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Judy Nelson McKee ’61 and Steven Holbrook “63 and their respective spouses traveled to the Hawaiian Islands in November ’07 to visit old schoolmates Fred Cachola ’60 and Michael F. O’Brien ’61. |
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UNI Grad – Folk Hero in his Native HawaiiJudy Nelson McKee and Steven Holbrook |
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We recognized Fred Cachola immediately, though 47 years had passed since his active participation as a student with us on the ISTC campus in the late 50s and early 60s. His smile and engaging personality were still there as he greeted us outside the Iolani Palace in Honolulu on the island of Oahu. He was there to lead us on a private tour of the Palace, one of the most visited historic places in Hawaii, where Hawaii’s final two monarchs lived and ruled. We were the envy of others doing a tour because Fred embellished his animated commentary with traditional songs causing other tourists to whisper, “You are certainly lucky to have him as your guide!” Afterwards we were excited by Fred’s kind offer to take us on a daylong outing around Oahu the following day. |
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Our tour of Oahu included many native historical sights accompanied by interesting explanations of their past and current cultural importance. It became clear that Fred was not only knowledgeable but also highly invested in the history and culture of the Hawaiian Islands. As time went by we would come to realize just how fully invested and important our friend is in the resurgence of interest and concern for cultural history. A few days later, when we were on the Big Island, Fred again generously offered to show us several of the main historical sites. We met him early one morning for a tour of Ka Makahonu at Kailua, Kona, the first seat of government of King Kamehameha, the first king to unite all of the islands into one kingdom. We learned later that Fred is one of the foremost authorities on the king and his important place in Hawaiian history. In fact, he helped spearhead preservation at Kapakai, Kokoiki, North Kohala, the birth site of Kamehameha I. He continues to be the master of ceremonies of the state holiday, Kamehameha Day, held near there in North Kohala on the Big Island, near his own childhood home. Later he took us to Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, one of many parks and historical sites that Fred has helped initiate and develop. Here he told the story behind the ascendancy of King Kamehameha to the throne. He answered our historical questions with an ease that reflected upon his expertise as a social scientist. Fred showed us ancient petroglyphs being preserved at Anaeho’omalu, a site in South Kohala near several luxury hotel complexes. The petrogylph field was in the middle of a housing division yet attempts were being made to preserve it with Fred’s input. Fred was able to interpret what some of the many mysterious symbols on the petroglyphs meant. He continued the tour, taking us to natural areas such as beaches, lava tubes and ancient temples and villages in need of conservation and preservation. These areas will also be of continuing concern to Fred in his ongoing work for the Islands. Fred’s love for Hawaii is matched by the admiration of the people for Fred. Wherever he took us, the people at site after site who work for the national parks of Hawaii all knew Fred. For instance when we joined him at the park headquarters near Kona we met over fifteen park rangers and employees, all of whom made their way over to say hello and to acknowledge him. At another site a lady curator who had been making a beautiful traditional Hawaii lei willingly gave this handmade work of art to Fred as a personal gift because she admired his leadership in helping to promote Hawaiian history and culture. It was obvious that because of his many important contributions and the respect he demonstrates, the people he serves genuinely love Fred. During our time with Fred we spent hours chatting about his passion for Hawaii’s history, King Kamehameha I, his childhood, and the work he has done over the years. Without knowing it, Fred, was underscoring the importance of his contributions to Hawaiian society, its people, and its national park system. We could tell that he loved Hawaii dearly, understood the significance of its history and culture and the need to preserve all of this for Hawaiian children of the future. He told us he retains property in North Kohala on the Big Island and plans to build there because this was his “home” and he planned to return for part of his retirement time. He feels drawn to his roots, back to the very land of his origin. Now a sought after expert on Native Hawaiian history and culture, Fred currently serves on the Native American Advisory Group (NAAG) that assists the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation (ACHP), a federal government agency dedicated to the preservation of significant cultural and historic Native sites. Also while serving on the State of Hawaii Historic Places Review Board and the National Parks Study/Advisory Commission he has helped in the establishment of two National Parks in Hawaii and been the advisor for