Patience Namakauahoaokawenaulaokalaniikiikikalaninui Wiggin Bacon

Born on Feb. 10, 1920, in Waimea, Kaua'i, of Japanese ancestry Bacon was orphaned at birth and brought to Honolulu, where she was adopted by Henry and Pa'ahana Wiggin; their daughter, Mary Kawena Pukui, a major 20th century scholar and teacher of Hawaiian language and culture, became Bacon's hanai mother. Bacon learned Hawaiian language, hula, chants, and other aspects of Hawaiian culture from her hanai mother and has spent a lifetime sharing this knowledge through educational programs while serving as a cultural resource specialist at Bishop Museum. The first part of Bacon's Hawaiian middle name means ‘haughty eyes of Kawenaulaokalani’; the second part was given by her grandmother to protect Bacon, connecting her with Pele. (From “The Auntie of Bishop Museum” by Zenaida Serrano, Honolulu Advertiser, August 17, 2005).

In 2004, Bacon was named a Living Treasures of Hawaii in a program sponsored by Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii to celebrate contributions to the islands' cultural heritage. In 2005, the Bishop Museum honored Bacon with the Robert J. Pfeiffer Medal for her dedication to the advancement of Hawai‘i’s cultural heritage, including the language and hula. Bacon was also the recipient of the first Mary Kawena Pukui Award given by the West Honolulu Rotary Club to honor a person not of Hawaiian ancestry who has made a significant contribution to the Hawaiian community through their chosen vocation or field of endeavor. (“Hall of Fame Member, Pat Bacon, Honored By W. Honolulu Rotary Club,” at the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame and Museum website.)

Native Hawaiians in Sumo: Jesse Kuhaulua, Chad Rowan, and George Kalima

In the 20th century, three native Hawaiian wrestlers entered and rose through the ranks of sumo, one of the most traditional of Japanese sport. The first was Jesse Kuhaulua, who wrestled as Takamiyama:

“Jesse Kuhaulua was born in Happy Valley, Maui, Hawaii in June 1944 to a Hawaiian father and a Japanese mother. In 1964, at the age of nineteen, Kuhaulua left Hawaii for Tokyo, and became the first American to enter the world of professional Japanese sumo. In March of 1964, Kuhaulua made his debut under the name of Takamiyama and began what would be a twenty year career. In 1968, Takamiyama was promoted to the Makuuchi division representing the highest level of Japanese sumo. Before his career was over, Takamiyama achieved the rank of sekiwake, the third highest in sumo, and established records for most consecutive tournaments (97) and most consecutive bouts (1425). The highlight of his career occurred in 1972, when he defeated Champion Asahikuni to win the Emperor’s cup and become the first foreign-born sumotori to win a championship. Upon his victory, a Japanese ambassador read a congratulatory message from President Richard Nixon, marking the first time that English words were spoken to a Japanese sumo audience.”(From the biography of Takamiyama at the American Sumo Association website; see also “Takamiyama one of sumo’s iron men,” by Ben Henry, Honolulu Star Bulletin, October 6, 1999); and "Jesse Kuhaulua" by Ferd Lewis Honolulu Advertiser, July 2, 2006).

Takamiyama’s success paved the way for other wrestlers from Hawai’i to enter sumo, including Saleva’a Atisanoe, of Samoan ancestry, who wrestled as Konishiki and who achieved the rank of Ozeki in 1987; native Hawaiian Chad Rowan, who wrestled as Akebono and who in January 1993, after a mere 30 matches, became the first foreigner to attain sumo’s highest rank of Yokozuna, the sixty-fourth grand champion in sumo history (see "Akebono" by Ferd Lewis Honolulu Advertiser, July 2, 2006); native Hawaiian George Kalima, who wrestled as Yamato and attained the rank of Maegashira  in 1997; and Fiamalu Penitani, of Samoan-Tongan ancestry, who wrestled as Musashimaru and who became a sixty-seventh Yokozuna in 1999. “The Last Sumotori” by Ferd Lewis provides an overview of the achievements of sumo wrestlers from Hawai'i (Honolulu Advertiser, Saturday, October 2, 2004).

Esther “Kiki” Takakura Mookini

In 2006, author, researcher, translator and teacher Esther “Kiki” Takakura Mookini received the Mary Kawena Pukui Award from the West Honolulu Rotary Club, given to honor a non-Hawaiian person who has made a significant contribution to the Hawaiian community through their chosen vocation or field of endeavor. (“Rotary to honor historian,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, May 2, 2006).

Aunty Kiki was born in Pa’ia Maui, in 1924. Of Japanese ancestry, she married Edwin Mookini, who served as Chancellor of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo (1975–1978). Kiki taught Hawaiian history and language at Kapi‘olani Community College and has translated several literary and historical texts from Hawaiian into English. In the 1990’s, her great love for Hawaiian culture led her to become involved with the voyaging canoe Hokule‘a as an educational consultant, crew member, and volunteer in the building of Hawai‘iloa.

In 2005, she was the first recipient of the Pa‘a Mo‘olelo Award from the Hawaiian Historical Society: “Mookini’s contributions to Hawaiian culture include service as a teacher and as a translator. In particular, her translations of historically significant works have made available bilingual texts for students and the general public. They include books such as Anatomia, 1838; various Hawaiian legends such as The Wind Gourd of La‘amaomao; and documents such as District Court Minutebooks. Her contributions to a variety of reference resources, including the Hawaiian Language Dictionary, Place Names of Hawaii, and The Hawaiian Newspapers have aided countless researchers and students.” (From “The Pa‘a Mo’olelo Award: Esther T. ‘Kiki’ Mookini Receives the First Award.”