25th David Malo Award Goes to Annie Kanahele

Annie L. A. Kanahele, educator, author and church leader, was presented the 25th annual David Malo Award last night by the West Honolulu Rotary Club at a luau at Waialae Country Club.

Malo was a 19th century poet, preacher, counselor of chiefs and first superintendent of public schools for the Kingdom of Hawaii. The award named for him is given annually to an Island resident of Hawaiian ancestry who has contributed to the preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian culture.

Kanahele was cited for her work in the field of education for three generations among the makaʻainana, the common people of Hawaii, for her writings and for teachings to perpetuate the Hawaiian language.

Her autobiography, “Annie, Live of a Hawaiian,” is in its fifth printing.She also is co-author of “Na Himeni Hawaii,” a Hawaiian hymnal and is working on a book of short prayers and poems in Hawaiian and English.

She has conducted language classes and been a volunteer translator of documents for Bishop Museum and the Hawaii State Archives.

Past award recipients include:

Mary Pukui, Henry Kekahuna, the Rev. Abraham Akaka, Flora Hayes, Jennie Wilson, Judge William Heen, Duke Kahanamoku, Dr. George Mills, Kaupena Wong, the Rev. Samuel Keala, Clorinda Lucas, Martha Hohu, Doris Keppler, Dorothy Kahananui, Iolani Luahine, Monsignor Charles Kekumano, Clara “Hilo Hattie” Nelson, Mitchell Pauole, Richard Lyman Jr., Herbert Kane, U.S. Congressman Dan Akaka, Alice Namakelua, Emma Sharpe and Danny  Kaleikini.

Annie Kanahele

(Star-Bulletin, 10/22/1981, p. A11)

Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Volume 70, Number 295, Page A11. October 22, 1981.