We would like send a fond farewell to Kupuna Minerva Pang who is retiring at the end of the 2016-2017 school year from Momilani Elementary School after an amazing 29+ years of teaching Hawaiian Studies at the school.
"Kupuna Pang is "retiring" from Momilani Elementary School after more than 29 years of service! At age 90, she is looking forward to go "holo holo" with her friends. We will certainly miss her!" said Momilani Elementary School Principal Mrs. Doreen Higa.
Kupuna Pang is a beloved Kumu Hula in our Pearl City community who has taught and inspired the beauty and grace of our Hawaiian culture to thousands of her students, their ohana, and the community throughout her career as an educator and community leader.
Hawaii State Senator Breene Harimoto recently honored Kupuna Pang with a recognition certificate from both the State Senate and State House of Representatives that was presented to her during the school's end of year awards ceremony held on Wednesday, May 24.
I had the honor of capturing Kupuna Pang as she led her Momilani Elementary hula students in a wonderful performance at the school's annual Momilani Family Fun Night PTO Fundraiser on Friday, May 12 inside the Pearl City High School cafeteria. Kupuna Pang looked beautiful as she strummed her ukulele and sang as her students danced while entertaining the Momilani ohana.
I will always remember passing her home in Pearl City and watching her hula students being dropped off and picked up from hula practice in her lanai. You could actually see her hula students dancing to Kupuna Pang's direction. One of those students was Mary (Alama) Villamil who took hula lessons from Kupuna Pang in the 1960's.
"I remember all the girls with their straw hula bags and hula instruments as we ran into her lanai," said Mary. "She would dance and also sing and play her ukulele as we learned the different dances. Kupuna Pang also taught our mom's and would have an annual hula show for all of her students to perform in at Pearl City Highlands Elementary School. It was a great experience that I will always cherish.”
For me it's Kupuna Pang's beautiful and friendly smile that truly radiates Aloha from her Heart and Soul.
Mahalo Kupuna Pang!
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Kupuna Pang is pictured with third grade teacher Mrs. Lenora Uyesato (far right) and
herMomilani hula students before their performance at the annual Momilani Family Fun
Night PTO Fundraiser held on Friday, May 12 inside the Pearl City High School cafeteria
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Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Kupuna Pang sings and plays her ukulele as her hula students
perform during the annual Momilani Family Fun Night PTO Fundraiser
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Kupuna Pang is pictured with Senator Breene Harimoto after being presented a certificate of recognition
from the Hawaii State Legislature for her many years of service to the Pearl City community.