DR. NOA EMMETT AUWAE ALULI,​ JANUARY 16, 1944 - NOVEMBER 30, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2022

Media Contacts:
Davianna Pōmaikaʻi McGregor [email protected] 808-222-0728
Donne Dawson [email protected] 808-888-9418
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Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana Celebrates Life and Legacy of Beloved Leader, Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli
“This ʻohana process, this extended-family process, is the main lesson for everybody.
​We can make a difference collectively, cumulative over time.  
We need to charge ahead, but we also need to be patient.  
And we need to have fun and to respect, look out for, and care for one another.”            
–Noa Emmett Aluli, Kahoʻolawe, Nā Leo o Kanaloa

The passing of Noa Emmett Aluli, M.D. (January 16, 1944 – November 30, 2022), is lamented from Hawaiʻi Island to Niʻihau and around the world.  His transition to the spiritual realm has activated a phenomena in our Hawaiian natural world, called hulihia. Historically, the passing of a heroic and dearly loved Hawaiian political and spiritual leader generates such a hulihia, an overturning, an upheaval marking their transformation into a dynamic spiritual force and a cleansing that opens the way for the next generation of leaders’. 

A huakaʻi (cultural field trip) to Kahoʻolawe scheduled for Thursday, December 8, 2022 was canceled because of gale force winds in the ʻAlenuihāhā Channel and 30 mph winds out of Maʻalaea, closing off safe passage to the island. The elements are whirling around us - forceful winds, rainbows, blessings of cleansing rain showers, a rust moon due to the eclipse of Mars by the full moon, and the fountaining of the Mauna Loa eruption. “His spear is passed to the next generation and his hā inspires and activates,” stated Craig Neff, Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana leader and Hawaiian Force artist.

The entire Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana honors the life and visionary legacy of our beloved leader, chief defender, Mo‘o Lono, policy advisor, doctor, mentor and lifelong friend, Dr. “Kauka” Noa Emmett Auwae Aluli. Kauka served our people tirelessly with love, aloha, humility, and kindness. A gentle and great leader of Kānaka ʻŌiwi for Aloha ʻĀina – loving, respecting, and advocating for our health, lands, rights, and religion.

A Molokaʻi physician who comes from a prominent Hawaiian family of medical doctors, academics, musicians and historical figures, Kauka Emmett made his own mark in history as part of the Kahoʻolawe Nine, a group of activists who staged the first occupation of military-controlled Kahoʻolawe on January 4, 1976. The Nine went on to form the Protect Kahoʻolawe ‘Ohana and fight and win a legal battle against the United States federal government. The ‘Ohana defended the island and stopped the decades-long use of Kahoʻolawe for weapons testing and ordnance training by the U.S Navy and its allies. The diligent and dedicated work of the ‘Ohana and Kauka Emmett on Kahoʻolawe and throughout Hawaiʻi laid the foundation for the revival of Hawaiian cultural and spiritual practices, including the modern-day understandings and actions of aloha ‘āina.

According to Master Kumu Hula, Dr. Pualani Kanakaʻole Kanahele, “Noa Emmett was very intelligent, but he was also humble and a good listener. He deeply affected thousands of people who came to Kahoʻolawe in ways that are special and meaningful to each one of them. Of all those who started the movement for Kahoʻolawe, he was the one who stayed with it. And we all have to learn a lesson from that about how to stay with a kuleana and believe in that kuleana enough to carry it through. Whatever you are passionate about, stay with it and build it. We all have to learn to stay with what we feel is important – moving the Hawaiian passion forward.”

Kauka Emmett’s firsthand observations connected the plight of Kānaka Maoli well-being with that of Kaho‘olawe. His insight led to his parallel missions to promote the healing of Kānaka Maoli with the return and restoration of Kaho‘olawe. He recognized that the health of the land is the health of the people is the health of the nation.

Kauka Emmett is survived in the ʻOhana by his life partner, Dr. Davianna Pōmaikaʻi McGregor, and the countless kua (backbone), those who are committed to bend their backs in hard work to ensure safe and meaningful access to Kaho‘olawe.

We will carry on his legacy work in never-ending support of Kahoʻolawe-Kanaloa.
I mua nā pua, lanakila Kaho‘olawe

Feel free to share and cross-post memories on social media with #alohaforkaukaaluli so family can find digital messages.

An online memorial for Dr. Aluli has been established. Please consider adding your photo, video, and words to this global bulletin board.  

Visit the exhibit and a temporary remembrance space in the ‘Ai Pōhaku Reading Room on the second floor of the Hawai‘i State Art Museum at 250 S. Hotel St. HiSAM hours are daily 10 AM to 4 PM except Sundays.  

More Information
The Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana is a grassroots organization dedicated to the island of Kaho‘olawe with a vision of Aloha ‘Āina and the mission to perpetuate Aloha ‘Āina throughout our islands by means of cultural, educational, and spiritual activities that heal and revitalize the bio-cultural resources of Kaho‘olawe. In our work to heal Kaho‘olawe, from ranching (1858-1910; 1918-1952) and military use (1941-1993), we strengthen our relationship and pay respect to elemental phenomena connected to land. 

For conversations relevant to the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana on social follow:
@kahoolawe (IG); @protectkahoolaweohana (FB); or visit our website to www.kahoolawe.org
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