LEAVES THE LAND

SEES THE LAND OF SUFFERING AS A STRANGER.

O Swift Messenger of the communities of Hawaii, floating all the way foreign lands, Ke Aloha Aina Newspaper. Greetings:—

On the 12th of this September, in the morning hours, there was crying as people walked outside of the grounds of that hallowed castle, and at 8 o’clock or so was when our belongings were readied. The wailing was heard of women for their husbands, men for their wives, parents for their children, children for their parents, family for family.

And at 11 o’clock, the patients were called to board the car; a veil was spread, and people could no more see us; the cars left the grounds, and great mourning was heard; your writer saw his dear mama and our child for the last time; and the writer heard the calling of my beloved Ape, “O Papa, come back to me.”

The driver performed his job; we met up with friends on the road who waved their handkerchiefs; we reached Aala Park, and my aloha welled up for my friends who pursue politics, and the commotions in the nights at that Park.

I looked to the streets that me and my dear mama and our child walked. I turned and saw flash by the beloved sight of my temporary housing, Camp 2, Kauluwela. Welled up in me was aloha for my friends who live in hardship there.

We reached the pier at quarter before 12 o’clock, and at 12 or so we got on to the deck of the Likelike with Molokai as the destination. We arrived at Kaunakakai at 7:30 p. m. The cargo was taken off and 30 head of cattle were loaded. We sailed to Lanai, left there for Lahaina, and left there for Pukoo, leaving there for Halawa. The kukui of Lanikaula was pointed out to the writer. Pai ai was brought aboard. We sailed for Wailau where the pai ai was taken off. From what your writer saw of the cliffs of these places, they were frightful. We stopped at Pelekunu; there was no cargo. We left Pelekunu for Waikolu, and stopped at Waikolu at 2 o’clock or so. The cattle was let off. We left Waikolu for Kalaupapa; we landed at Kalaupapa at 4 o’clock or so. We got off and met up with friends. Seeing the patients was very emotional.

We went into the building set aside so that we would not get mixed into those of the outside. On this trip, there were 24 patients; four women, 20 men, [??? the people from outside for Baldwin Home and for Bay View.] We arrived at Baldwin Home at 6 or so, met with the adults of that home and the children; on the 14th we saw the lay of the land and how the patients lived. Appreciated were the voices heard from those kamaaina here, but as for the writer, his thoughts are back home.

With appreciation,

S. K. Maialoha,

Sept. 21, 1905.  Baldwin Home.

[Solomon K. Maialoha contributes many letters to the newspaper after being sent to Kalawao. He appears in the English papers as well.]

(Aloha Aina, 9/30/1905, p. 7)

Ke Aloha Aina, Buke XI, Helu 39, Aoao 7. Sepatemaba 30, 1905.