ASSOCIATION OF HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUBS
A RESOLUTION
NO. 2020 – 1
CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF DORA KALIHI AKINA
WHEREAS, Dora Kalihi Akina was born on January 29, 1923, to Clarice Chong and Nick Yanagihara of Hilo, Hawaii, and although not of Hawaiian ancestry, she was adopted by Elena McMillan and Samuel Kalihi of Kona, Hawai‘i, where she was raised in a home where ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi was their first language; and
WHEREAS, at the age of five, Dora and her mom moved to Lāʻie, Oʻahu where she attended and completed school at Lāʻie Elementary, and although she never continued her higher education, at an early age she was employed by Dole Pineapple Cannery for a mere 50 cents to one dollar per day; and
WHEREAS, Dora was the loving wife of George Kahalewai Akina, Jr. and loving mother to four daughters and five sons, a loving grandmother to 32, a loving great-grandmother to 42, and was especially blessed to be the great-great-grandmother to seven; and
WHEREAS, Dora had many lifelong experiences which provided numerous opportunities for her to share her skills and talents with others as well as her children, which enabled her to teach her children how to make coconut hats that they were able to sell for 50 cents at the roadside hat stand at Kaluanui and at the Lāʻie Hukilau; and
WHEREAS, Dora’s strong work ethics persevered from early childhood to her later years, she worked most of her life serving in her community, which includes IGA Store in Hauʻula, Oʻahu, the Burger Mill in Kahuku, Oʻahu, and also with the Department of Education as a custodian at Hauʻula Elementary School for more than 25 years; and
WHEREAS, Dora was a lifelong member of the Koʻolauloa Hawaiian Civic Club, giving service to the community, was a member of their scholarship committee, and participated in making laulau, poi and kūlolo; and
WHEREAS, Dora also babysat at the Liliuokalani project at Punaluʻu, Oʻahu, and was the last haumana of Pua Haʻaheo and Luika Pele Kaʻio, and was the eldest active haumana in Hālau Hula o Kekela; and
WHEREAS, Dora participated as a Hawaiian Language translator with the children’s books with the Hoʻoulu Hou Project: Stories Told By Us for Na Kamalei, Koʻolauloa Early Education Program, and was a recipient honoree at the Diamond Emerald 90-year anniversary on June 14, 2014 at Turtle Bay Resort, Kahuku, Oʻahu; and
WHEREAS, Dora will be dearly remembered for her service to the Hawaiian community, fondly remembered for her kind generosity in sharing her talents, beautiful puakenikeni leis she lovingly made from her own flower trees, and gifts of hard work and accomplishment; and
WHEREAS, it is thru her pursuit of happiness and hard work that makes her such an accomplished person.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs at its 61st Annual Convention held online, in the malama of Makali‘i and the rising of ʻOlekūkolu, this 22nd day of November 2020, celebrating the life of Dora Kalihi Akina; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted to her daughters, Clarice K. Stick, Priscilla, Jane L.A. Jong, Mayette H. Fonoimoana, her sons, John K. Akina Sr., Nephi K. Akina Sr., Brian K. Akina, the Ko‘olauloa Hawaiian Civic Club, as well as the Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, President of the State Senate, Speaker of the State House of Representatives, Chair of the State Senate subject matter committee on Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the State House subject matter committee on Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and all County Mayors.
The undersigned herby certifies that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted in the malama of Makaliʻi and the rising of ʻOlekūkolu on the 22nd day of November 2020, at the 61st Annual Convention of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs held online.
Hailama V.K.K. Farden, President
