美国国家公共电台 NPR--Edith Kanaka'ole is the first Hawaiian woman to grace a U.S. quarter

Edith Kanaka'ole is the first Hawaiian woman to grace a U.S. quarter

Transcript¹

For the first time, the U.S. Mint is featuring a Native Hawaiian woman on a quarter. Edith Kanaka?ole was a Hawaiian cultural icon², teacher and composer.

The Edith Kanaka?ole Quarter is the seventh coin in the American Women Quarters Program, honoring pioneering women who've helped shape our nation's history and pave the way for others.

The U.S. Mint began shipping³ the new quarters on March 27.

"Through hula and chanting, Edith Kanaka?ole preserved the history, knowledge and heritage of the Native Hawaiian people," said Kristie McNally, U.S. Mint deputy director, speaking at the celebration of the quarter's release in Hilo, Hawaii on May 6. "Her tireless efforts teaching environmental conservation to future generations ... has made her a role model for all Americans."

During the Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance⁴ of the 1970s, Kanaka'ole was a dynamic force in reviving the Hawaiian language, hula and chant.

Fondly known as "Aunty Edith," she was born in 1913, on the Island of Hawai'i. She died in 1979, at the age of 65.

"We celebrate my grandmother every day through what we do," says Huihui Kanahele-Mossman, executive director of the Edith Kanaka?ole Foundation, noting that her grandmother was a tenacious⁵ Hawaiian woman who had no desire to let go of who she was. "Just her being this Native Hawaiian woman who refused to let go (of) her language, who held on to the fact that hula and oli (chant) is necessary as a part of the lifestyle of Hawaii."

But those practices were almost lost after a group of American and European businessmen, backed by the United States, overthrew⁶ the Hawaiian monarchy⁷ in the 1890s. The Hawaiian language was soon banned in government offices and public schools. And over the decades, other traditions were suppressed.

"Some of our people felt sorrow, maybe even shame for that loss," says Jon Osorio, a Native Hawaiian musician and historian. "I knew I grew up thinking that Hawaiian was completely gone from all households, because it was gone in ours. But it wasn't."

When he was 20, Osorio studied Hawaiian with Aunty Edith for one semester at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

He's now the dean of the Hawai'inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. "Had it not been for folks like Edith Kanaka'ole there would have been no expertise⁸ to turn to. ... They are these gentle, loving — 'cause she was that way — earnest reminders⁹ that our ancestors were amazing."

Aunty Edith's teaching continues to inspire many of her students such as Puakea Nogelmeier, who studied hula and chant with her.

"She was criticized for teaching deep culture to a group that wasn't all Hawaiians," says Nogelmeier, who is white. "In her mind, it was very important that if you want knowledge to live on, you teach those who are interested. And she said, 'I know you all care, and you will be willing to carry it forward.' "

After retiring from teaching Hawaiian language for more than 30 years at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Nogelmeier is still carrying it forward. He now runs a nonprofit called Awaiaulu, training people to interpret historical Hawaiian documents.

These days, he still recites a chant Aunty Edith once taught him to grant wisdom. A few words from that chant, "E hō mai ka ?ike," are now inscribed¹⁰ on the new quarter.

Photographer Franco Salmoiraghi made the image of Aunty Edith that an artist used for the coin. As they entered Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, he recalls how much she enjoyed the sounds of the forest, including the birds. "She was happy because she hadn't been out in a beautiful place like that in two or three years because she was so busy teaching."

Salmoiraghi was photographing Aunty Edith with her daughters, Pualani Kanahele and Nalani Kanaka'ole, for an album of the chants of Pele, the goddess of the volcano, recorded in 1977.

His favorite photo shows Aunty Edith chanting in the koa forest at Kīpukapuaulu. "Because it's not just the photograph, it's her. And it's all the energy that came from her, and all the people that she has taught over many years."

Later, Aunty Edith called the photo: "Ulu A'e Ke Welina A Ke Aloha." In English that means: "The Growth of Love is the Essence Within the Soul." Salmoiraghi recalls her telling him, "Whenever you use that photograph, I want you to use the title."

On the coin, Aunty Edith is wearing a lei po'o (head lei) with her hair flowing into the Hawaiian landscape.

Edith Kanaka'ole cared for the planet. You can hear it in her music and in a PBS Hawaii television special, "Pau Hana Years"... singing her beloved song "Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai" ("Plants of the Sea"). Musicians still perform her songs today.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

3 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

4 renaissance   

n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴

参考例句：

• The Renaissance was an epoch of unparalleled cultural achievement.文艺复兴是一个文化上取得空前成就的时代。
• The theme of the conference is renaissance Europe.大会的主题是文艺复兴时期的欧洲。

5 tenacious   

adj.顽强的，固执的，记忆力强的，粘的

参考例句：

• We must learn from the tenacious fighting spirit of Lu Xun.我们要学习鲁迅先生韧性的战斗精神。
• We should be tenacious of our rights.我们应坚决维护我们的权利。

6 overthrew   

overthrow的过去式

参考例句：

• The people finally rose up and overthrew the reactionary regime. 人们终于起来把反动的政权推翻了。
• They overthrew their King. 他们推翻了国王。

7 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

8 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

9 reminders   

n.令人回忆起…的东西( reminder的名词复数 )；提醒…的东西；（告知该做某事的）通知单；提示信

参考例句：

• The film evokes chilling reminders of the war. 这部电影使人们回忆起战争的可怕场景。
• The strike has delayed the mailing of tax reminders. 罢工耽搁了催税单的投寄。

10 inscribed   

v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接

参考例句：

• His name was inscribed on the trophy. 他的名字刻在奖杯上。
• The names of the dead were inscribed on the wall. 死者的名字被刻在墙上。 来自《简明英汉词典》