Pauline Lilinoe Keliipio-Young is one of the last descendants of the Isaac Keliipio ‘ohana to have physically lived on Mokuola (Coconut Island) at Kühiö Bay. Lilinoe will share her personal and family’s stories of life on Mokuola and the changes which have occurred in and about Hilo Bay since the days of sugar cane plantations. Her photographs of the island in the 1920s and 30s will take you back in time. John Kahiapo of DNLR will join Lilinoe to discuss the importance of fishing then and today.

Mokuola island is steeped in legend and history and the Keliipio ‘ohana witnessed many changes to Hilo town, Kühiö Bay and Mokuola during the family’s 60+ years of stewardship. Shortly following the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy, the new Provisional government of Hawai’i appointed Isaac as the island’s caretaker and it was here that he and wife, Mary, with the assistance of their 13 children, tended this popular recreational spot. When Isaac died in 1930, Mary took the reins and in 1947, Paul, Lilinoe’s father, assumed the caretaker duties until a tsunami on May 23,1960 destroyed most of Waiakea town and severed the ‘ohana’s physical ties to the island.