Educator Abraham Piianaia dead at 87
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Abraham Piianaia, 87-year-old educator, geographer, historian, seaman, explorer, police detective and "Living Treasure," died Feb. 2 at his home in Honolulu.
Advertiser library photo
"Abe was a very special person," said Piianaia's student and longtime friend, Lehman "Bud" Henry, a retired geographer. "He was my mentor, that's what he was. He was well respected by everyone."
Abraham Piianaia was an early chairman of the University of Hawai'i program in Hawaiian studies.
Piianaia will be remembered by many for his work as an educator, beginning in the 1950s as a teacher of the Hawaiian language at Kamehameha Schools and continuing for 40 years as a lecturer in geography, history and Hawaiian studies.
Piianaia was an early chairman of the program in Hawaiian studies at the University of Hawai'i, and his work has helped to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture. In 1999, he was awarded the title of "Living Treasure" by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai'i.
Piianaia was born near a waterfall at Waikahalulu, on Nu'uanu Stream, on June 15, 1915, his family said. He graduated from Kamehameha Schools in 1933.
In 1935 and 1936, he became a pioneer member of Hui Panala'au, a group of young men who moved to the strategically important Line Islands of Baker, Jarvis and Howland as colonizers for the United States. The men, particularly in the first expeditions, lived a harsh existence far from Hawai'i. Piianaia led his peers in the first four expeditions.
Afterward, he became a Honolulu police detective, a job he held before and after World War II.
During the war, Piianaia went to sea with the U.S. Merchant Marine and quickly rose through the ranks. He made shipmaster, a designation equivalent to captain, in 18 months. He was qualified to command ships of all weights in any ocean.
In 1947, he became shipmaster of a fisheries research vessel owned by the Territory of Hawai'i. In that capacity, he conducted investigations and studies of the Hawaiian waters and reefs.
His seafaring life continued for many decades. Piianaia retired with the rank of commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve and later served as a shipboard lecturer on cruise ships.
At age 70, he was a crew member aboard the Polynesian voyaging canoe, Hokule'a. He served under his son and alongside his grandson on that voyage.
Piianaia is survived by his children, Gordon Yee Piianaia, Norman Abraham Piianaia and Ilima Anne Piianaia; grandchildren, St. Chad Kalilioku Piianaia, Chris Kaliko Piianaia, Maikai David Piianaia and Gordon Heulumaikahiki; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be next Sunday at Diamond Head Mortuary where visitation will be from noon to 3 p.m., with services to follow. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Abraham Piianaia Scholarship Fund at the University of Hawai'i Foundation.
Reach Karen Blakeman at 535-2430 or at kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Correction: Abraham Piianaia died Feb. 2 in Honolulu. A previous version of this story gave an incorrect date.
