105 YEARS OLD, ANSWERS CALL

Funeral Services Held at Honolii For Kiaaina, of the High Rank; Old Age Brings Grim Reaper

MOURNED DEATH OF PRINCE

Continuous Failing in Health is Noted Since Sudden Death of the Late Delegate Kuhio

Kiaaina, descendant from Hawaiian chiefs of highest rank, at the age of 105 years, died at his Honolii home yesterday afternoon at 5 o’clock. Up to almost the last moments of his life Kiaaina retained full and unimpaired mental faculties. His end came quietly, gradually and from the natural decline of old age. It is said of his that he continued in good health up to the time of the death of Prince Kuhio, but since hearing of the loss of his beloved Prince the old man failed physically and began fading away in bodily strength. A niece and grand-daughter were with him at the time of his demise.

Rev. Desha had called to see Kiaaina at several intervals during the past few weeks and states that three days ago the aged man was bright of mind, that he recounted many of his earliest remembrances of historic incidents, and that he felt himself going and declared himself in all ways prepared. Rev. Desha again called to see Kiaaina yesterday afternoon, inn company with Dr. Rice, and it was then seen that the end was rapidly approaching. The only possible remedies for relief were given, but without hope of much prolonging life.

Held Highest Rank

From those best informed it is learned that Kiaaina was born at Kohala, Island of Hawaii in the month of April, 105 years ago. At an early age his parents took him to Kauai, where much of his after life was spent. Both his mother and father held highest rank as chief and chiefess under Queen Kaahumanu, and by whom they were taken on many of her travels about all the islands. Kiaaina himself bore a high title but was so modest of nature that he never made reference to this, neither would he ever disclose his first name, which it is said conveyed a designation of rank among chiefs. In personal bearing and in his style of language, old-time Hawaiians could recognize that Kiaaina was a man of superior attributes and of the Islands’ aristocracy.

Living at his place opposite the railroad crossing, just this side of Honolii, Kiaaina could easily be seen by passengers in the train, working on his little farm. Here he lived in a very natural manner, working daily out-of-doors, cultivating bananas, potatoes and various garden vegetables, from the sale of which he eked out a meager living. His long white beard and stooped figure were also familiar to the people on the streets of Hilo. At the police station he had many friends and would often sit there on the veranda to rest for periods when in town. He usually carried a coffee-wood cane, with which he had been presented by Paul Tallet. Exchanges

(Continued on page six)

(Daily Post Herald, 2/4/1922, p. 1)

Daily Post Herald, Volume XV, Number 223, Page 1. February 4, 1922.

Aged Hawaiian Mourns Death Of Prince; Answers Last Call

(Continued from page one)

of other gifts were often made, according to oldest Hawaiian customs. As an instance of this, when the late Prince was last a visitor to Hilo, no Hawaiian was more assiduous in bringing to him those offerings of Hawaiian fruits and other gifts in the nature of a testimony of tributes, than was old Kiaaina.

Recalled By Kamaainas

That Kiaaina’s age of 105 years is known to be quite definitely correct, may be testified to by many kamaainas whose associations with him have brought out substantially the same stories. Ensign Sims, of the Salvation Army, is one who has learned much of Kiaaina’s history directly from him, in which he has recounted his recollections of the coming of the missionaries to Hawaii in 1820. W. S. Terry states that he first knew Kiaaina at Onomea in 1881, and to him corroborating stories were told. Rev. Desha, A. K. Aona, and many others all give the same opinion that Kiaaina was probably about three years of age at the time of the missionaries landing here.

Funeral Services Held

Funeral ceremonies for Kiaaina are to be conducted by Rev. S. L. Desha at 2:30 o’clock this afternoon and burial to be made in Alae cemetery. It was only yesterday that Kiaaina expressed for the last time his wish to be laid to rest near the scene of his last days of life, and he remarked to his grand-daughter, “have the flowers ready to plant on my grave, that they may grow there and be seen from my house.”

[This is a different Kiaaina from Simeon Kiaaina Nuuhiwa, the one appearing in the last few posts. This Kiaaina dies on 2/3/1922.]

(Daily Post Herald, 2/4/1922, p. 6)

(Daily Post Herald, Volume XV, Number 223, Page 6. February 4, 1922.)