George Kaka

Tu Tangata, Issue 26, 1 October 1985, Page 42

George Kaka

Kupu whakamihi

Most parents would agree that they want the best opportunities for their children. So with this in mind George Kaka, or Hori Kauimua Kaka made that important decision.

He and seven of his nine children are attending the Brigham Young University Hawaii Campus in Laie, Hawaii. George at the age of 50 is now competing with much younger minds, even his own children and has been able to equal or surpass the GPA (grade point average) of most students.

George, a member of the Ngati Hine tribe was born in Tautoro, Kaikohe and a “tamaiti whangai” of his grandparents Pani and Tuhiwai Wharemate. They were steeped in maoritanga and he only spoke English after he went to school.

George says “My grandparents couldn’t afford to send me away to school so I attended Northland College, but decided early in life to do something about my education when I was 12.”

“I was not sorry,” says George, “as they taught me in a Maori way to seek values in integrity, dependability, how to work, honour our elders and learn a trade.”

After leaving Northland College he learnt the trade of a brick-mason and served a building mission for the Mormon Church for 10 years, working on the Church College of New Zealand project in Hamilton, the only co-ed secondary boarding school in NZ. He also helped in the building of the Mormon Temple. Over 200 Mormon Chapels were built in 10 years in which he was involved and this meant travelling around New Zealand.

George married Nancy Randall of Ngati Kahungungu. Selling insurance and selling cars taught him basic principles of managing people and catering to their needs.

Already six children had gone to CCNZ and were ready for university and so because of strong family affiliation and desire for education and achievement, the family decided to come to America. Two of the children

didn’t want to so seven came with their father and mother.

Prior to this George was in travel management. He organised a tour group 226 called the Kia Ngawari Concert Party to travel to the Mormon General Conference in Salt Lake City Utah, and a Returned NZ Missionaries Reunion. The group travelled and performed in Hawaii and throughout Utah, Nevada and California. The tour directors assisting George were Owen and Hoki Purcell, and George and Waiwai Cookson. On return to NZ the group again performed in Ngaruawahia, Hawkes Bay and Temple View. Tommy Taurima and Hana Smith joined the group from Hawaii to the United States. Two months later George and his family came back to college in Hawaii.

George Snr studied Travel/Hotel Industry, his children James, accounting; Milton, travel management; Riana, secretarial science; Tane, travel management; and George Jnr, travel management. In Dec. 1985 George Snr, James and Tane will graduate with BSc degrees each. But it hasn't been easy for them.

“In spite of desires of the heart it has been extremely difficult to procure finances, but due to PCC and the work programme, scholarships for Polynesians in the South Pacific, I took the opportunity to work at PCC and my children too." George admits that amidst all this

sophistication he prizes his maoritanga as a basic fundamental of his existence in a foreign land. He believes in achieving, conquering, and adapting to new technology, to know human behavioural patterns set by other nationalities. George also sees the world in a wide spectrum of learning and the political issues that control different parts of the world.

“Hawaii has been my home for 4 years. According to my grandfather Tuhiwai, America has been termed Te Whenua-Kupu-Whakaari a peace loving country and a champion to the free world. For example, 5,000,000 guests travelling to Hawaii will come from Japan, China, Canada and the United States of America.

“I have been appointed to be the Maori chief assisting in the managing of the Maori Village of PCC with 20 employees all from Aotearoa, mostly students. I worked for 4 years hosting and entertaining on a daily basis, guests from all parts of the globe. It’s a great opportunity to tell them about maoritanga and Aotearoa."

We always endeavour to maintain a high profile on the kawa that is suitable to all tribes nga hau e wha. Piri Sciascia has been most helpful and cooperative. E tu te hungaiti me titiro kite matauranga kia mahuhu kite rangi. Rise up humble people; seek knowledge and education; set your goals heavenward....

No te 21 o nga ra o Hune 1985 ka mate a Makareta Puriri, i aituatia i te wa e haere ana to raua waka ko Tupi i te huarahi i Waiomio wahi e patata ana kite Kawakawa.

