Jerry Konanui-Expert on Hawaiian 'Awa
Jerry Konanui, one of the Founders’ of the Association for Hawaiian ‘Awa (AHA) passed away Thursday evening on December 14, 2017. In 1994, Jerry had already become celebrated throughout Hawai‘i for his knowledge of kalo (taro), when he met Ed Johnston a collector of ‘awa cultivars. Much of the ‘awa renaissance can be attributed to Jerry. Jerry worked to restore ‘awa culture in Hawai'i and even traveled to Fiji, Samoa, and Vanuatu and the U.S. mainland for presentations and to give classes on the Hawaiian view of ‘awa. Jerry will be greatly missed by so many. The article below (although only partly focused on Jerry) provides a background and beginning of his work with AHA. Jerry was the soul of AHA and without his always being there, likely, there would have been no Hawaiian 'Awa Renaissance.
Here are some posts from the Kava Forums from some of his friends.
We will be posting more information as it becomes available.
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