Category Archives: Entertainment

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More on the California Midwinter International Exposition from Bila Kanealii, 1894.

The Midwinter Exposition.

J. S. Keawe, one of our officers in the uplands of Kalihi writes that he received the news below about the Winter Exposition being held, from a letter of March 17th by Bill Kanealii from San Francisco: From amongst the new things at the Fair to be seen by the visitors, there is a huge wheel that is 180 feet tall with 18 boxes all around, with each box holding 10 people. Another is the tower with a very tall steeple 300 feet high. The lake is another thing of high esteem; it is stocked with all sorts of fish, with 100 pipes feeding water into the lake with all kinds of water, so many that the visitor would not be able to count them all. The merry-go-round [melekolauna] (a thing that spins), is a quarter mile long travelling around until reaching the place where it starts from. The Hawaii display is the best of all. There are two days that the proceeds are the highest, that being Saturdays and Sundays, where $1,000 or more is the most and $500 or more is the least.

(Makaainana, 4/2/1894, p. 3)

Ka Hoikeike Hooilo-Kuwaena.

Ka Makaainana, Buke I—-Ano Hou, Helu 14, Aoao 3. Aperila 2, 1894.

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Hula and King Kalakaua’s 50th Jubilee, 1886.

THE LUAU FEAST AT THE PALACE GROUNDS.

Nov. 23, 1886.

After 3 o’clock in the afternoon of this Tuesday, the King, the Princes and Princesses, the dignitaries, and the makaainana sat at a long table housed by a pavilion with corrugated iron roofing [lanai pili hao], which could sit an estimated 600 to 900 people at a time. There was much Hawaiian foods supplied, like laulau [puaa hoolua] and roasted pork [puaa kalua kele]; fish wrapped in ti leaves and baked [lawalu] and raw [ai-maka]; baked beef [i'o pipi hoolua] and all types of poi spoken of.

The Governor of the “bays of Piilani”¹ as well as his government officials and Delegates, along with those of the island of Keawe.² These people sat along with their pastor, M. Makalua. They began eating after the prayer was over. The entourage of the King and Queen arrived and sat in their area, and they had their own pastor, J. Waiamau. Therefore, Maui was victorious over their hunger [?? Nolaila, ua eo no ia Maui ma ka houpo lewalewa].

The eating continued perhaps until 5 o’clock. A big problem was the dearth of waiters for the grand feast that was boasted about. Thanks to the small children of Kahehuna [School], there were those to serve the food for the feast.

HAWAIIAN HULA.

From 7 o’clock in the night, Hawaiian hula of five types commenced, that being olapa, kui, uli-uli, pa-ipu, kaka laau, and hula pahu.

When those of Waikiki kai danced their hula kui, the audience complained, and that hula was put to an end without ending properly.

During that joyful night, some youths were seen attempting to get the dancers to kiss their cheeks, and to [?? hoolele na ala] without any sign of shame.

We were deafened by all the improper talk of some of the things seen in that partying crowd that we will not agree to tell the nation.

¹The governor of Maui was John Owen Dominis.

²The governor of Hawaii was Virginia Kapooloku Poomaikelani

(Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, 11/27/1886, p. 4)

KA AHAAINA LUAU MA KA PA ALII.

Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, Buke IX, Helu 48, Aoao 4. Novemaba 27, 1886.

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Early movies of Hawaii, 1913.

THE PARADE ON WASHINGTON’S [BIRTH]DAY WILL BE FILMED

Because there is a desire to have a movie of the parade on this upcoming birthday of Washington, a man famous for filming movies arrived aboard the Wilhelmina last week, and he is spending some days of this month filming the volcano, the sugar plantation, the harbors, and famous sights to delight the millions of people of the world.

If this haole has spare time, he will spend some time going shark fishing, and filming it.

He will go to the pineapple plantations, and film the growth of the pineapple, the activities of the laborers, as well as the canning.

During the parade on Washington’s birthday, he will be the one rolling his film; and it is believed that there will come a time when the world will see scenes of the parade in Hawaii because of this haole.

[Anyone know who this is, and where these reels might be today?]

(Kuokoa, 1/31/1913, p. 7)

E PAII'A ANA NA HOOKAHAKAHA O KA LA WAKINEKONA

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLIX, Helu 5, Aoao 7. Ianuari 31, 1913.

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The latest from Kalawao, 1909.

News From the Land of the Suffering.

To the Editor of the Aloha Aina Newspaper, Aloha:

Please allow my small parcel a space in your newspaper which is greatly enjoyed, and that is what is down below; let the paper take it proudly around so that our multitudes of friends may see.

