×

Native Hawaiian leader ‘Uncle Les’ dies at 79

Kuloloio was remembered as protector of land, iwi; moving hotels

Serving as spokesman for those helping to protect a major Hawaiian burial site in Honokahua in 1988, Leslie Kuloloio waits to be interviewed by a television crew. The size and importance of the burial site, combined with efforts by Kuloloio and others, forced the proposed The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, project to be relocated mauka. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos

From protesting the removal of Hawaiian bones in Honokahua to preserving beach access in Makena, Leslie “Uncle Les” Kuloloio was remembered Tuesday as a protector of Maui’s land, an animated storyteller, a musician and a historian.

Kuloloio, 79, of Kahului, died Saturday at Hospice Maui in Wailuku, said his son, Manuel Kuloloio. The elder Kuloloio had fallen at his home in February and was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center on Feb. 16.

He was transferred to hospice care Friday.

Ironically, Leslie Kuloloio blessed the hospice facility in a Hawaiian ceremony he has performed for many other Maui businesses, organizations and families. He also conducted the annual Hospice Maui memorial services at Keawala’i Church.

Kuloloio was placed in a room with ample sunlight, as he requested. The family thanked Hospice Maui for its care.

Fighting for beach access in Makena, Leslie Kuloloio helps lead a march in 1984

“Lightning erupted at the time of his passing, and I believe snow fell on Haleakala, too,” Manuel Kuloloio said.

His funeral services will be held April 3 at St. Anthony Church with public viewing from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and services at 7:30 p.m.

Kuloloio was a member of a variety of organizations, including the Maui Lanai Islands Burial Council, Royal Order of Kamehameha and Protect Kaho’olawe Ohana.

On Tuesday, a diverse group of community leaders praised Kuloloio’s efforts in caring for the land and protecting Native Hawaiian rights and recalled his humorous and playful side.

“Les is always there, shoulder to shoulder,” recalled Native Hawaiian activist Dana Naone-Hall, who worked with Kuloloio on protests to protect burials and beach access and to prevent over-development.

“One of the best things about him was the amplitude of his affection, . . . his humor,” Naone-Hall said.

She also recalled Kuloloio and his mother, the late Alice Kuloloio, also a spiritual leader to many Hawaiian activists, conducting blessings.

“They were dynamite,” Naone-Hall recalled. “They were wonderful together.”

Hall and Leslie Kuloloio worked together to form Hui Alanui o Makena. The group opposed a developer’s plan to close old Makena Road for a new hotel (later known as the Maui Prince, which since has been demolished) because the project would limit access to the area for Native Hawaiians and the public.

The group reached a settlement with developers, Seibu Corp., which was developing Makena in the mid-1980s. A hotel was built but was pushed inland. The road was closed, and a walkable path was put in where the old road had been.

Naone-Hall and Kuloloio joined forces again when The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, was being built. The construction led to the unearthing of hundreds of burials. Naone-Hall and Kuloloio led protests against the development and the treatment of the iwi, or bones.

Eventually, the burial ground was restored and preserved and the hotel moved further mauka.

“(Kuloloio) and Dana together were instrumental in preserving the road in Makena and then with the Honokahua burial site and Waihee,” said Isaac Hall, an attorney and Naone-Hall’s husband.

Kuloloio and Naone-Hall battled a Japanese developer that wanted to build a golf course in the Waihee dunes. Today, the site is the protected Waihe’e Coastal Dunes & Wetlands Refuge owned by the Land Trust.

“Les comes from a very strong family that cares deeply about Hawaiian culture and has worked hard to protect and preserve important places on Maui,” said Hall, who has represented Native Hawaiian groups in various causes. “We will miss him.”

Second Circuit Judge Richard Bissen Jr. remembers the lighter side of Kuloloio, who was his mother’s cousin.

“He was always ready to pick up his ukulele,” Bissen said of Kuloloio, whom he would see at family gatherings.

Bissen remembers Kuloloio telling him: ” ‘Come on Ricky, do one, sing one together.’ ”

Kuloloio was the family historian and “quite an orator, as most people in the public would know.”

“I would hang on his words. He knew the family history. I guess as Hawaiians we have an oral history. It’s important when you listen to the stories the older people tell, because it’s not written,” Bissen said.

And when Kuloloio told his stories, he was animated and “told his story with his whole body, especially with his voice (and) with expressions with his eyes,” Bissen recalled. He would “look to the heavens for the emphasis.”

Kuloloio was born Oct. 23, 1940, at Paia Hospital. He grew up in Skill Village, also known as Hawaiian Camp next to Paia Gym; Hamakuapoko and Hamakualoa; as well as in Makena, his family said.

He was a graduate of St. Anthony High School, where he played on a championship football team. He was also a black belt student of the late aikido teacher, Shinichi Suzuki.

Kuloloio served in the Army and was stationed in Italy, Iceland and other places in Europe.

When Kuloloio returned to Maui, he became a fisherman and a security guard for the shows of the late Loyal Garner and Don Ho. He also worked in production at The Maui News and in his later years assisted with Native Hawaiian cultural practices and teachings.

This included serving as a cultural adviser for Maui Lani Partners, which has encountered court battles over burials in its Central Maui developments. Leiane Paci, a partner with Maui Lani, said in an email Tuesday afternoon that Kuloloio’s work in culture and education took him all over the world but “his heart always guided him back to the sea.”

“He taught many children and adults about the ocean, its powerful currents and its creatures. He was a symbol of strength in overcoming the struggle of understanding what it means to be Hawaiian,” she said.

“He taught us that bridging the past and the present takes generational knowledge and compromise to succeed,” she added. “We suffered a great loss this week, and we will dearly miss Uncle Les’ big smile and impromptu musical entertainment, but his passion and knowledge continues to bloom in the many lives he touched.”

Kuloloio is survived by his three children, son, Manuel Wayne Makahiapo DeCosta Kuloloio (Cessna Zablan); two daughters, Francille Leina’ala DeCosta Vedder (Garrett Vedder) and Kekane Mana’opiliiaoe Kuloloio (Joshua Ponce); sister, Comfort Moana Sado; six grandchildren and partner, Helen Strang.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
     
Support Local Journalism on Maui

Only $99/year

Subscribe Today