Edward Kahale (1891 – 1989) was an American clergyman, and the third Kahu (pastor) of Hawaiian ancestry at Kawaiahaʻo Church, from January 1940 until the January 1957 installation of Abraham Akaka. He was an integral part of the University of Hawaii's early 20th century efforts to prevent the Hawaiian language from becoming a lost language.
He was born of Hawaiian ancestry in Honolulu on September 19, 1891, and raised in Kau, Hawaii by his parents Harry and Ana Ohialau Kahale. He trained as an accountant through a correspondence course with La Salle Extension University, and was also a Graduate of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. For a number of years, he was a school teacher on the island of Niihau, and was jokingly referred to as "the mayor of Niihau". [1] [2]
He had pastored, or served as assistant pastor, at several churches in the Territory of Hawaii, including Kaneohe, Napoopoo, Waianae and Pearl City. Kahale was pastor of Haili Church in Hilo in 1937, when he was called to be assistant pastor at Kawaiahaʻo Church, sharing the leadership responsibilities with Kahu William Kamau . Kahale was promoted to Kahu in 1940, and became the third of Hawaiian ancestry. The 89-year-old Kamau was able to retire as pastor emeritus. [3] [4] [5]
In April 1945, Kahale officiated at the funeral service for political leader and Hawaiian Princess Abigail Campbell Kawānanakoa. [6] Kahale served Kawaiahaʻo until Reverend Abraham Akaka was installed as Kahu on January 30, 1957. [7] Although officially retired, he was still affiliated with Kawaiahaʻo, mostly officiating at weddings and funerals. One of his last rites as a minister was officiating at the 1973 wedding of Honolulu Advertiser columnist Sammy Amalu and realtor Ann Felzer. [8] [9]
The annexation of Hawaii by the United States was followed by a move towards cultural Americanization of the territory. Conversational Hawaiian gradually declined almost to the point of extinction. The situation was exacerbated when the territorial government favored English-only in classrooms. The University of Hawaii instituted a program to rectify the situation. Hawaiian language interpreter and instructor Frederick William Kahapula Beckley Jr. was hired in 1922 as the university's first Hawaiian language instructor. [10] John Henry Wise became the second instructor in 1926. [11]
Wise died in 1937, and was succeeded by Henry Pratt Judd, grandson of missionary Gerrit P. Judd. [12] When Judd retired in 1945, Kahale was brought on board. The trustees of Kawaiahaʻo Church accommodated his need to divide his time between the church and the university. [13] [14] Beginning in 1946, Kahale created the lesson textbooks. In 1949, linguist Samuel Hoyt Elbert, who had been taught the language by Mary Kawena Pukui, was hired to assist Kahale as a teacher. [15] The instructors would come to include Reverend Samuel Aukai Keala Sr. of Kaumakapili Church, a native Hawaiian minister who was raised in a home where only the Hawaiian language was spoken. [16]
Beginning in 1950, Kahale delivered Hawaiian language sermons on Honolulu radio station KGMB. His last transmission was December 31, 1951. [17]
Kawaiahaʻo Church is a historic Congregational church located in Downtown Honolulu on the Hawaiian Island of Oʻahu. The church, along with the Mission Houses, comprise the Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site, which was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark (NHL) in 1962. In 1966 it and all other NHLs were included in the first issuance of the National Register of Historic Places.
Elizabeth Kekaʻaniau Laʻanui Pratt, full name Elizabeth Kekaʻaniauokalani Kalaninuiohilaukapu Kekaikuihala Laʻanui Pratt, was a Hawaiian high chiefess (aliʻi) and great-grandniece of Kamehameha I, being a great-granddaughter of Kalokuokamaile, the older brother of Kamehameha I, founder of the Kingdom of Hawaii. She was the daughter of Gideon Peleʻioholani Laʻanui and Theresa Owana Kaheiheimalie Rives.
Abraham Kahikina Akaka was an American clergyman. For 27 years, Rev. Akaka was Kahu (shepherd) of Kawaiahaʻo Church in Honolulu, Hawaii. His mother was of Hawaiian ancestry, and his father was of Hawaiian and Chinese ancestry. He delivered his messages in both the Hawaiian and English languages.
Miriam Auhea Kekāuluohi Crowningburg Kamai was a Hawaiian high chiefess (aliʻi) during the Hawaiian Kingdom. She was a cousin of King Lunalilo and namesake of his mother Kekāuluohi who ruled as Kuhina Nui (premier) under Kamehameha III.
Richard Armstrong was a Presbyterian missionary from Pennsylvania who arrived in Hawaii in 1832. Along with his wife Clarissa, he served in mission fields of the Marquesas Islands and in the Kingdom of Hawaii. He established several churches and schools, and was Kahu (shepherd) of Kawaiahaʻo Church after the departure of Hiram Bingham I. Kamehameha III appointed him Minister of Public Instruction, and his accomplishments established an educational system that earned him the nickname "The father of American education in Hawaii".
Akaiko Akana (1884–1933), became the first Kahu (pastor) of Hawaiian ancestry at Kawaiahaʻo Church in 1918. He served in that capacity until his death in 1933.
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George Paele Mossman was a Honolulu businessman of Hawaiian ancestry, who became successful as a cultural entrepreneur, musician and ukulele maker. He was born in the Kingdom of Hawaii to Thomas and Nahua Kealaikahiki Mossman in the Pauoa Valley on the island of Oahu. After the death of his wife Rebecca Kainapau, he married Emma Keliilalanikulani Lewis. He had 7 children resulting from the two marriages: George R., Thomas W., Robert, Rebecca Pualani, Kaahikipiilani T., Leilani R. and Joseph Kekaulike. Mossman was of the Mormon faith, and a Sunday School superintendent of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hawaii.
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