Tag Archives: Board of Health

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Tragic follow up to Emalia Kaihumua, 1906.

BEAT HIS WIFE AND THE WIFE WAS AFFLICTED BY THE SEPARATING DISEASE.

This past Sunday, January 28th, the husband of Emalia Kaihumua beat her and her jaw was dislocated, because she was struck with a wine bottle. That woman was taken to Kuapapanui, and tended to.

Later, Dr. McDonald of the Board of Health came and examined the injury, and after his examination of some of the flesh of that woman, he gave orders to have the injured woman to the Quarantine Station in Kalihi.

From this it is understood that Emalia is suspected of having leprosy, and that is possibly why she was taken to the quarantine area of the sick.

(Kuokoa, 2/2/1906, p. 4)

PEPEHI I KANA WAHINE A PAA UA WAHINE LA I KA MA'I HOOKAAWALE.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLIV, Helu 5, Aoao 4. Feberuari 2, 1906.

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Packages to go to Kalaupapa, 1881.

ANNOUNCEMENT.

All who desire to send Packages, or Cash perhaps to their suffering friends and intimates in the Leprosy Colony in Kalaupapa, They are ordered to give their packages with the name clearly written on it, to Mr. Henry Waterhouse [Henre Walakahauki] in Honolulu, and it is he that will send it direct to Kalaupapa, or give a Check [Bila Kikoo Dala] to the one living there.

R. W. MYER [MEYER],

Agent of the Board of Health for Molokai.

Kalae, Molokai, Nov. 17, 1881.

(Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, 12/24/1881, p. 3)

OLELO HOOLAHA.

Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, Buke IV, Helu 52, Aoao 3. Dekemaba 24, 1881.

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Jack Kaleiwahea falsely accused? 1893.

KALEIWAHEA.

Some Explanations pertaining to his arrest.

Kaleiwahea has been a kamaaina of the uplands of Kalihi for many years. He has some blemishes by his eyes and mouth. While he was living this way, he was made an adversary by some people and they went to the Board of Health as witnesses saying he had leprosy. A warrant was issued for his arrest and he was captured and taken to the quarantine station of Kalihi. He told some people that he was confined there for six weeks without being examined, along with some other patients. One day some people told him that he was going to be taken to Molokai without being examined.

Therefore, one day a thought grew within him without considering the power of the Board of Health, and thinking of his own accord that he did not have leprosy, he escaped and ran away to free himself and went to the mountains, until the valley of Waimea. Later it was heard that he fled, and the order was given to the Deputy Sheriffs in response to his escape, to capture him if found. He was constantly hunted like a wild animal. He said that he didn’t want to be taken alive. Previously, he did not carry weapons, but after he heard that he was being hunted by the officers, he ran and swam in the ocean, while being chased by officers aboard a canoe, and when the officers were close behind, he grabbed on to the outrigger float [ama] and flipped the canoe, and the officers were thrown into the ocean. The two officers returned to shore without the object of their chase. When it became dark, Kaleiwahea came to shore at Waialua.

From that time, Kaleiwahea was seen carrying a rifle and other weapons, and when the officers came to arrest him once more, he was prepared. The officers told him that they’d come at night to capture him, so he fled to live in the mountains. He said that as long as he was hunted like an animal, he’d not give up. According to some news received, he was living in a very good area in the mountains of Kahuku, where it was better than where Koolau¹ was living, and he could toy with all who appeared before him.

When he heard that he was to be captured again, he fled to the mountains, even if just a few months ago he was living by the sea and working at the dock of Waimea. He was very skilled at that kind of work. But he surmised that the order was given to the District Sheriffs of Waialua and Koolau, not to arrest him, but to let him be until the time was right, then maybe he could be assuaged and his appearance could be looked at. Because according to the people who knew, there were no signs of that disease that separates families [leprosy] upon him.

This below is the letter he wrote to one of his friends, and let it be read with great relish [? onoi nui]:

Camping Place in the Mountains

Kahuku, July 29,

To _______

I received your letter of aloha, and it gave me much hope and happiness, and for the first time, I’ve have an appetite here in my mountain home. I’ve received a lot of news that I’m being hunted after, and last week I was greatly saddened upon hearing that the haole police were coming along with the government troops to go against me, and that they’d shoot me if they can; what is the wrong I have committed that I should be treated that way like an animal? When I heard this, aloha welled up within me for my wife and our newborn baby of two weeks, as well as for my family.  I attempted to go once again and escape my mountain home and give my wife and family my last aloha; and to my wife i said, “The time has come for me to go like a wild animal and return to my mountain home, until i meet with those of which I hear, and it will be then that I fight for life or death, until the very last puffs of smoke from my rifle.” With these words above, I left my home depressed, but when I received your letter to me, it gave me good hope that there will be end to the years of persecution. I shall rest like a man, and my deed done as a man, and not like a beast running through the forest.