Movies come regularly every Wednesday, and are shown on the evenings of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday; and every Saturday in Honolulu. There has been a building erected for the patients to watch the movies. The patients are thrilled. They donated money to buy a first-class phonograph [pahu olelo]. They are very happy with singing, the sweet sound of the strings and the blare of the brass instruments.

There was an announcement made to the ones without the sickness or those partially afflicted that wanted to be examined by the Doctors who are coming into the settlement.

Some went to sign up, and some just looked on because they did not want to go back to where they came from, being there might be difficulties waiting ahead for them. And because of the small number of those going to sign up, the Superintendent of the settlement ordered someone to go to the houses to sign people up; the total of those people number 58, but I don’t have their names; the only names I have are those who went to sign up, and they number 55, along with their doctor.

THE PEOPLE WHOSE DOCTOR IS DR. WAYSON

[Names difficult to make out.]

THE PEOPLE WHOSE DOCTOR IS DR. GOODHUE.

The Men

[Names difficult to make out.]

The Women

[Names difficult to make out.]

The total number told to the writer is 108. This includes the people chosen by the Legislature [?]

With much aloha for my Lahui.

Sincerely,

S. K. MAIALOHA.

Kalawao, Molokai, Aug. 2, 1909

[Here is just another example of why the original newspapers need to be reshot clearly before the acid in the paper consumes all of the words, leaving us with crumbs...]

(Aloha Aina, 9/4/1909, p. 3)

Na Mea Hou o ke Kahua Ma'i.

Ke Aloha Aina, Buke XIV, Helu 36, Aoao 3. Sepatemaba 4, 1909.

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More on E. K. Rose, Prince Lei Lani, 1924.

This is a picture showing Edwin K. Rose known by the name “Prince Lei Lani,” who was made a high chief of the Samoans, before he left Hawaii nei with twenty Samoans for America on a singing and Samoan dancing tour. In the scene on the top picture seen is E. K. Rose holding a war club; and below is a scene showing the preparation of kava before it being drunk.

(Kuokoa, 7/24/1924, p. 2)

He kii keia e hoikeike ana ia Edwin K. Rose...

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LXIII, Helu 30, Aoao 2. Iulai 24, 1924.

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Patients of the leprosy settlement present gift to the Waipa Trio, 1922.

Presented by the Patients of Molokai

By way of the director of the leprosy settlement on Molokai, Mr. J. D. McVeigh, the patients gave a gift to the Band of John Waipa (The Waipa Twintett) [Waipa Trio]; that singing and musical group that travelled with Representative H. A. Baldwin, to Molokai, in his effort to increase voting; and on this past Monday, Director J. D. McVeigh carried out the duty given to him, by him appearing before Mr. John Waipa and presenting him with this gift, a sum of money donated by the patients of Molokai.

There are three people in that band: Mr. John Waipa, Mrs. Waipa, and Miss Flora Waipa; and because of the great joy and admiration that the patients had in the band, they showed this through the sending of this present; the gift was grasped by Mr. John Waipa and his family with pleasure, and they were filled with awe at this act done for them by the patients.

For this esteemed gift given by the patients of Kalawao and Kalaupapa to the singing group of Mr. Waipa, he and his family extend the endless appreciation to all of them, along with their request to all those who gave the gift, to accept their thanks and to always remember that their gift will be something for them to remember throughout their lives.

They also give their great appreciation to Director J. D. McVeigh for the warm hospitality extended to them while they were at the settlement on Molokai; and above all else, it is God who gives his highest blessings from above.

(Kuokoa, 4/28/1922, p. 1)

Haawi Makanaia Mai e na Ma'i o Molokai

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LXI, Helu 17, Aoao 1. Aperila 28, 1922.

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Another Hawaii Theater Ad, 1920.

COMING! COMING!

AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE

HAWAII THEATER.

Friday, Aug. 13  Saturday, Aug. 14.

“THE HOLE IN THE WALL.”

EPISODE I.

THE MASKED RIDER.

Who, What and How is the Horseman Masked?

There are 30 films that are Amazing, with Fast Action [Puahiohio?] and Chicken skin; the amazing and astonishing acts will be shown weekly, ever increasing in fascination and emotion. Each episode will end with something that will leave you having a hard time breathing, and you will return home unable to sleep thinking about seeing the coming episode.

So too of

KENNETH HARLAN in THE TREMBLING HOUR

Matinees—FRIDAY, 12 M. and 4:30. Evening—Two Showings, 6:30-8:30.

SATURDAY, 10 A. M. and 4:30.

