In Memoriam
John Ka‘imikaua 1958-2006
HPU Kupuna-in-Residence
It
is with deep sadness that we note the passing on Tuesday June 6, 2006 of Kumu
John Ka`imikaua, an award -winning composer, performer and kumu hula, and
HPU's first Kupuna-in-Residence.
In addition to his many achievements within the wider community, Kumu John was particularly important to the Anthropology Program as an adviser, faculty member and elder.
Kumu John agreed to become HPU Kupuna-in-Residence in 2001. Despite ongoing health problems he worked intensively with HPU faculty, particularly Assistant Professor of Anthropology Dr. Lynette Cruz to advance the integration of traditional Hawaiian knowledge into the curriculum and the practice of the Anthropology Program and, ultimately, the broader university and to act as a resource for other units of the University with regards to Hawaiian protocol, and understandings.
As Kupuna-in-Residence, Kumu John utilized his skill and knowledge, part of a learning genealogy that extends back to the 14th century, for the benefit of HPU's students. He taught two Anthropology classes: ANTH 3850 Cultural Sites and Practices of the Ancient Hawaiians and ANTH 3851 Landscape and the Sacred in Hawaiian Knowledge at the Hawai`i Loa Campus. Students who took these classes experienced new and profound understandings of Hawaiian culture, particularly for specific places which students visited on fieldtrips. Thanks to Kumu John's input, these courses will be foundational to the new certificates in Hawaiian Studies that will be offered by the Anthropology Program in Spring of 2007.
In addition to his formal teaching, Kumu John also gave performances and lecture demonstrations of hula kahiko (hula in the traditional style) that graphically illustrated the power, mana and intellectual content of traditional Hawaiian performance practice. In 2004, with the assistance of Prof. Rob Borofsky, he and his halau, Halau Hula O Kukunaokala, performed for incoming first-year students and their parents as part of orientation celebrations. He also composed a chant for HPU students and faculty to identify themselves at formal occasions. This chant was first performed publically at the Makahiki opening celebration presided over by Kumu John at Kapuaikaula (Hickam Air Force Base) in the Fall semester of 2005.
Kumu John also worked to extend and broaden the incorporation of Hawaiian knowledge and practices to other members of the university community. At the time he passed, he was working with faculty from the Transcultural Nursing program in the College of Nursing, and had just proposed an HPU summer program on Moloka`i aimed at giving students from any background a practical and experiential understanding of traditional landscapes.
We thank Kumu John and his family for the gifts of knowledge, understanding, delight and presence he gave to us. Our lives have been immeasurably enriched by his relationships with us and we shall all miss him tremendously.
We are currently planning a memorial prize honoring Kumu John, to be awarded annually to the HPU student who demonstrates excellence in understanding and communicating traditional Hawaiian culture. The prize will be dependant on permission from John's family. Anyone interested in planning or donating to the prize, please contact Chris Fung at cfung@hpu.edu.
A wake and service for Kumu John was held June 19 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Makakilo. He was buried on Moloka`i on June 21 following a second funeral service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kaunakakai, Moloka`i
-- Christopher Fung, Associate Professor and Program Chair, on behalf of Anthropology Program faculty and students
Online obituaries can be found at
Moloka`i
Times (6/10/2006)
Maui
News (6/10/2006)
Honolulu
Star Bulletin (6/10/2006)