Synopsis: The following is a loving tribute to William G. Demmert, one of the co-founders of the National Indian Education Association and one of the first Native American doctoral graduates of Harvard University. The value of Demmert’s work with Native American languages, which also includes the Hawaiian language, is recognized herein by his colleagues at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, who wish to join together with their Native American friends in grieving the loss of their esteemed colleague.

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Ke 'a'a aku nei kēia Kōmike Na Ke Aloha, nona ho'i nā inoa 'elele i pūlima 'ia iho a pa'a mai ma lalo nei, i ke aloha paumākō nui e komo pū aku nei ko ke Ku'ikahi o nā Hilo a umāmaka pū a māmā a'e ka 'eha'eha o loko i ke kala hele 'ana mai o ke kūmākena ē, 'o ka Ihupani Tlingit, 'o ke Kā'e'a'e'a Oglala Sioux, 'o ke kanaka, ke Kauka William G. Demmert, 'Ōpio, ua moe lōli'i, ua lele ke aho hope, ua hala akula e kaka'i ho'okahi ma ke ala ho'i 'ole mai.

'Oiai 'o ua Kauka Demmert nei, he keiki na ka makua e ake ana i ka 'ike me ka na'auao, a komo akula he haumāna o Harvard Kulanui, a puka akula 'o ia, 'o ia kekahi lae'ula o ka 'āuna hau-māna mua loa nona ke koko 'ōiwi 'Ilikini o 'Amelika o ka makahiki 1973; a'Oiai 'o ua Kauka Demmert nei kekahi o nā hoaho'okumu i ke ku'ikahi, 'o ka National Indian Education Association o ka makahiki 1970; a

'Oiai 'o ua Kauka Demmert nei, he mea ho'i i hele a hoakama'āina no ko Hawa'i nei ma ka makahiki 1993 ma nā hana e kāko'o aku ana, kāko'o mai ana i ke ola me ka holomua o nā 'ōlelo 'ōiwi o 'Amelika Hui Pū 'Ia nō a puni, 'o ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i kekahi; a

No laila, ua ho'oholo 'ia: 'o mākou pū kekahi, nā hoa a me nā 'ohana 'ōlelo Hawai'i o Hilo i ka Ua Kanilehua pū kekahi e ukomo pū aku nei i loko o kēia kaumaha nui 'ana i ka nalo loa o ke kanaka nona kēia leo aloha.

Ua ho'oholo hou 'ia: 'o ko mākou aloha nui pū kekahi e pū'ili pū aku nei a pumehana pono ka 'ohana pono'ī nō i ho'onele 'ia iho nei i ia ka'ina hele loa o ka mea i aloha nui 'ia.

Ua ho'oholo hope 'ia: 'o kā mākou mau mana'olana haipule pū kekahi me nā anaina haipule 'Epekopala o Bellingham o ka lā 25.Ianuali.2010, a pēia ho'i me nā anaina haipule Tlingit o Craig, 'Ālaka o ka māhina 'o Pepeluali, ka wā me kahi e ho'i ai ke kanaka i kona kulāiwi hānau, e holu hou ai ke oho i nā ahe welelau makani kama'āina o ia kaha, e honi hou ai i ke anuhea ko'i'i o ke au ho'omana'o, a e hahai ai i ka heahea pa'ē a nā kūpuna e ho'i aku a la'i ma ia pō'ai pumehana o ke aloha ... māhu ke ola o ke kanaka i pua a'e a nalo koke nō ...

Me ke aloha ho'omau,

na ko ke Ku'ikahi o Hilo, Hawai'i Kuauli

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E ho'ouna 'ia mai nā leka iā māua, 'o ia ho'i 'o Laiana Wong a me Kekeha Solis ma ka pahu leka uila ma lalo nei:
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a i ‘ole ia, ma ke kelepona:
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This column is coordinated by the Hawaiian Language Department at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, supported by the Initiative for Achieving Native Hawaiian Academic Excellence.