Entrance—15c, 25c, 40c, including war tax [auhau kaua].

[The things you can find on the internet these days! See here for more information on this movie, and a clip!!]

(Kuokoa, 8/13/1920, p. 3)

E HOEA MAI ANA! E HOEA MAI ANA!

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XVIII, Helu 33, Aoao 3. Augate 13, 1920.

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Kamehameha Serenaders, 1922.

GRATITUDE FROM THE KAMEHAMEHA SERENADERS.

Mr. Solomon Hanohano; Editor of the Kuokoa Newspaper, Greetings:—Please insert this topic above in an open space in the Kuokoa.

Being that I am Keoki E. K. Awai, the leader of the Kamehameha Serenaders which travelled around Maui and Hawaii last month to increase the funds for the Ida M. Pope Bldg. Fund; I give my great appreciation and thanks to the past students and the new students as well of Kamehameha School, and intimates and friends, for their assisting our concerts and for the good care given us while we went around Maui and Hawaii.

We are greatly indebted to the homes which offered us their fine hospitality, and may God watch over us until we meet once again.

Sincerely,

GEORGE E. K. AWAI,

Honolulu, Sept. 19, 1922.

(Kuokoa, 9/21/1922, p. 8)

HOOMAIKAI A KA HUI KAMEHAMEHA SERENADERS.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LXI, Helu 38, Aoao 8. Sepatemaba 21, 1922.

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Diamond Kekona passes away in Germany, 1922.

That Hawaiian Boy Dies in Germany

Diamond Kekona Grew Weary of This Life After One Week of Being Ill.

HIS WIFE WAS AT HIS DEATH BED

It was His Wife Who Announced the Sad News to Honolulu nei on Monday

On Monday, this town received the sad news about the death of Diamond Kekona, the son of D. K. Kekona of this town, in Berlin, Germany, on the 13th of last month, February.

It was Mrs. Diamond Kekona, the wife of Kekona, who sent the sad news of the death of her husband to Mekia Kealakai, the leader of the Royal Hawaiian Band [Bana Hawaii], because he was a friend of the young Kekona and his wife when they were all living in London.

A letter was also received by Mr. D. K. Kekona, the father of the young man, confirming the news about the passing of his son.

Diamond Kekona was born on the 6th of October, 1890, so at his death, he was thirty-three years old and some.

Diamond left Honolulu in 1905 for New York, with a group of singers and musicians. He spent many years in America in this occupation.

During the great war of the world, Diamond Kekona was in England, and he enlisted in the service under Britain, going off to war in France and Belgium. He married a British woman and had two children, however the two of them died.

At the end of the war, Mr. and Mrs. Kekona lived in Belgium, and just last year they went to Berlin, Germany, where they met up with Joe Puni, William Kanui, and Joseph Nihali [?]; but according to the letter of Mrs. Kekona, he did not get along with Joe Puni, and they did not talk.

Mr. Kekona was not sick for long before he died, it was just a week; and in the letter his wife wrote to Mr. D. K. Kekona, she told him of her intent to return the body of her husband to London to bury, in her homeland, close to her home.

With the passing of this Hawaiian youth in foreign lands, he left behind, grieving for him: his young British wife; his grandmother, Mrs. Makalohi, who is 91; his father, Mr. D. K. Kekona, working in the sheriff department and a pastor of the Christian Science Church [Hoomana Naauao]; two younger brothers named Hugo and August Kekona; and their sister, Mrs. Lonohira [Mrs. George Lonohiwa]; and a big family.

(Kuokoa, 3/22/1922, p. 1)

Make Ia Keiki Hawaii Maloko o Kelemania

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LXI, Helu 12, Aoao 1. Maraki 22, 1922.

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Hawaiian Opera, 1925.

Musical Ensemble of Charles E. King

This is a scene from the Opera “Prince of Hawaii” presented at the Liberty Theater on the night of Monday last, continuing its performance until the night of Saturday, May 9. Mr. C. E. King put together this Opera, and there are only talented singers who perform the songs.

There was much lauding of the performance of Monday night, and for that reason, Liberty Theater has been full every night since–not just for the beautiful appearance of the singers, but also because of the beauty of their singing.

The proceeds of this opera will go to funding the education of Hawaiian children; for a scholarship set up by the Hawaiian Civic Club.

[I'm not much into opera, but I still would like to have witnessed this first hand!]

(Kuokoa 5/7/1925, p.1)

Ka Hui Himeni a Chas. E. King

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LXIV, Helu 19, Aoao 1. Mei 7, 1925.