreement over the unintended disinterment of iwi at Kawaiaha鈥檕 Church, it appears that the real issues that prompted their removal are being ignored by those who oppose the building of the Multi-Purpose Center (MPC). Those who watch one group of Hawaiians argue vehemently with the venerable 鈥淐hurch of the Ali鈥檌鈥 are no doubt wondering what is really going on.
For most native Hawaiian members of Kawaiaha鈥檕 Church, who have always made up the majority of the Congregation, it is heart-breaking to watch strangers to our Church standing on the steps of our house of worship holding their inflammatory and misleading signs and making deceptive remarks about our church and our Kahu, a behavior that is probably very appalling to our k奴puna.
In 1940, under the direction of our second Hawaiian Kahu, Rev. William Kamau, Likeke Hall was built next to the administration office. As a child, I have fond memories of enacting bible stories and reciting bible verses from memory in Hawaiian in Likeke Hall, participating in Sunday School activities, having celebratory parties and meeting for all-church functions such as the Aha Mele, Aha Pae鈥檃ina, etc. My wedding reception was held there and I vividly remember many friends gathered there with food, flowers, music and laughter befitting the occasion.
We didn鈥檛 know that Likeke Hall was built over a section of the cemetery. But our k奴puna knew. They must have struggled with heavy hearts over their decision to build at that location. When I look at the Kawaiaha鈥檕 property today, I realize that they had no other choice. Except for the King Street site where the Sanctuary stands and construction is impossible, the rest of the property is in the cemetery proper where disturbance of known iwi would have been much greater.
At that time, our membership was growing, our Sunday school was prospering, and our programs needed room to expand. Our k奴puna realized that a building was needed so the church could provide the services, activities, and programs necessary for its survival and to accommodate the interest and growth of its membership. They prayed and felt assured that the k奴puna would understand their dilemma and consent to be moved to make room for a needed structure. Reluctantly, our k奴puna agreed on that site for Likeke Hall.
Such was the call of Kamehameha III when in 1837, when the sanctuary basement was being excavated and iwi were discovered, he ordered that the iwi be removed to make room for the Church.
Most at the Church and the community-at-large remember Likeke Hall as the social or parish hall, where countless functions were held for 70 years. About 100 different organizations used the hall each year for a variety of meetings, rehearsals, aerobics classes, Hawaiian craft classes, ukulele and hula lessons, union meetings, baccalaureate services, fundraisers, luaus, and celebrations, to name but a few. In 2006, we fed and housed the homeless for four weeks. These activities have stopped.
During the construction of Likeke Hall, 117 sets of iwi and 12 sets of cremations were discovered and relocated to Kamo鈥檌li鈥檌li Church cemetery. They were moved with great dignity and respect, and were afforded a Christian burial, with our choir singing hymns and our Kahu offering prayers. There was great kaumaha (sadness) and our members stood together praying for strength from Ke Akua. This is the same protocol that we offered when the State requested that 108 sets of remains be reinterred at Kawaiaha鈥檕 from Queen Street in 1986.
As a result of the construction of Likeke Hall in 1940, Kawaiaha’o Church was able to continue to serve its growing membership as well as welcome sister churches and other organizations to use our new building. My uncle, the Reverend Doctor Abraham Kahikina Akaka, tended to his parishioners here at Kawaiaha’o and elevated the Church to world status during his 28-year tenure as Senior Kahu, using Likeke Hall for many events. However, he, too, realized that Likeke Hall was aging and he, himself, made plans for its eventual replacement. He could not see the new building in his lifetime but we have the opportunity to fulfill his dream as well as continue to serve the people of Hawai’i. Kahu Akaka left us a legacy of resources, hope, and a vision to build a structure where all Hawaiians could gather.
When the MPC is built, the entire staff will be centrally located, unlike today where they are scattered throughout Kawaiaha鈥檕. There will be sufficient number of class rooms for our keiki. Meeting and conference rooms will triple from those in old Likeke Hall. More events may be held simultaneously. Hawaiian societies will be able to schedule their monthly meetings at their Hawaiian Church. The hall will have new state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment for our keiki and adult Christian education classes. A new archive will be built to house, protect, and secure valuable documents which will be available to the public. The kitchen will be equipped with energy saving equipment, for much less than a frequently exaggerated cost of $1million.
Kawaiaha鈥檕 will continue to serve its members and the community as its first priority. While we indeed regret disturbance of iwi, we believe that their 鈥榰hane (spirit) have ascended into Heaven and their iwi, which are over 100 years old, will return to dust. We respect the iwi k奴puna and continue to work with their families during disinterment. We are trying to accommodate the demands from those who oppose our building, in reasonable and respectful ways, and we pray we will be able to meet one day soon with mutual agreement.
The success of Kawaiaha鈥檕 Church and its relative renown in the world have been directly associated with the people of Hawai`i. One cannot think of Kawaiaha鈥檕 without thinking of the indigenous people here and the Aloha spirit that visitors find at our beloved Kawaiaha鈥檕. We need our building as a place to gather as Hawaiians, as residents of Hawaii, and as a people. It is my greatest hope that this controversy will result in a shared understanding that will allow us to find the strength to honor our past as we provide for the present and plan for our future. In my heart, I know our K奴puna understand and are proud to say 鈥漼es鈥 to this effort. Aloha ke Akua.
About the Author: Puanani Akaka Caindec is a long-time member of Kawaiaha鈥檕 Church whose family of four generations attended and served at the historic Church. She is a Hawaiian Language speaker and teacher who studied Hawaiian Language, history, literature and culture under the tutelage of Dr. Samuel Elbert for four years at the University of Hawaii. She has been involved in the planning of the MPC since its inception in 2002.