their restoration and operations in culturally appropriate ways. It is little wonder that he has received recognition and awards for these efforts through the years. In addition, as an innovative award-winning educator, named “Hawaiian Educator of the Year” in 1996 by the State Office of Hawaiian Affairs, he has changed and enlightened the lives of thousands of Hawaii’s youth. He pioneered many innovative programs as the Director for Extension Education for 25 years at his Alma Mater, the Kamehameha School, an esteemed, private school committed to educational excellence for children of Hawaiian ancestry. Because Fred felt strongly that all native children should have opportunities to flourish in knowledge of their cultural heritage and traditions, he helped to create and direct several highly successful programs for public school children as outreach efforts of the Kamehameha School. Fred’s early years were spent in Kohala on the isolated northern end of Hawaii. Like many Hawaiian boys, he grew up enjoying mild Hawaiian temperatures in bare feet. He fished, swam and hiked in the same areas as his ancestors had done for thousands of years, but in his elementary school there was no significant exposure to the history of his people, their songs, or their culture. Because he was an excellent student, when he was in eighth grade he had the opportunity to attend the prestigious Kamehameha School in Honolulu. There he experienced culture shock because he had rarely been outside of his home district except for a yearly trip to Hilo, several hours from his home on the Big Island. Fred remembered that just coming to Honolulu and Kamehameha School was traumatic. However, it was there that he first learned about the Hawaiian language and sang original Hawaiian music in school. He became a lover of Hawaiian song and dance. The School opened his eyes to his own culture and helped him to understand that this heritage was something that needed to be protected for all Hawaiians. His excellent formal schooling in Hawaii helped prepare Fred for a leadership role in education and in society. Later like many students at the time, ISTC provided a quality educational experience for him in many ways as he achieved his early goal of becoming a college graduate. It was fortunate for ISTC that he wound up on campus because not only was he a successful student, but also he was known throughout the campus for his friendliness and accomplishments, even winning the prestigious annual Old Gold Popularity contest. As he stated, it was fortuitous that he returned to Hawaii because though he had offers to teach in Iowa upon graduation, the calling from home was strong. Fred worked eleven years for the Hawaii Department of Education and was the first Native Hawaiian in decades to be appointed principal, and at the young age of 32. His work was centered in schools with high percentages of poor, native Hawaiian students. As he grew to love his students, he developed a desire to improve the lot of all native Hawaiian children. He considered himself fortunate when the opportunity opened to join the staff of the Kamehameha School. The goal of a their newly established extension division, to improve the educational level and awareness of cultural identity of thousands of Native Hawaiian pupils was to be realized and Fred undertook the challenge of helping to create and lead the initiative. He not only managed the extension division from 1971 - 1996, but he built into the programming support for preschool education and for assisting young girls who were pregnant and in need of continued education. Fred mused about suddenly going from a principal of one school of 1,600 to director of an educational program throughout Hawaii with over 40,000 pupils. Fred was ahead of his time educationally and professionally, and he was certainly a leader for preserving the legacy and history of ethnic Hawaiian peoples. We came away from our visit with Fred Cachola with a whole new understanding of what it means to be Hawaiian and for his prominent role in helping all of this to happen in his beloved islands. We felt his story had to be told to our fellow educators in Iowa, because UNI has been instrumental in the preparation of this fine educator and leader and it provides a unique linkage to another part of our country often ignored by those of us on the mainland. It is difficult to end this story without acknowledging another UNI alumnus who continues to share similar attributes and a love for Hawaii and its culture. That person is Michael F. O’Brien, class of 1961, who spent many hours with us on the Big Island and escorted us to places we never would have experienced without him and his wife, Arline. They were former teachers in South Korea and retired to the Big Island over ten years ago. They have become immensely involved in Hawaiian causes. His contributions are so numerous it would take another article. Aloha! Dr. Steven Holbrook ‘63 has spent 45 years in education in numerous capacities, including the superintendency. Presently, he is International Educator-in-Residence in the Chesterfield County Public Schools in Virginia. He has traveled extensively and has lived and worked professionally for over 15 years in other countries.
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