NEWS OF KOLOA.

Mr. Solomon Hanohano, Aloha kaua:—Please my I have some open space in our pride, the favorite of the lahui, for it to flash to the four corners of the earth, from great Hawaii of Keawe to Kauai of Manokalanipo, that being this:

When B. N. Kahalepuna arrived from Honolulu to here in Koloa, on the morning of Tuesday, the 3rd of August, he brought with him the gravestone of Mary K. Paele [Mary Kealiiwaiwaiole Bacle] and William Keaumaikai Paele [William Keaumaikai Bacle], the two being fine elders of our district.

The gravestone was made deftly by Mr. Zimmerman [W. H. Zimmerman], a haole monument maker of Honolulu; it has two parts weighing approximately 16 hundred pounds. With much effort this gravestone was brought to Poipu, for almost half a mile was the distance from the wharf of Koloa, and on the morning of the following Wednesday the gravestone was arranged at its desired location.

This gravestone has become something for the locals of this district to wonder and talk about, because here is William Keaumaikai Bacle still alive, but at the same time he is preparing in advance his home when his soul returns to that everlasting home beyond, the final grave of the worldly life of man.

This perhaps is one of the greatest endeavors, done by this man while he is still living, the recognizing and choosing that his end is approaching, and it is proper for him to know beforehand the preparations of his home that is to his liking.

There were many intimates and friends who gathered to work together for this gravestone, and therefore it lessened the time to set up the monument.

Because of his feelings of aloha and the open heart of William Keaumaikai Paele, one of the Hawaiians who understands of the heavens above and the earth below, of this district of Koloa, he gave freely to those who toiled in setting up this gravestone for his loving wife who passed on earlier, and for him as well, by giving them each parcels of land located near the ocean of Poipu, and this kindly deed by him with open heart would become an unforgettable monument that we will remember him by.

Being the administering and the carrying out of this matter is left to B. N. Kahalepuna, his agent and representative, I am elated and as we all are with this kindly deed, for which I say, there is a great debt upon all those who freely received parcels of land.

I believe that condemnation cannot be placed upon our fine elder and his representative, for these parcels of land were given through the selection of the person who chose it, and if they received the lot of a good parcel, it was clear, he received a fine parcel, and the person who chose and got the lot of a parcel of rocky land, then that person who chose it is to carry the burden and loss because of the action of his hands. Therefore, everything that was undertaken went well in this selection, and not an inch of blame will be put upon the one who gave with kindness. There are 14 Hawaiians and one Portuguese; these are good friends for many years of the one whose estate this is.

In the afternoon of this past Sunday, August 8, a memorial gathering was held to unveil this gravestone, at the cemetery of Poipu, before the public who gathered there, and amongst the many your writer saw Mr. and Mrs. Henry Blake, Mr. B. N. Kahalepuna [Benjamin Nalaeelua Kahalepuna], Mr. George Beka [George Peka], Mr. and Mrs. S. K. Kaulili, Mr. and Mrs. Kanani, Mr. and Mrs. Kolomona, Mrs. J. S. Chandler, Mr. Akana, Mr. D. K. Paele [Mr. D. K. Bacle], Miss Mary Bella Paele [Mary Bella Bacle], Master William Pua Oliwa Paele [William Pua Oliwa Bacle], your seeker of news as well, and many others who gathered there.

This peaceful gathering began with a speech led by Rev. S. K. Kaulili of this district; he told the story of Mary Kealiiwaiwaiole Paele, her birth, her becoming a matron who lead Christian endeavors, her aid work, and when she was still alive she became a foundation and one of the cornerstones of the Church here in Koloa; in her home life, she showed herself as a mother who was welcoming, open-hearted, modest, and upright.

Pertaining to William Keaumaikai Paele, he said that in all the charity work of the Church, he was never lacking in this respect; he was a father that was pious, and it was because of his debility that he was not seen at church, because he stayed at home; the kahu also stated, he was a father that was welcoming, kind, just as was seen in his giving land away; and because he was always in pain, he could not go here or there, and there were a great many good things spoken by the Kahu S. K. Kaulili of these elders.

At the conclusion of this program, B. N. Kahalepuna was introduced, and he unveiled the gravestone, and then began the inspection of the gravestone by all those who had gathered there. Heard were the voices of the people who could not express their words of appreciation because of the beauty and the splendor of this stone that was fashioned.

And following this, some songs were sung from the hymnal, and at the closing was a prayer from the Makua S. K. Kaulili.

Because of the want and desire of B. N. Kahalepuna to photograph the gathering, this was quickly done by a Japanese photographer of Koloa, and a majority of the group were photographed, and this will serve as proof of the gathering from here forth.

After the proceedings were let out, everyone was filled with joy among the festivities, and the truck of the road supervisor of Koloa returned the crowd to their own homes, and some were taken back to their automobiles, leaving the lighthouse keeper [keiki puhi kukui] of Makahuena point.

I aloha ia no Makahuena,
Hoopulu mau ia e ka ehukai,
Elua wale iho no maua,
Me ke kihei pili o ke aumoe.

[Beloved is Makahuena,
Ever moistened by the sea spray,
There were just the two of us,
With the bedding of night.]

Here is something else: While I was relaxing in my home in the sky, and when my eyes gazed quietly at the stars shining in the floating clouds in the sky, moving across the walls of the heavens, and when my eyes were set on the west, reaching the north, with fear and agitation my eyes met with the sight of an astonishing skyrocket that was large in the front and small in the back, that appeared near Poipu.

And it flew quickly in a line straight for the Catholic church of Koloa, and from there, the rocket passed the Bacle Home, and not long after, its body exploded with great violence, while its enormous eyes were seen looking directly at the ground; and there were many people who witnessed this thing with supernatural form.

Your seeker of news thinks that this is perhaps a remaining descendant of the old days who is trying to extinguish the precious life which God created, displaying the evil that grew and thrived within him.

This pen nib teaches to be loving, and to not do that again; put a stop to the deeds of the dark ages, for this is an enlightened age; put an end to this kind of evil deed.

With the Editor goes my great appreciation and with the metal typesetting boys goes my endless salutations.

Always,

PETER KAMANO.

[This is one of the most interesting articles I have read, for all of the content within. It would be so exciting if photos still exist of this gathering!]

(Kuokoa, 8/27/1920, p. 8)