Abraham St. Chad Kikiakoi Kalilioku Piianaia, one of Hawaii's most distinguished educators and authorities on Polynesian seafaring and culture, died Feb. 2. He was 87. ABRAHAM ST. CHAD KIKIAKOI KALILIOKU PIIANAIA
Educator taught
/ PACIFIC AUTHORITY
thousands about
Pacific isles
By Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.comA geographer, teacher, scientist and ocean explorer, he taught thousands of students and people abroad about Hawaii and the Pacific.
He was a former director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and one of the founders and first director of the Hawaiian studies program at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. He was also a UH geography professor and lecturer for 40 years, a leader in the Polynesian voyaging movement and retired commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve.
"It's hard to summarize a person who had such a full life," said Lehman (Bud) Henry, a colleague and friend of Piianaia's for 50 years.
While saddened by his death, Henry said, "I celebrate his presence and his exceptional, warm contributions to the state. ... He had so much aloha. He just gave so generously."
Piianaia was named a "Living Treasure" of Hawaii in February 1999 by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii for his significant contributions.
"As an alii, he had noblesse oblige," said Kiyoshi Ikeda, who was appointed with Piianaia in 1976 to the Hawaiian Studies Advisory Committee, which helped establish the Hawaiian studies program.
"He was both honorable and generous to a fault. He also had humility and ... would listen to any party that wanted to speak with him ... When asked for counsel or information, he spoke very straight."
Piianaia was born at Waikahalulu, now part of Liliuokalani Gardens near Kuakini Hospital. He attended Kamehameha School for Boys.
He served with the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II, working up to captain in 18 months.
He was fluent in the Hawaiian language, which he taught at Kamehameha Schools in the 1950s and shared with other classes through the years.
He earned a bachelor of arts degree in government and public administration and a master of arts degree in economic geography at UH. Piianaia directed the Hawaiian Home Lands department from 1957 to 1961.
Rubellite (Ruby) Kawena Johnson, who met Piianaia as a Hawaiian language classmate at UH, said he was the best choice to be the first director of the Hawaiian studies program.
"I always felt he deserved mention (for his service), but he never really got it. ... His name is not on anything at all ... so I think, hats off to Abraham."
Ikeda said Piianaia "was wonderful with students," inspiring and counseling them to meet the highest academic standards. "He came from a legacy that believed in excellence and believed in pono and he also believed in providing leadership to young people in all fields."
Henry said Piianaia was his mentor in Hawaiian language, culture and geography and "things of the sea." They shared interests in astronomy, navigation, writing and research.
Piianaia was one of three generations of crew members on the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokulea. Others were his son, Gordon, the captain, and grandson, Chad. His daughter, Ilima, was a crew member on the Hawaiiloa, the second canoe to sail the Pacific.
Survivors include: sons, Gordon Yee Keaweaheulu Keliimaikai Piianaia of Honolulu, and Norman Abraham Piianaia of Waimea, on the Big Island, daughter, Ilima Anne Piianaia, of Honolulu; grandchildren, St. Chad Kalilioku, of California, Dr. Christopher Kaliko of Honolulu, Maikai David Kikiakoi and Gordon Heulu Foskett of Hilo; brother, Arnold Morgado, Sr. of Honolulu; sisters, Mae Lambert of Honolulu, Margaret Nani Makanui of California, and Julia Tassill of Nevada, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Diamond Head Memorial Park with visitation starting at noon. Private internment will be at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Abraham Piianaia Scholarship Fund at the UH Foundation.