With much aloha, me, your humble servant,

Jack Kaleiwahea.

¹The famous one written of in “Ka Moolelo Oiaio o Kaluaikoolau” or “The True Story of Kaluaikoolau,” which is available from the Kauai Historical Society, or a bookstore near you!

[I wish the digital images of this paper were better. This article is even cut off on the left, so I had to guess at many of the words... It is definitely time to rescan the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers!]

(Lei Momi, 8/5/1893, p. 5)

KALEIWAHEA.

Ka Lei Momi Oili Pule, Buke I, Helu 1, Aoao 5. Augate 5, 1893.

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More from Puheemiki on C. Strawn in Kalawao, 1883.

THE NEWS OF KALAWAO

The sun is shining; this wind is howling in the Koolau of Kalawao; their path lies to the west.

These days, it is the first time the brows of the cliffs of the mountains have been sighted, which are constantly blocked by floating clouds; the fields are constantly covered by gray mist; and the voice of the ocean constantly roars in the sea cliffs both night and day.

Our superintendent, C. Strawn, is secretly selling the house lumber that the Board of Health sent for the patients, at 3½ cents per yard, and hundreds of yards were sold on the 16th of this month. We just found out about this, we didn’t know from earlier.

The new church of the protestant brethren of Kalawao stands proudly, her walls are beautiful, and her bell tower is stands unobstructed; this was done skillfully under T. Solomoa [T. Solomona], but it is not completed.

Some major problems here in Kalawao were remedied by the agent of the Board of Health, R. W. Meyer, earlier this month; the claim for damages by W. H. Kala and J. K. Awihi against the Board of Health, for the seizing of their property by the Board of Health on the 18th of this past June, totaling $357.25; here is the deceitful thing: this important claim was hidden away by R. W. Meyer, and this was his decision. “The Board of Health was justified in the seizing of this property.” They two of them filed suit once again before a judge.”

Letters seen addressed outside to the Kuokoa or the Pae Aina¹ are torn apart; that is what I hear. This letter is being sent at Kalaupapa.  William Puheemiki.

[Does anyone know which Protestant church in Kalawao this would be being built in 1883?]

¹Ko Hawaii Pae Aina

(Kuokoa, 8/25/1883, p. 3)

NA MEA HOU O KALAWAO

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XXII, Helu 34, Aoao 3. Augate 25, 1883.

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Suicide in Kalawao, 1883.

HANGING IN KALAWAO.

O Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, Aloha oe:

I have something to report to you, and that is this: A man hung himself on the 21st of this June, in the jail here in Kalawao, at 2:25 p. m., and he is now left to rest. Perhaps it will be set right, perhaps not.

Here is why he hung himself; 1. The estate of this man was confiscated by the Board of Health, the the superintendent of the Lepers, C. Strawn. 2. The residence of this man was torn down by the officers of the Board of health as well as his clothes trunk by the orders of C. Strawn. 3. The property of this man was auctioned off to the public by orders of C. Strawn over two days. 4. This man was imprisoned in the jail for no reason for 4 days and 3 nights, at which point he hung himself. There are many witnesses to what was done.

This is all why this man was troubled. And so we are pained by this, for we were not brought here to die in jail; because it is enough that we are inflicted with leprosy; we don’t wish for more sickness to befall us or for us to die again in jail like this.

Therefore I ask before King Kaulilua,¹ the nation, the lahui, the makaainana from where the sun rises to where it sets, from that side to this, those who care for our dear lives, the descendants of our kupuna who were wounded by the barbed spears to unify you O Hawaii as one, for whom is said, “E mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono.”²

Please dismiss, transfer, and expell this haole C. Strawn from his job for the reasons shown above; and not just him, but those who plunder the wealth of you, O Hawaii; the people who drag you, O Hawaii into difficulties; and those who hold no aloha in their hearts for Hawaii. Don’t take your time, for your knowledge, O Hawaii, has climbed the heights of Hanalei, and you are qualified to occupy the highest positions of our government and be respected for your knowledge [e elieli ai kulana ia Ainaike.]

This is not said in spite, but for just cause [he wai o lalo]. Sincerely,

William Puheemiki, Jr.

Leahi Home, Kalawao, Molokai

June 25, 1883.

¹Kaulilua is another name for Kalakaua.

²”Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono,” is the famous proclamation of Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha III.

(Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, 7/7/1883, p. 4)

KAAWE MA KALAWAO.

Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, Buke VI, Helu 27, Aoao 4. Iulai 7, 1883.

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Mistreatment of leprosy patients and why we need to reshoot the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers, 1886.

ABUSE BY THE BOARD OF HEALTH.

