[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17904]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING GEORGE NA`OPE AS A 2006 NATIONAL HERITAGE FELLOW

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. ED CASE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 12, 2006

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to and 
congratulate Kumu Hula George Lanakilakeikiahiali`i Na`ope, known in 
our Hawai`i as ``Uncle George,'' on being chosen as a 2006 National 
Heritage Fellow, our Nation's highest honor in the folk and traditional 
arts.
  Each year the National Endowment for the Arts awards the coveted 
National Heritage Fellowships to a select few masters of folk and 
traditional arts who demonstrate outstanding lifetime achievement and 
artistic merit. Fellows are carefully selected from among hundreds of 
nominees based on authenticity, excellence, and significance within a 
particular artistic tradition. There is no one more deserving than 
Hawai`i's own George Na`ope to receive this high honor for his 
contributions to the art of traditional hula and chant.
  George was born on February 25, 1928, in Kalihi, O`ahu and grew up in 
Hilo on the island of Hawai`i. He began his hula studies at the age of 
3 and has dedicated his entire life to this ancient art form. Na`ope's 
first hula lessons were under the tutelage of Mary Kanaile Fujii, the 
mother of Edith Kanaka`ole, and his studies were directed by his great-
grandmother Mary Malia Pukaokalani Na`ope and his grandfather Harry 
Na`ope. He further studied under Joseph Ila`laole and opened up the 
George Na`ope Hula School in Honolulu after his graduation from Hilo 
High School.
  George would later go on to a successful career traveling throughout 
the United States with the Ray Kinney Royal Hawaiian Review, performing 
regularly at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas. He still found time to 
obtain his PhD from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and to teach 
hula in underserved communities.
  But his achievements did not stop there. George also served our 
country for 2 years in frontline combat during the Korean conflict with 
the X Corps of the American Corps of Engineers. After his return to 
Hawai`i he was appointed ``Promoter of Activities'' with the County of 
Hawaii. While serving in this capacity, he was recognized in 1960 by 
the Governor of the State of Hawai`i and Hawai`i State Legislature with 
the designation ``Living Golden Treasure''.
  George Na`ope was a prime catalyst for renewed interest in and study 
of traditional hula, chants, music, and other aspects of Hawaiian 
culture. It was also during this time and with George's patronage that 
the world-famous Merrie Monarch Festival was founded in 1962. This 
festival honors King David Kalakaua who was nicknamed the ``Merrie 
Monarch'' because of his support for music and the arts and his 
encouragement of the revival of Native Hawaiian traditions like hula 
and mele. Forty-four years later, the festival is still going strong 
and has become a must-see for Hawai`i residents and visitors.
  A lifelong teacher, George Na`ope has taught the dance of Hawai`i 
around the world and performed for dignitaries and world leaders. His 
lasting timeless contributions and influence, through the many students 
he inspired, as well as the many extraordinary contributions he made to 
the traditional arts heritage of Hawai`i and our Nation, are truly 
exceptional and worthy of national recognition.
  I close by saying to Uncle George: congratulations on receiving the 
National Heritage Fellowship and mahalo for all you have done for our 
Hawai`i and our Nation's cultural heritage. Aloha!