ALBERTA PUALANI HOPKINS / 1938-2004

Educator tailored work
for Hawaiians

Alberta Pualani Hopkins spent her professional career fostering education in her native Hawaiian culture. In recent years, she nurtured that interest within the Episcopal Church.

She taught at the University of Hawaii for more than 20 years and was the author of "Ka Lei Ha'aheo," the beginning level Hawaiian language textbook used at the university, community colleges and most high schools. Before retiring she served as acting dean of students.

Hopkins, 65, of Kaaawa, died last Wednesday in the Queen's Medical Center.

"She was important in formation of the Hawaiian studies program," said Emily Hawkins, associate professor in the Hawaiian and Indo-Pacific Languages and Literature Program. She said Hopkins served on a task force that called for expanding Hawaiian studies into a graduate program and combining it with the languages program. "On the day she died, the UH Faculty Senate was told that we are moving toward a new school of Hawaiian knowledge" by UH Chancellor Peter Englert because of her contributions.

"She was a person of spirit," said Hawkins. "She predates the 1970s renaissance" in Hawaiian studies, she said. Hopkins was co-author of an earlier Hawaiian language textbook, "E kama'ilio Hawaii Kakou."

Hopkins received the UH Regents' Medal for Excellence in Teaching in 1989 and Ke Kukui Malama for Excellence in Hawaiian Education from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in 1996. Last year, the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, Calif., named her a doctor of humane letters for her involvement in Anglican Church efforts.

"I would describe her as a scholarly activist," said the Rev. Charles G. Kamohoali'i Hopkins, retired vicar of St. John's by-the-Sea Church in Kahaluu. "She was a serving person, always looking to help others before herself."

They were married for 23 years and were founding members of the Anglican Indigenous Network which "pulled together Maoris, American Indians, native Alaskans, Canadian natives and native Hawaiians ... to support one another in efforts in each of our provinces."

She was a member of the national Episcopal Church Commission on Racial and Ethnic Ministry and was a frequent speaker at cross-cultural workshops here and on the mainland. She served as a professional consultant on the Hawaiian Bible Project and chaired the Native Hawaiian Ministries Board.

"She translated our Eucharistic rites from English to Hawaiian," said her husband, adding that the text is used in Episcopal parishes and will be used in part at her funeral service.

Hawaii Episcopal Bishop Richard Chang will preside at the service at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Andrew's Cathedral. Friends may call after 10 a.m. Inurnment will be in Hilo.

Her survivors also include sons James Jr., Thomas Jr., Kalae S. and Naalehu Anthony; Gordon W.K., Michael R., Stephen R. and Mark L. Hopkins; daughters Helen Lamburt, Lynlie M. Waiamau, Margot and Punihei Anthony; brothers Albert, James and Robert Pung; sisters Louise M. Tippitt and Lilinoe Cranford; 32 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.