A Sad Day in the Hawaiian Community

I first met Auntie Clarice Nuhi in October of 2005. I was participating with Auntie Sissy Kaio's Halau in Carson, in the World Festival of Sacred Music. We had a practice on a Saturday morning. After which, my friends 'Uhane and Nina need to go over to Auntie Clarice's Halau to work on their feather leis. They asked if I wanted to go with them and hang out. I was reluctant since I was not making a lei, nor have I met Auntie Clarice.

We get there and sit down. I first met Ke'olu. I sat across from 'Uhane and he showed me what he was doing and asked if I could help him. So there I was cuting feathers for 'Uhane and chatting it up with my friends and others who were there. I could hear faint whispering over my left shoulder, I looked and saw Leiali'i and Auntie Clarice talking. I noticed Auntie looking in my direction. I turned back around and continued to cut. The next thing I knew Auntie was pulling up a chair and greeting me once again. She asked me what my name meant in hawaiian and how I got my name. She also enquired about why I was dancing hula and what it meant to me. I told her my reasons and my feelings about why I was there. She was quite inquisitive about me and my place there. I made me feel good however, because it was a genuine interest in my being there. After which, she said to me, "Okay Kama... I see that it's time that you start to make your own kamoe (a type of feather lei). So you'll stop cutting for 'Uhane and you'll start making your own..." To my shagrin, knowing I had not been invited to make any thing, she took it upon herself to get me started to make a lei and be a part of this. I was told that's how Auntie Clarice is, direct and to the point.

Months later in December, I was pleasantly surprised to see Auntie Clarice once again. I attended a good friend's wedding in Ventura County. I was taking pictures and sat down to take a rest, I sat down next to Auntie without knowing it. How serendipitous. She remembered who I was and we chatted a moment and returned our attention back to the wedding. We, my friends and I, saw her again at the reception where she and others including my friend Kaleo, the groom, and his brothers, danced at the reception.

Fast forward about 3 months, and at the Carson Community Center, I saw her again. Only in passing. I am a part of Na Pua Me Kealoha, and were perviewing our Kane Kahiko line for Merrie Monarch, as well as the wahine line. In addition to the show, Kaipo Frias a.k.a. Dr. Tanguro Taupouri was apart of this Ho'ike. At the end of the show, I saw Auntie Clarice talking to Auntie Sissy, and Kunewa Mook. I wanted to go over and say Aloha but was hesitant since she was speaking to a few people. I figured I would see her again, no worries. That was an unfortunate mistake. You see, a few days later, I received a call from Leiali'i telling me that Auntie Clarice was in the hospital, she was in a coma.

I guess after practice Tuesday night, Auntie was complaining about her arm, I guess it "felt funny". She went to bed that night and the next morn was in a coma. It's believed that she suffered a mild stroke the day before and because of it, was in the coma. She was then taken to the hospital where she stayed, and was being kept on a resperator. Long story short, she was kept on for a few days, and was then taken off. She "returned home" on the 13th of March. I do not know if she has any immediate family in the mainland, but she had a myriad of family members here regardless.

You will be missed Auntie Clarice...