John Dominis Holt IV facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Dominis Holt IV
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| Born | June 4, 1919 |
| Died | March 29, 1993 (aged 73) |
| Resting place | Oahu Cemetery |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Occupation | writer, publisher, poet and cultural historian |
| Spouse(s) | Fredda Burwell Patches Damon |
| Children | 3 |
John Dominis Holt IV was an important Native Hawaiian writer, poet, and historian. He was born on June 4, 1919, and passed away on March 29, 1993. He helped bring back pride in Hawaiian culture and traditions.
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John Dominis Holt's Family
John Dominis Holt IV was born in Honolulu on June 4, 1919. His parents were John Dominis Holt III and May Ellen Bailey. His grandfather, Colonel John Dominis Holt II, was an officer. He worked for King Kalākaua and Queen Liliuokalani. John Dominis Holt IV was also related to Edward Bailey, a Hawaiian missionary and artist.
John Dominis Holt's Education
As a child, John Dominis Holt IV went to Punahou School for a short time. He later attended Kamehameha Schools. He graduated from President Theodore Roosevelt High School in Honolulu. He continued his studies at Sacramento Junior College and George Washington University. From 1943 to 1946, he studied at Columbia University. However, he did not earn a degree there.
John Dominis Holt's Writing Career
John Dominis Holt IV wrote many books about Hawaiian history and culture. These books covered topics like Hawaiian featherwork, family history, and ancestry. In 1964, he wrote an essay called "On Being Hawaiian." This essay helped start the Second Hawaiian Renaissance movement.
Holt's writings made Hawaiians feel proud of their identity again. Before this, many felt shame due to negative ideas about their culture. Thanks to his work, traditional Hawaiian culture, art, and language saw a big comeback.
Holt also worked as a publisher for Topgallant Publishing Company. He was a trustee for the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum. He was one of the first modern Hawaiian novelists. He and his second wife, Patches, were active in the Hawaiian community. They worked to stop too much building on the island of Oahu. They also supported the arts. In 1985, Holt received the Hawai‘i Award for Literature. This award was given by Governor John David Waiheʻe III.
John Dominis Holt's Personal Life
His first marriage was to Fredda M. deVere Burwell. She was an artist from New York. He lived in New York for some time. Then, he returned to Hawaii with his wife. After Fredda passed away in 1972, he married Frances Patches McKinnon Damon. She was the granddaughter of Samuel Mills Damon. They adopted three children: Allison, Melanie, and Daniel. John Dominis Holt IV also worked as a landscape designer and contractor.
John Dominis Holt's Passing
John Dominis Holt IV passed away on March 29, 1993. He was buried in the Oahu Cemetery in Honolulu.
Interesting Facts About John Dominis Holt IV
- Holt had a mixed background. He was part Native Hawaiian, Tahitian, and English.
- His ancestors included Hawaiian and Tahitian royalty. He was also related to Lucien Bonaparte, who was the younger brother of French Emperor Napoleon. Another ancestor was British Admiral Lord George Paulet.
- When Holt was young, he spent time with older family members. They loved to share their memories and stories. These stories later inspired his writing as an adult.
- In 1979, Holt was recognized as a Living Treasures of Hawaiʻi. This was for his important work in the Hawaiian Renaissance.
- The John Dominis Holt Award for Excellence in Publishing is named after him. It is given every year by the Hawaii Book Publishers Association. It honors someone's lifelong contributions to Hawaiian literature and book publishing.
- In 2001, a gallery at the Honolulu Academy of Arts was named after Holt and his second wife. It is called the John Dominis and Patches Damon Holt Gallery.