O Kuokoa, Aloha Oe:—

Please be so patient as to show this improper behavior to clarify the above, thus: This past week the steamship Makalii arrived here in Kalapapa with five leprosy patients for this colony. These five people told me (the Writer) about the cruelty done by the Board of Health, and this is the story told by them.

On the 21st of the past month, at 4 in the afternoon, stepped onto the deck of the ship and left Honolulu, and they were placed at the bow of the ship. They were in distress while at sea due to the winds that were blowing strongly and they were covered by the sea and shivered in the cold. They were not give food for two days and then landed here in Kalaupapa. They were in desperate shape, and were treated like animals being placed at the bow. The Board of Health did not look after their well-being even if they ?????

These days, the leprosy patients of Kalawao are made to work ?????? mistreated by the Board of Health. They don’t consider the weak state of the people and are worked like slaves and they are prisoners of the law.

Here, I ????? with sincerity.

J. J. Kawehena.

[I know i keep saying that the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers need to be reshot again so that we can have the clearest images possible, but i can't help it. Here is a perfect example. I am guessing at a good deal of the content, and where i couldn't, i left as "????" Once the papers deteriorate and crumble away, there is no way we can get these histories.]

(Kuokoa, 7/3/1886, p. 1)

KA HANA HOOMAINOINO A KA PAPA OLA.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XXV, Helu 27, Aoao 1. Iulai 3, 1886.

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New Years celebration in Kalawao, 1888.

NEW YEAR’S FEAST IN KALAWAO, MOLOKAI.

On new year’s day of this year, a feast was held in the land of the leprosy patients at Kalawao by the Board of Health, and all of the patients were invited to gather within the party lanai where they feasted upon the things prepared for them. Mr. Ambrose Hitchcock [Hutchinson], the Assistant Superintendent of the Hospital, sent a letter to the President of the Board of Health, reporting on the good outcome of the efforts done for the leprosy patients.

Upon that same ship which arrived the letter from the Assistant Superintendent, the President [of the Board of Health] also received a letter of appreciation in Hawaiian, which was signed by the Committee chosen by the patients, to express their delight in the kind act done by the Board of Health for them. Here is a copy of that document.

N. B. Emerson, Esq.,

President of the Board of Health:

“Aloha oe—We are the Committee chosen by the Assistant Superintendent of the Leprosy Colony, whose names appear below; we humbly put before you our expression in response to your gift spread before the patients, to celebrate the new year.

“The patients are joyous and delighted with the great blessings sent by you, they ate until full, and this a something brand new for them.

“This is our expression, respectfully,

J. Kahaulelio,  S. Kamahalo,

F. Gaiser,  A. Puaaloa,

J. A. Kamakini,  P. Kaluna,

J. Kahauola,  S. Kamoahaku,

P. Kiha,  Kunui.

“Done and signed at Kalawao, January 12, 1888.”

[I think that the phrase, "this is something brand new for them," is something to ponder and consider.]

(Kuokoa, 1/21/1888, p. 2)

AHAAINA MAKAHIKI HOU MA KALAWAO, MOLOKAI.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XXVII, Helu 3, Aoao 2. Ianuari 21, 1888.

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John James Kawehena passes away in Kalawao, 1887.

He has Passed on; He has Gone

With a heart darkened by sadness, I ask you to kindly leave me a space in your pages¹ for this, so that the many people of the one who has passed on to death will know. At dawn of yesterday, June 22, John James Kawehena left this life, and returned to the everlasting side of the earth. He spent 7 years, 10 months, and 26 days in this forsaken land; and as for us, his friends of this land without parents save one, the Board of Health [Papa Ola], for him is our remembrance.

His land of birth was Kaupo on Maui; his parents were Maunaloa (m) and Kauahine (f), and the three of them lived together; he has a younger sibling in the Apuakea rain,² D. Loheau.

He was growing thin with shortness of breath for these past months, and in the night of the 22nd of this past June, the shortness of breath grew worse and his breath was unbeknownst to us snatched away for good; and the next morning, we went to wake him but he was already gone and his body was stiff; much aloha for him.

He was an active writer for this colony, reporting the news of this land of leprosy patience to the whole world; and he was one of the heads of a newspaper. His writings will no longer appear in your columns.

Aloha to the [kikiipi ?] boys of the press.

JAMES IMAIKALANI.

Kalawao, June 23rd, 1887.

¹Literally a parlor or a room to greet people

²Famous in Koolaupoko on Oahu

[Although the information from Kalaupapa and Kalawao were not usually included in the regular Vital Statistics column, they were often printed in the other columns of the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers!]

(Kuokoa, 7/9/1887, p. 3)

Ua hala, Ua nalo

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XXVI, Helu 28, Aoao 3. Iulai 9, 1887.