He wahine rongonui tenei mo ana mahi ataahua mo ana iwi o Te Taitokerau, ara mo te iwi Maori nui tonu. He wahine nui tona matauranga, he kaha, he toa hoki, kite whawhai atu i nga kai hautu o nga Kawanatanga, mo nga take whenua, mo nga Poari Kaitiaki Maori, mo te rapu mahi mete oranga, mo te matauranga, mo te Marae o Waitangi. Kahore ona wehi ko wai te tangata. Kotahi tonu te hikoi, “Kia mate aururoa, kaua hei mate a tarakihi.”

He uri a Makareta no nga kawai ariki o Ngapuhi, Ngatihine, Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri, Ngatiwhatua, me Ngatikahu. No nga heke hoki o roto i a Te Atiawa me nga iwi maha o enei moutere. He mokopuna a ia na Ngapua, tuakana o Hone Heke i turakina rate pou haki i Maiki, i te pakanga a raua ko Kawiti ki te Pakeha. He mokopuna hoki na Hone Heke mema Paremata o Te Taitokerau i tona wa.

Haere ra e Makareta, taku manu tiutiu, taku whakamarumaru. taku taanga manawa, taku totara haemata.

He taipari ata, ka maanu to waka, ka papaa te kakau ote hoe kite hipapa oto waka tiwai. Hoe atu ki Hawaiki nui, Hawaiki roa, Hawaiki pamamao, kite hono i Wairua. Haere kite ao Kume, i kumea ai koe kite ao hirere.Haere kite rua o tapokorau, kite huarahi i heke ai a Maui kite po, kite anu matao. Piki atu ki tua o Reao, ki tua o Rehua, kite whakamaunga kekete, e kekete mai ai te kekete, e ara mai ai te ara. Haere ki te kahui Ariki o nga rangi tuhaha, kite aratiatia i piki ai a Tane kite tihi o manono i Ranginui, i Rangiora, i Rangi wheturau. Haere te kawa tunuku, turangi, tupapa i tu ai a Tane.

Ka toto te puna i Taumarere, ka mimiti i Hokianga. Ka toto i Hokianga ka mimiti i Taumarere. Tu ake ra taiharuru. nga tai mimihi, nga tai e tangi i waho o Mapuna o Waitangi. ki a koe ka wehe atu ki wiwi. ki wawa, ki pupu wahie, ki wahie kore. He manu whititua. he pou tokomanawa koe no nga whare maire o tupuna. Tahuhu kau ana nga puke i te tonga, nga toka whakaura i runga o Hikurangi. Ka mokaia nga tai o Tokerau. He takapau hurihia kei te whare patahi. kei te whare parua. kei te whare patoto. ka hui koutou te kahurangi ki Paerau. ka

tutaki nga aitua. Moe mai i roto i te Ariki. Anei rate waiata tangi mou: E hine moeroa maranga mai ki runga ee Tenei o iwi ka u ki uta ee Nga tai pakipaki i waho o te akau ee Nga tai whakahoki hoki nana koe i hari atu ee E tae ra koe ki runga i to ruawhakautu ee Tahuri mai o mata titiro ki o iwi ee He hiko no te mahara tera ra koe ee Kei te koingo mai kite hau kainga ee He tangi ra na o iwi ee

E hine hei aha e. i tangihia ai ee Ko te ngaro i nga tau. he ngaro e hoki mai ee Ko te ngaro i to tinana he ngaro ka oti atu ee E tama e Tupi, mete whanau pani, noho mai i roto i te wharepouri. mete mamae, mete mokemoke. Kua uhia koutou kite kakahu taratara, kite kahu rerere. Kei a koutou i tenei ra, kei tetahi atu apopo. Tahuri atu kite Runga Rawa hei whakangungu rakau mo koutou. Kia manawanui. kia maia. Tenei te tangi nei.