It is truly rare to know a pure-blood kanaka ma‘oli (native) today, as most Hawaiian koko (blood) is mixed with that of many other heritages. Kimo Keli‘i Ka‘aha‘aina Pihana is a 100-percent Hawaiian man.
Much of Kimo’s identity was hidden from him while growing up on a farm in Wahiawā, O‘ahu during the 1940s and ‘50s. He was known as James. His parents spoke some ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian) at home, but he wasn’t allowed to speak it at school. English was the accepted language, and native Hawaiians were shamed as being uncivilized. There was even a law prohibiting naming a child with a Hawaiian name.
It has been a lifelong journey for Kimo to embrace his true identity. It’s been challenging and painful at times.
Living a life close to the land—raising animals, fishing, and planting crops—Kimo learned to work hard to help his family. Their sustenance came from the land; however, some cash was needed, so he joined the US Merchant Marine. Soon after, he was drafted into the US Army and shipped off to the Vietnam War, where he sustained multiple life-threatening injuries as well as psychological trauma. He served in an all-Hawaiian squadron and was one of the few survivors.
Kimo’s journey to understand his culture was enhanced when he married a woman with Marquesan and Tahitian ancestry. Leila Pihana is an artist of tatau (tattoo) who speaks five languages. They had a son, Moana, and have been married for more than 30 years.
Kimo credits revered kūpuna, kumu hula, and professor of cultural wisdom, Pua Kanaka‘ole Kanahele, with taking him under her wing and mentoring him for several decades, during which they participated together in activism.
[excerpted fromhttps://keolamagazine.com/culture/kimo-pihana/]
Kimo proudly dons a signature red malo to represent his culture at many public events: parades, demonstrations, and cultural festivals. It represents a link to a sophisticated culture that was attempted to be quashed by missionaries and an illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893.
Qualified by his ancestral lineage, Kimo was appointed to the Royal Order of Kamehameha and other honorary organizations.
[Excerpted from https://keolamagazine.com/culture/kimo-pihana/]