Emily Kau'i Zuttermeister

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Emily Kau'i Zuttermesiter (March 8, 1909 - 1994)[1] is Hula Master who was recognized as a Living Treasure of Hawaii by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission,[2] and a winner of the National Heritage Fellowship in 1989.[3]

Personal life[]

On March 8, 1909, Emily Kauiomakawelinalaniokamanookalanipo (also referred to as Emily Kaua'i) was born to Gabriel Kukahiwa and Elizabeth Kaili Kukahiwa.[1] She was taken as a hānai by William Kamahumahu Kalani and Virginia A'ahulole Kalani.[1] She remained in contact with her birth family.

Emily Kauiomakawelinalaniokamanookalanipo went to the St Ann's School and Benjamin Parker School on O'ahu and Waimea High School on Kaua'i.[1] Kauiomakawelinalaniokamanookalanipo excelled in quilting and won blue ribbons in State Fairs and other craft competitions.[1]

Kauiomakawelinalaniokamanookalanipo married Patrick J. McCabe and they had two children, Justina (1928) and Patrick Jr. (1929).[1] However, they divorced shortly after.[1]

On October 13, 1934, Emily Kauiomakawelinalaniokamanookalanipo married an American U.S. Navy Officer, Carl (Karl) Henry Zuttermeister Sr.[1][4] Emily Kauiomakawelinalaniokamanookalanipo then went by the name Emily Kau'i Zuttermesiter.

During the late 1930s Emily Kau'i Zuttermesiter bought land and built several houses that she later rented our and passed down to her children.[1]

Career[]

In her 20s, Emily Kauiomakawelinalaniokamanookalanipo worked as a telephone operator at the State Hospital in Kāne'ohe and later became an assistant to the chef at the hospital.[1]

In 1933, after encouragement from her husband, Emily Kau'i Zuttermesiter started taking hula lessons from her mother's cousin - Samuel Pua Ha'aheo.[1][4] Zuttermesiter formally graduated from Ha'aheo's class in 1935.[1]

In 1936, Zuttermeister opened her own school for hula - Ilima Hula Hale.[4][3] She continued teaching hula, traditional chants, and pahu drumming in the style of Pua Ha'aheo for more than 50 years. She taught her daughters, Noenoelani and Kuuipo, and her granddaughter, Hauoli as well.[1][4]

Emily Kau'i Zuttermesiter judged various hula competitions, including the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, the King Kamehameha Traditional Hula and Chant Competition, and the Queen Lili'uokalani Trust's Hula Kahiko Amateur Contest.[4]

In 1983, she was recognized as a Living Treasure of Hawaii by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission.[2]

In 1984, she was one of the winners of the National Heritage Fellowship.[3]

In 1989, four Zuttermeister generations performers represented Hawai'i in Festival of American Folklife at the Smithsonian.[1][5]

Death and legacy[]

Emily Kau'i Zuttermesiter died in 1994.[1] Her daughter, Noenoelani took over her studio and continues to teach hula.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p KAEPPLER, ADRIENNE L. (2015). "TWO HAWAIIAN DANCERS AND THEIR DAUGHTERS". The Journal of the Polynesian Society. 124 (2): 189–207. ISSN 0032-4000.
  2. ^ a b "Living Treasures: List of Honorees". Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  3. ^ a b c National Heritage Fellowships, 1982-2007. Washington, D.C: National Endowment for the Arts, Office of Communications, 2007. Internet resource. https://books.google.com/books?id=GUbYAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1984-IA1&lpg=PA1984-IA1&dq=Emily+Kauiomakawelinalaniokamanookalanipo&source=bl&ots=_UIjYGVLXs&sig=ACfU3U3ZFyqZzl3o5ltkvqMAAnXvwSAz8w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjZ9cmSsIn0AhVul2oFHbE4DvoQ6AF6BAgWEAM#v=onepage&q=Emily%20Kauiomakawelinalaniokamanookalanipo&f=false
  4. ^ a b c d e "Emily Kau'i Zuttermeister". www.arts.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  5. ^ Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1989 Festival of American Folklife. https://www.si.edu/media/CFCH/CFCH-FESTBK1989.pdf
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