How did a Caucasian kid named Marvin, who spent much of his childhood bundling up against freezing Minnesota winters, grow up to be the leading Hawaiian-language scholar, hula master, and Hoku Hanohano Award-winning songwriter known as Puakea?
Professor Puakea Nogelmeier talks with me about his journey tonight (Tues., Nov. 3, 2009) on PBS Hawaii's Long Story Short.
Here's a hint: A year out of high school, Marvin Nogelmeier decided to quit his job at a post office in Minnesota and go to Japan on an adventure with friends. There was to be a brief stop-over in Honolulu. But a lost wallet (no passport!) kept Marvin from continuing on the trip. He stayed in Hawaii, waiting for his ID to be replaced, and then continued to stay. And stay. He'd found cheap housing and good friends in Wai'anae.
Puakea will talk about his introduction to hula and the day a noted hula master singled him out and gave him his Hawaiian name. He'll also share how an elderly old-school Hawaiian gentleman, Theodore Kelsey, who'd photographed Queen Lili'uokalani's funeral, tutored him in Hawaiian language.
He had discovered his calling. Puakea pursued his passion for the language to Leeward Community College and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where the student would be hired as a teacher.
And it all started with a lost wallet.
Always being a day late and dollar short, I missed your presenation of Puakea Nogelmeier's incredible journey. Will there be a repeat of this program?
Posted by: Winfield P. Chang | November 04, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Aloha Winfield,
The "Long Story Short" episode with Puakea Nogelmeier will repeat at 4 pm Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. Later we'll also provide a podcast of the show, which you can listen to at your computer at any time or download to your mp3 player...Leslie
Posted by: leslie | November 05, 2009 at 10:05 PM