Kaʻū News Briefs Nov. 21 2024

Auction fundraiser to establish the first Hawaiian immersion school in Ka'u begins Friday
with a generous donation from the family of the late Uncle Willie Meinecke, whose roots are deep in the community.
Photo from Ke Kula Nā ʻAʻaliʻi Kū Makani o Kaʻū

THE HAWAIIAN IMMERSION SCHOOL FUNDRAISING AUCTION goes live on Friday. Ahead of the event, reports organizer Raylene Auli'i Fujikawa Moses, a generous donation has arrived for development of the school called Ke Kula Nā ʻAʻaliʻi Kū Makani o Kaʻū. The gift comes from descendants of the late Kaʻū historian and Waiʻōhinu resident Uncle Willie Meinecke who lived from 1888 to 1995. His grandnephews are brothers Fred Lalani Meinecke and Kaipo Kurt Meinecke who "have stepped forth to join in the growing effort to support the revitalization of the Hawaiian language in Ka'u," She said the brothers live in O'ahu but "have long treasured their Kaʻū roots. "
    The Meinecke presence in Kaʻū dates back to their great-grandfather, Carl Conrad Wilhelm Hermann (1845-1915) from Hannover, Germany and a Civil War Union veteran. He settled in Kaʻū in 1877 and was appointed by King David Kalākaua to serve as Kaʻūʻs first Supervisor of Education during the late 1800ʻs.
  Kalani and Kaipo Meinecke also trace their Kaʻū roots to great-grandmother Kamaka Kamanuwai (1854-1922)of Kamāʻoa and Waiʻōhinu who was a prominent community presence in Kaʻū in her time. (shown inthe lower photo)

  Moses pointed out that "Throughout Hawaiʻiʻs prehistory, Kaʻū was a uniqueand determinant location. And due to its isolation, Kaʻū was the last Hawaiian district to be Christianized, post-1840. Today, with Indigenous peoples throughout the U.S. and Canada, a growing movement of recovery of heritage and  
language is manifesting in the establishment of language immersion programs for pre-schoolers as well as for youth and adult learners. 

   "While the initial intent is to revitalize endangered indigenous languages, language specialists
also endorse the cognitive benefits of bilingual education such as an increased aptitude for learning as well as long-lasting cognitive benefits in later life," said Moses. She said that it is with these many positive outcomes that the committed organizers of Ke Kula Nā ʻĀʻaliʻi Kū Makani O Kaʻū hope toward a successful drive to ensure the launching of Kaʻūʻs first Hawaiian language immersion program. Please consider joining the Meinecke brothers and other generous donors toward assuring the success of this
educational opportunity for Kaʻūʻs future! Mahalo Nui!"

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Trojan Girls Win First Game of Preseason
Trojan Girls Basketball team flew away today to O'ahu to participate in the Sacred Hearts Academy 
Invitational Tournament for high school teams from around the state. Coach Troy Gacayan announced:
"Great job girls! First game as a team." Trojans beat Kaimuki 45-27. Photo from Trojans Basketball

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AT SAINT JUDES EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN OCEAN VIEW this Saturday, church members will provide a Thanksgiving dinner for 150 homeless people. On Wednesdays, St. Judes offers free showers (averaging 35 showers) and a bag lunch. Each Saturday the shower totals average 45-50 and the church 
also prepares a meal for up to 125 people.
    The church offers a public access computer lab on Saturdays. The rest of the week the church is home to Senior meals, AA, a children’s choir, hula and more. The location is 92-8606 Paradise Circle. Call (808) 939-7000. See http://www.stjudeshawaii.org/about-us.html.

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KAI, THE HONU WHO MADE A NEW FRIEND: Esther Szegedy will sign copies of the new children's book that she illustrated, Kai, The Honu Who Made a New Friend. Ths signing will be Saturday, Nov. 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Written by Mora Ebie, the book highlights the importance of kindness and friendship. Book signing will be held at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. 
    Free; park entrance fees apply.
    The author also published Kai The Honu Who Didn't Know He Was Brave with artist Mike Tackett.
    For more information, visit www.volcanoartcenter.org, or contact the VAC Gallery at (808) 967-7565. Volcano Art Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created in 1974 whose mission is to promote, develop and perpetuate the artistic, cultural and environmental heritage of Hawaiʻi's people through arts and education. Visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.

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