Proposal to honor pa’u pioneer reined in for now

Plans for a memorial sculpture, plaque and bench at Kapiolani Park in honor of “the queen of pa‘u riders” have been put on hold after objections were raised about honoring just one person for perpetuating the equestrian riding tradition.

A resolution that would allow a plaque, bench and life-size bronze sculpture of the late Lita Cook, founder of Hawaii Pa‘u Riders, was sent back to committee by the Honolulu City Council last week. The three items are being donated by the Cook family and Lita Cook’s supporters.

The proposed location in the park for the tribute is near the traditional finish of floral parades, allowing pa‘u riders to pay respects to Lita Cook, her daughter, Leiala Cook, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Her mother grew up near the park, which at one time featured a horse racetrack, she said.

The pa‘u riding tradition dates back to when women in Hawaii dressed in long, colorful skirts and rode horses sidesaddle for formal occasions. Riding units still participate in Kamehameha Day floral parades on each island as well as events abroad.

About a dozen people, including members of the Cook family, testified Wednesday before the Council in favor of the resolution.

Cheryl Ann Vierra said she grew up admiring the regal pa‘u riders she would see at parades and wanted to be one of them. She credited Lita Cook and her husband, John, for teaching her how to ride as well as the history and cultural significance of pa‘u riding. As a result, she joined the Cooks as they rode in parades across the mainland as well as in Hawaii.

Bonnie Neal said she and her husband have been members of Hawaii Pa‘u Riders since 1994.

“I’ve never seen anyone do so much for the community and to promote Hawaii and pa‘u culture,” she said of Lita Cook.

A. Kuulei Olsen Richardson, chairwoman of the Kaneohe Christmas Parade, called Lita Cook her mentor. Like others, Richardson said Cook should be credited for spreading the culture of pa‘u not only through the mainland, but Europe.

Others, however, in both oral and written testimony, said Lita Cook was one of several people who perpetuated the culture of pa‘u riding.

Lu Ann Lankford-Faborito of the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission, a former pa‘u queen who has ridden in both the Aloha Festivals and King Kamehameha Celebration parades, told Council members that the resolution should be changed to allow for a statue or monument that honors all pa‘u riders.

BJ Allen, executive director of the state Council on Hawaiian Heritage and former arts program specialist for the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission, said there are many others deserving of recognition for playing vital roles in the perpetuation of pa‘u riding, the floral parades and Hawaiian culture.

“It should not be a person that is singled out and credited with the revitalization nor creation of pa‘u,” Allen said. “There are many, many in our community who contributed in some way or form.” She said she’s also worried that a precedent of honoring a person at the park other than Kapiolani herself could touch off a flurry of proposals for memorials honoring various other community leaders.

Allen suggested that the memorial items could be erected on the Cooks’ ranch in Waimanalo.

Alethea Rebman, president of the Kapiolani Park Preservation Society, said in written testimony that the park would not be able to sustain memorials for all the people as deserving as Cook. Rebman suggested that a more appropriate place to honor Cook might be Ala Moana park, where many parades have originated, or Honolulu Hale.

Antoinette Lee, chairwoman of the Aloha Festivals Floral Parade, who was once also involved in the Kamehameha Day Celebration, wrote that it would be incorrect to describe Lita Cook as queen of pa‘u riders as others have also taken pa‘u riding abroad, she said.

Councilman Trevor Ozawa and Council Parks Chairwoman Kymberly Pine, who wrote the resolution, said they would take the matter back to Pine’s committee in the coming weeks to seek a compromise.