Who was this man, Tame'hame'ha 'Anae, or as others would call him, Kamehameha, or Kanaka Nui? Genealogy important
for Pacific IslandersREADER REMEMBRANCE
Lokelani 'Anae Moreno / Special to the Star-Bulletin
What was so interesting about his character? Where did he come from?
According to family history, Tame'hame'ha 'Anae sailed to Hawaii with his family from Western Samoa to fulfill a mission to attend the Hawaii temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to seal his entire family (for time and all eternity) in accordance with the teachings of the Mormon Church.
This mission was accomplished in 1922, in the temple built in Laie on the moku (island) of Oahu.
But what was the significance of Tame'hame'ha 'Anae's migration to Hawaii with his ohana in 1920, never to return to where he came from?
History books tell us there were many ships that sailed the South Pacific for trading or migration to other islands during the early 20th century. We must remember that Polynesians were seafaring people who traveled the ocean long before the Vikings or even Columbus.
Today, several family members are busy researching our Hawaiian genealogy. As Polynesians, genealogy is very important to families -- it is our way of connecting with each other. In our research, we found 'Anae descendants from South Kona, Hawaii, and Wailuku, Maui, who had signed the "Anti-Annexation Petitions of 1897-1898."
Today, we note the importance of genealogical work, especially for health reasons.
In 1920, when Tame'hame'ha arrived in Hawaii, he was already fluent in the Hawaiian language and completely immersed in the Hawaiian culture. He was part-Hawaiian, from his grandfather's side of the family, and learned the language from an aunt. Among Hawaiians he was known as Kanaka Nui ("big man") because of his 6-foot-2 height and hard work ethic.
Throughout his more than five decades in Hawaii, Tame'hame'ha had a very close association with the Hawaiian community.
Friends who often came to visit included the legendary Mary Kawena Pukui; Ka'apu (a pure Hawaiian) from Punaluu, Oahu; the Rev. S. Desha from the Big Island; Uncle Sam Pua Ha'aheo of Kahana Valley; Auntie Luika and Uncle Pele Ka'io; the Nawahine ohana of Laie; and many others.
The question often asked by members of the 'Anae family was, Why did all of these people come to visit this man, Tame'hame'ha 'Anae? Was he someone special or of great importance? According to his daughters, these people came to him to converse in Hawaiian and to do research with him.
The main reason, stated one aunty, was, "This man had great command and knowledge of the old Hawaiian language, which he loved so much." He would often display his expertise in the Hawaiian language at workplaces, in his testimony speeches at church, or with those who spoke Hawaiian.
Tame'hame'ha 'Anae had three great loves: for 'Akua (Lord), for his ohana and for this land called Hawaii, which gave him sustenance and "Nui Aloha."
He died in 1975 at the age of 85 and is buried in the cemetery at Laie.
Lokelani 'Anae Moreno is Tame'hame'ha 'Anae's granddaughter and a kupuna with the Hawaiian Studies Program of the state Education Department.
Census 2000 counted 28,184 people in Hawaii who identified themselves as Samoan, either alone or in combination with other races. Of those, 16,166 people identified themselves as only Samoan. A closer look at that subgroup, by county: Samoan population,
in state and counties
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000
Statewide 16,166 Honolulu County 15,464 Hawaii County 405 Maui County 208 Kauai County 82