Like his father, his love for the art is evident in each piece that is created like the large stone Ti'i carving of a woman and two children located in the
Tahitian and Marquesas Village of the Polynesian Cultural Center in La'ie, O'ahu. The image of the ti'i is his beautiful wife Augustine and their two sons, Robert and Richard completed back in the early 1960's.

In the early years, the Polynesian Cultural Center commissioned Joseph Kimitete to craft his exclusive woodcarving in their brand new Tahitian Village. Joseph and his wife Adelaide arrived in Hawai'i where his first "Hawaiian" roots were planted through his beautiful carvings. In 1962, Pierre "Papa" and his wife Augustine "Mama", and their three sons Robert, Richard and Teiki arrived in Hawai'i to get settled into their new place that they will call home. Together as a family, they built a Tahitian Village filled with canoes, paddles, tiki, murals, spears, to'ere; pahu drums and continuously expressed their love for their culture through their daily examples. When the village was completed, Joseph and Adelaide returned back to Tahiti. It was Hawaii's great fortune that Pierre "Papa", Augustine "Mama" and their family decided to remain in Hawai'i to help manage the Tahitian Village at the Polynesian Cultural Center. He continued to master the art of woodcarving and thus began his own legacy in the isles of Hawai'i.

While in La'ie, O'ahu,"Papa" and "Mama" contributed greatly to

the success of the Polynesian Cultural Center. However, due to his distinguished

reputation as master woodcarver, Papa was commissioned to design art

pieces for the newly built Ka'upulehu, Kona Village Resort on the Kohala, Coast

Hawai'i Island. Then in l97l, it was then that he moved his entire family to

Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i which eventually became there permanent place of residence.

In his wonderful home of Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i, "Papa" not only created beautiful

pieces of art, but also created a lifetime of learning for thousands of youth and

adults by forming his own 'Ohana Canoe Club, KAI 'EHITU. With his whole 'ohana

involved with their canoe club, he spent countless hours carving these wa'a, 'iako,

ama, wae, hoe and giving more of himself by teaching everyone in the canoe club

valuable life skills such as hard work, perseverance, the importance of setting and

attaining goals, and always fulfilling one's dreams. "Papa" built several koa canoes

in his life and today we have two (2) of his original koa canoes that is still with us.
1) "HEIPUALANI" which is named after there two daughters: Healani and Puamaile
2) "VAI TIARE" which means: The fresh waters of the Tiare blossom

On October 05, 2002 Bernard Pierre "Papa" or "Papi", as he was affectionately known,

left us to prepare his ultimate halau and is still teaching and paddling through the

next life in true Tahitian Style. "Papa's" purpose of forming Kai 'Ehitu, is to make

sure his wife"Mama", children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will have a

foundation here in Hawai'i and to make sure his 'Ohana and extended 'Ohana

will always call Kai 'Ehitu home.

Today, the Kai 'Ehitu Outrigger Team and lives on through his wonderful

'Ohana, his lovely wife Augustine "Mama", children, grandchildren and
great grandchildren.

Mauru'uru Roa