The family of Daniel and Lydia Makuakane made a pledge of $100,000 to establish the Daniel and Lydia Makuakane Endowed Scholarship, which will support eligible undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the University of Hawaii at Hilo Ka Haka ‘Ula o Ke’elikolani College of Hawaiian Language.
The endowment honors Daniel and Lydia Makuakane for their contributions to the preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian language and cultural practices. The scholarship is intended to help increase the number and proficiency of Hawaiian speakers.
“The college is built upon a strong historic foundation of community commitment from native speakers and families like the Makuakane ohana who have sustained ‘olelo Hawaii in their ohana across multiple generations,” said Keiki Kawai‘ae‘a, Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikolani director.
“In that spirit, the Daniel and Lydia Makuakane Endowed Scholarship will continue the legacy by assisting families, students and parents, who desire to learn, increase and improve proficiency of the Hawaiian language. In addition, the endowment will support the certification and advancement of P-20 Hawaiian-medium educators,” Kawai‘ae‘a said.
Lydia Ah Hee Makuakane and the late Daniel Makuakane were born in Puna to Hawaiian-speaking parents who lived traditional subsistence lifestyles. Before Lydia was a week old, her paternal grandmother, Leialoha Waipa Ah Hee, took Lydia in hanai fashion to live with her in Kapa‘ahu.
Lydia lived in Kapa‘ahu until age 17, speaking Hawaiian exclusively at home and with her ohana throughout Puna. Although Daniel was not as fluent in Hawaiian as Lydia, they always spoke Hawaiian to each other and with their relatives.
They also took great pride in conserving and cultivating Hawaiian plants, especially maile. Native practitioners and UH scientists regularly consulted with Daniel about his specialized techniques in growing this endangered plant.
Like the maile, which was threatened with extinction if not cultivated properly, Daniel and Lydia knew ‘olelo Hawaii would suffer the same fate if not given special care and attention. In 1985, after the Punana Leo ‘o Hilo was established, Daniel and Lydia took an active role in their youngest grandson’s Hawaiian language education.
Just as her grandmother was for her, Lydia was the primary caregiver and language resource for her grandson until he graduated from Ke Kula ‘o Nawahiokalani‘opu‘u in 2001. After her grandson’s graduation from UH-Hilo, Lydia agreed to serve as manaleo (native speaker) for Hawaiian language students at Ka Haka ‘Ula ‘o Ke‘elikolani.
“Our parents lived at a time and in a place where Hawaiian language and culture were dominant,” said one of their daughters, Teresa Makuakane-Drechsel. “They knew, however that our experiences would be different and made sure that our core identity, values and practices were ohana-focused and kanaka Hawaii.”
Makuakane-Drechsel and her husband, Emanuel Drechsel, are making an additional gift to the Daniel and Lydia Makuakane Endowment through their revocable living trust to ensure scholarships are available in perpetuity for eligible students enrolled at Ka Haka ‘Ula o Ke‘elikolani.
