MY DEAR COMPANION, MRS. MARIA L. KUKAHI, HAS GONE.

O Mr. Editor, Aloha oe a nui:—Please welcome in an open space of your patient messenger, the statement placed above, so that the family, friends, and acquaintances of my dear Mrs. Maria, living from the Island of Hawaii of Keawe from where the sun rises at Makanoni, all the way to Niihau at the edge of the islands, will know.

My dear companion of the scorching sun of Kaimuki, left this life at our beloved home, “Ekahalani Hale,” 1141 17th Ave., on January 25, 1923, at 3 p. m., with me not witnessing her last breath, which gives me great pain and sadness.

My dearly beloved left in the morning to go to work at the diner with the elder sisters of ours who arrived soon from Kona; with a healthy body and strong, without a worry, except for a small pain in the shoulder and sharp pain in her chest; this was something she was familiar with from the time we were joined in the holy covenant of marriage on Dec. 27, 1919, until the day I was propped up to see the her body; the light was extinguished, the window shutters were shut, auwe my pain!

According to our elder sisters, and some other friends who appeared at the house, she was just fine, and they were all talking story. At noon she invited the elder sisters to go eat, but the sisters did not go, she just went with the grandchild to go eat; and when they were done, they returned home and she sat on the couch in the parlor and read the Kuokoa newspaper while she talked fine with the elder sisters.

At 1 o’clock or so, approaching 2, she went in to our bedroom, and not long after, she called to her elder sisters to come massage her; the sister went at once and massaged her, each of them, and she relaxed; she got back onto the bed and the sisters sat and talked fine with her, and the sisters thought the trouble was over; that was when the pain returned severely and she hardly could breath, all the while the sisters were fighting to save her, but they could not suppress it.

As they were fighting with the arm of unknown strength, our family doctor was called, and so was I to come home quickly. The doctor arrived before me at 2:00 p. m.; she was still breathing with a weak voice, and he took to his work, and before he left the house, he gave a command that if she got a little relief, to call him at 3 o’clock.

When the doctor left, and I returned after, it was as if I arrived at the final push of the electric car, when she struggled for breath; and when I got back to the house, the sisters told me that my wife had left us.

I entered and kissed my wife, felt her body, and she was still warm; and the source of the waters of love and painful sadness flowed. It was not long after that when her actual daughter arrived and we grieved with anguish, like an arrow sunk in the heart. I am pained!

My beloved Mrs. Maria was born from the loins of Maleka (f) and Waialae (m), on May 1, 1885, at Kohala of the Apaapaa wind; and they were natives and kamaaina of Kapalilua, South Kona; and her uncle who is very well known still lives, he being D. L. Kaanaana Keliikuli of Hoopuloa. When she passed, she was 37 years old, 8 months, and 24 days; and we were married for 3 years and 29 days.

Her services were held at the assembly hall of Borthwick Mortuary at 2 p. m., January 26, by the luna opio of Kawaiahao, Ben H. Mahoe and Alfred Maialoha, and her body which slept the eternal sleep was carried to the Makiki Cemetery.

And her last service was held at the edge of the cold grave, with thoughts of hope from the Makua J. K. Nakila with songs for her long journey.

As for her nature when we were together, she was a neat, sincere, and attentive woman; She was a hospitable mother and welcomed you with an open heart. We associated with aloha with those with homes in Kaimuki, Waialae, Palolo, and Kamoiliili, through good deeds initiated in the homes. Travelling in the light and the dark, during rain, wind, and calm; and it was as if true aloha spread in each of our fellow laborers, giving the appearance that we were one family. With those joyful and determined thoughts, Kaimuki Home S. S. [Kaimuki Home Sunday School] was built, which is known to accompany the Adult Sunday School [Kula Sabati Makua] of this island of Oahu.

O children of ours of Kaimuki Home S. S., the hospitable mother of the home has gone, the one who cherished you all with love, to making you her children, but set your eyes [?? kiionioni ?? kiionohi] looking forward, and see the path your mother left on. “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father, the same is my mother, father, brother, sister,” and so forth.

O Koolau and the two Kona, I am crying for my beloved for you welcomed her and all of us as well, Kaimuki Home S. S., at the door of your sacred houses of God [betela], with truly delightful thoughts for joining together to do good deeds; today, she has left me and all of us, and her face is gone for all times.

To the family of my dearly beloved, you will be shocked to know that Maria Wahinenui L. Kukahi has passed on, but let your thoughts be lightened for she has passed with good hope for glorious reward for her deeds.

I and the family give our great thanks to the relatives, friends, and acquaintances for the bouquets of beautiful flowers that you adorned her with, while we were in grief and sadness.

JOSEPH L. KUKAHI,
and Family.

(Kuokoa, 2/8/1923, p. 8)