The Pa‘a Mo‘olelo Award
Esther T. “Kiki” Mookini
Receives the First Award
The Hawaiian Historical Society presented its first Pa‘a Mo‘olelo Award to Esther T. "Kiki" Mookini on October 22, 2005, at the Society's history conference, ‘Olelo Makuahine. Mookini was cited for her untiring efforts to preserve and perpetuate the Hawaiian language.
The Pa‘a Mo‘olelo Award was created in June 2005 by the Hawaiian Historical Society Board of Trustees to honor individuals’ lifetime contributions to Hawai‘i’s history. Pa‘a Mo‘olelo represents the foundation upon which historical accounts are perpetuated, the bearer of such historical accounts, and one who provides such a foundation for historical preservation and perpetuation.
Mookini’s contributions to Hawaiian history 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.
According to Carol Silva, a colleague and friend, "Kiki Mo‘okini was at the vanguard of those who quietly kept the mother tongue alive through the Dark Ages of language history when there was little or no interest in perpetuating traditional or formal thought and expression. Not only did she commit to this language as a student but she further helped ‘Olelo Hawai‘i to regain its former place as a living language through her role as a teacher of long-standing."
As part of the tribute at the conference, Ms. Mookini received a framed award, which included a mele written and chanted by Puakea Nogelmeier titled "He Wehi No Ka Pa‘a Mo‘olelo: A Song of Tribute for the Historian," an HHS Distinguished Historian pin, and a Life membership in the Society.