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On taxation and leprosy patients, 1875.

The Leprosy Patients are Taxed!

Mr. Editor; Aloha:—

On the 2nd of this December, the Tax Assessor [Luna Auhau] of this island of Molokai came in person to the colony of Kalawao, the place of the castaways who are afflicted with wounds of an incurable sickness, that being leprosy [mai lepera], which is called he Chinese sickness [mai Pake].

Therefore, the Tax Assessor is acting as per his power under the Law; the taxing of animals, all except the body of man. And as such, I am announcing before all of our fellow people, that this is a major thing, because from the beginning of the enforcement of this law upon people afflicted with leprosy and who are set apart as based on the intent of the edict of the Board of Health; this is the first time this sort of thing has come before the patience, as it has almost been ten years that these people have been living as prisoners in the penitentiary of the law.

Through this, I am announcing clearly to all the people living all over outside of the boundaries of the land of the skeletons. This is astonishing that those dead to the law are being taxed. So if leprosy patients are taxable in this way, then those imprisoned in Kawa [the government prison] should be taxed, for they are better off than those living here in the Colony of Kalawao; those people, there is a given time when they will once again receive their Civil rights, but we here (the leprosy patience), we will not have a time when we are relieved, because the law follows after our steps, and takes from us even the tiniest of rights that we have.

This is the Era of King Kalakaua, and the character of the history of his reign is being prepared; so “Recognize your fellow man, and don’t waste your aloha on dogs.” Aloha no. SILOAMA.¹

Kalawao, Dec. 3, 1875

¹Siloama is probably a pen name; it is the Protestant church in Kalawao.

(Kuokoa, 12/11/1875, p. 4)

Ua Auhauia na mai Lepera!

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XIV, Helu 50, Aoao 4. Dekemaba 11, 1875.

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Board of Health and leprosy, 1906.

A HAWAIIAN WOMAN HIDDEN AWAY.

After the Board of Health [Papa Ola] searched for ten months, they found Mrs. Flora K. Crowell, a Hawaiian woman, and she was taken and detained mauka of the Kalihi Hospital. It is not clear why the Board of Health chased after that woman, but there is something astonishing and unclear about what was done to this woman.

After Mrs. Flora K. Crowell was found by the officers of the Board of Health, she said she was locked away like a prisoner.

This wahine is the birth daughter of Mrs. Hattie Hiram who died on the 5th of November 1905, and she married Clement C. Crowell in the year 1900, and by this marriage the two of them had a daughter; but just six months after they had the girl, she [Flora Crowell] was suspected of having leprosy and taken away to be held at the Kalihi Hospital.

According to the wishes of her mother [Hattie Hiram], she was sent to Japan to be treated along with others who were suspected of having the illness. Being that she did not have the funds to be treated and per her wishes, she came back to Honolulu nei after nine months of being away from here.

When she arrived in Honolulu, she went to live with her mother on Beritania Street, and she was hidden there until the death of her mother. There was no one who knew she was here in Honolulu at the time, except her mother along with another woman named Keluia and George Kaia. However, when her mother was extremely ill, Solomon Hiram came, and because they were speaking so loudly, he showed himself before them; S. Hiram was shocked at seeing her; and it was then that she was subdued by S. Hiram along with George Kaia and Keluia and detained in a building on the grounds, and she was locked inside.

A few days later, while her mother was still alive, she [Flora Crowell] was taken to the place of George Kaia on Young Street, and from there she was then taken to the uplands of Kalihi Valley to live, and from there she was taken to a grass house atop Puowaina, on the road that goes up to Puuohia (Tantalus). She escaped from this place and returned to live at her own home on Beritania Street, and it was there she lived unbeknownst to others, all except an old man who brought her food.

But during her last two days there, that man did not come back, and she almost starved for lack of food; it was only because of the passing by of one of her friends from her youth, that she was brought to that friend’s home on Young Street. This was the daughter of John Kamaki, the one who gave Flora Crowell money to care for herself while in Japan.

At the death of Mrs. Hattie Hiram, John Kamaki came and took care of her funeral, and saw for the first time that here was Mrs. Clement in Honolulu nei. Her baby was being cared for by John Kamaki, who took her after the death of Mrs. H. Hiram.

When Solomon Hiram just left with the Royal Hawaiian Band [Bana Hawaii], he left instructions for some people to keep good watch over Mrs. Clement.

She is now living with her friends mauka of Pauoa, and she has chosen R. W. Breckons as the executor of her estate.

There is no doubt, the quick death of her mother and her being hidden away, will be investigated immediately by the grand jury of this session.

(Kuokoa, 11/2/1906, p. 8)

HE WAHINE HAWAII I HUNA MA-LUIA.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLV, Helu 44, Aoao 8. Novemaba 2, 1906.