LIHU‘E — Queen Lili‘uokalani, born Sept. 2, 1838, was honored by the Queen Lili‘uokalani Children’s Center ‘ohana Saturday during E Ola Mau ‘O Lili‘uokalani at the Kaua‘i Museum. During the brief — but poignant — ceremony, QLCC ‘ohana presented lei
LIHU‘E — Queen Lili‘uokalani, born Sept. 2, 1838, was honored by the Queen Lili‘uokalani Children’s Center ‘ohana Saturday during E Ola Mau ‘O Lili‘uokalani at the Kaua‘i Museum.
During the brief — but poignant — ceremony, QLCC ‘ohana presented lei ho‘okupu followed by mele, or song, of compositions created by Lili‘uokalani.
QLCC was created when Queen Lili‘uokalani, on Dec. 2, 1909, executed a deed of trust, which established a private foundation dedicated to the welfare of orphan children.
On Oct. 11, 1911, the queen amended the deed, adding destitute children among her beneficiaries, states the QLCC website.
Lili‘uokalani, in the amended deed, said “all the property of the trust estate, both principal and income, … shall be used by the trustees for the benefit of orphan and other destitute children in the Hawaiian Islands, the preference to be given to Hawaiian children of pure or part aboriginal blood.”
QLCC is a social service agency created to fulfill Lili‘uokalani’s mission and its commitment is to the orphaned and destitute children in the state of Hawai‘i, with preference given to those of Hawaiian ancestry.
The agency strives toward the development of healthy children whose needs are met by a consistent, nurturing caregiver so children can reach their full potential; strong positive family attachment built on a cultural and spiritual foundation; stable home environment; and caring communities that are concerned about the welfare of its children.
Lei Aiu Taber, the assistant unit leader for QLCC, said when the agency was formed, leaders scoffed at the idea, noting Hawaiian language was on a decline.
During the event Saturday, the ladies and children of QLCC resonated the walls of the Kaua‘i Museum, and they were joined by Jane Gray, the museum’s director, in the rendering of one of Lili‘uokalani’s 150 compositions, her most well-known composition being “Aloha ‘Oe,” and serving as a concluding piece for the QLCC ‘ohana.
Visit www.qlcc.org for more information on the life of Lili‘uokalani and the QLCC.
Visit www.kauaimuseum.org for more information on the 50-plus years of the Kaua‘i Museum.
