GABRIEL K. KEAWEHAKU PASSES AWAY.

Gabriel K. Keawehaku.

After being ill for the past many months, Gabriel K. Keawehaku left this life at 9 a. m. on the 4th of this month, just outside of his home in Kaimuki, and in the afternoon of the following 5th, his remains were put to rest at the Kaimuki cemetery.

He was given birth to by his parents, Keawehaku (m) and Olaola (f), on the 31st of the month of May, 1867, here in Honolulu, and when he grew weary of this life, he was 54 years old, plus 7 months and 4 days.

He was educated in Honolulu nei during his childhood; he was a kamaaina of this town, performing many jobs, and it was the illness that came upon him that made him give up his different jobs.

He first was employed in his youth in the Metropolitan Meat Market of Waller [Wala] and company. During the monarchy, he lived with King Kalakaua, in the king’s private guards for six years. He served as the customs inspector when the government was transferred under America, being sent to Hilo, and he was customs inspector there for five years.

From Hilo, he went to live in Lahaina, Maui, being selected as police chief for the police department there, and when he left this post and returned to Honolulu nei, he lived and worked in Manana, Ewa as a lawyer for the sugar plantation for a time, and from that job he went served as a police officer for Wahiawa.

His last job that he took until sickness took him over was editing the Hawaiian-language dictionary with Rev. H. H. Parker [H. H. Paleka].¹

In politics, Mr. G. K. Keawehaku was a strong Democrat and was dedicated to his party, and although he ran a number of times for various posts, he was not victorious.

He married Mrs. Rose K. Keawehaku 24 years ago, and his last words before letting out his last breathe was him saying to his wife, “Aloha to our good and upright life;” words of his which his wife will not forget.

He left behind his widow, their child, as well as his siblings, and many family and friends.

(Kuokoa, 12/23/1921, p. 3)

¹The dictionary came out the following year—

Lorrin Andrews, A Dictionary of the Hawaiian Language by Lorrin Andrews; Revised by Henry H. Parker; Prepared under the Direction of the Board of Commissioners of Public Archives of the Territory of Hawaii. Honolulu: The Board, 1922.

The preface reads:

In 1836 “A Vocabulary of the Words in the Hawaiian Language” was published by Lorrin Andrews. The evident usefulness of this list of about 6000 words led its author to prepare “A Dictionary of the Hawaiian Language” which was issued in 1865.

Andrews’ dictionary had long been out of print and increasing interest in Polynesian linguistic studies, the need of an authoritative reference book for the spelling, pronunciation, and definition of Hawaiian words, led to arrangements for the preparation of a new Hawaiian dictionary under the direction of the Board of Commissioners of Public Archives. A legislative act of 1913 made provision for “compiling, printing, binding, and publishing in book form a dictionary of the Hawaiian language” in which was to be given “the correct pronunciation of the ancient and modern Hawaiian words and phrases and their respective equivalents or meanings in the English language.”

As a necessary step in the preparation of a dictionary the Board of Archives transcribed all the words appearing in Andrews’ Dictionary. These totaled about 15,000 typewritten cards.

Following this preliminary work consideration was given to the selection of a compiler on whom might be placed the responsibility for preparing the desired manuscript. Rev. Henry Hodges Parker was chosen and financial arrangements made whereby he was released from other obligations for the five years following the date of appointment, January 1, 1915. The outstanding features of the work performed by Mr. Parker are the incorporation into the cards prepared by the Board of Archives of the extremely valuable revised definitions prepared by the distinguished Hawaiian scholar, Lorenzo Lyons (1807–1886) into the body of the original Andrews Dictionary, the revision of many definitions, the time-consuming task of supplying diacritical marks, the comparison of word lists from various sources (see pp. vi and vii). Particular effort was made to insure correct separation into syllables of the words defined, and to insure correct spelling of Hawaiian words, phrases and quotations.

Early in 1921 the manuscript cards were transmitted by the Board of Archives to the Bishop Museum, which consented to do the editorial work necessary to prepare the volume for the press. the Museum staff verified many scientific terms, compiled a list of Hawaiian geographic terms, and with the assistance of J. S. Emerson, Stephen Mahaulu, and other Hawaiian scholars, added a few words and enlarged and clarified many definitions. Galley proofs has been read by Mr. Parker.

The Board is under obligation to the Bishop Museum for skilled assistance and for financial aid which has permitted the publication of the dictionary without further drafts on Territorial funds.

Board of Commissioners of Public Archives.

September 1, 1922.

[The introduction by Henry Hodges Parker also does not mention Keawehaku.]

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LIX, Helu 51, Aoao 3. Dekemaba 23, 1921.