ELIZABETH KAUAHIPAULA /
CLASSROOM KUPUNASchools pioneer hosted
Hawaiian talk show
Elizabeth Kauahipaula returned to the classroom in 1980 to teach the Hawaiian language she loved. She became the longest-serving pioneer kupuna in the state Department of Education's Hawaiian studies and the Hawaiian language immersion programs.
Kauahipaula spent the last 23 years teaching until she was diagnosed with cancer in April. She died June 8 at the age of 88.
Kauahipaula taught at both Kamehameha Schools and
Waiau Elementary School earlier this year and had planned to resume teaching this summer.
She also hosted the first Hawaiian language talk show, "Manaleo." Her last show, which aired May 17, will be repeated tomorrow on 'Olelo Channel 53.
Kamehameha Schools Hawaiian language teacher Hailama Farden, a student in her first class at Waianae Elementary School, said he never stopped learning from Kauahipaula.
He mourned the loss of one of the dwindling number of native Hawaiian speakers. "These are the very last native speakers," he told his students. "You are fortunate to see them, let alone learn from her."
Kauahipaula was the only teacher without a teaching degree to be awarded the Hawaii Alliance of Language Teachers Award for excellence in teaching in 1999. She also received the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' Ke Kukui Malamalama Excellence in Hawaiian Education award in 2000. Born on Oahu, Kauahipaula was taken to Naalehu on the Big Island as an infant by hanai parents. They later moved to Waiakea near Hilo, where she grew up speaking Hawaiian.
She is survived by son Herman Nunuha, sister Margaret Spencer, 18 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren, 19 great-great-grandchildren and two hanai grandsons.
A Roman Catholic Mass will be held Sunday at 6 p.m. at Hawaiian Memorial Park. Call after 3 p.m. Another service will be held 1 p.m. Monday at Kamehameha Schools' Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop Memorial Chapel. Call after 10 a.m. Burial is at 3 p.m. at Hawaiian Memorial Park. Aloha attire.