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About nupepa

Just another place that posts random articles from the Hawaiian Newspapers! It would be awesome if this should become a space where open discussions happen on all topics written about in those papers!! And please note that these are definitely not polished translations, but are just drafts!!! [This blog is not affiliated with any organization and receives no funding. Statements made here should in now way be seen as a reflection on other organizations or people. All errors in interpretation are my own.]

More on the Wahiawa “healing stones,” 1927.

THE SUPERNATURAL ROCKS WILL BE LEFT IN THEIR PLACE.

At the meeting of the Daughters of Hawaii last week Wednesday in the Home of Queen Emma Kaleleonalani in Nuuanu, the association decided not to move the “Healing Stones” from where the two stand in Wahiawa; they made no decision to perhaps not move them for a time between three and six months and after that time, to take up again the question of those rocks.

When ayes and nays were asked for per the request explained earlier by Mrs. Julie Judd Swanzy and added to with small changes made by Mrs. F. A. Potter, there were three members who were opposed to the changes.

The decision by the association agreed upon that day, was in accordance with the decision by the President of the Board of Health, F. E. Trotter, that there would be no action upon on the matter of the rocks and that they’d be left where they stand now without being moved. With this decision by the Daughters of Hawaii, the ones who have responsibility over the rocks, dashed was the hope and request of 400 citizens of Wahiawa made to this association in a petition to remove the rocks from Wahiawa.

Another subject considered and decided upon by the association was this: there shall be no monuments built upon heiau. At that meeting, announced were pledges of $588, and cash donations of $1712, and funds of $341.72 for the restoration of that palace in Kailua, Kona, Hawaii [Hulihee].

Because of the rumor that the enthusiasm over the healing powers of the rocks are dwindling, which was known because less people go to worship the stones and because of less donations, this is the reason for the postponement by the association on action to be taken in regard to the rocks, with their belief that perhaps in a short few months the craze of the people over worshiping them will decrease drastically.

At that meeting of the association, there were many letters read by the President, Mrs. Swanzy, in front of the members gathered there, from different people dealing with the stones.

One of these letters was a petition by 400 people of Wahiawa asking to remove these rocks from there; three of the people who signed their names to the document asked that their names not be publicized and to take out their names from the list; there was a letter against the moving of the rocks to the Bishop Museum, where the stones would just be a “Collection” there; in another letter, it was asked to move the rocks to an area near the new road in Koko Head.

Mrs. Charles Clark asked to return these stones to the grounds of Kukaniloko; her idea was opposed by the majority of the members for the reason that the ancient history of these stones have nothing to do with the history dealing with the alii born at Kukaniloko, and therefore, it is not right to move them there. The rocks were moved to Kukaniloko at the order of Galbraith, because he thought they might be broken up where they stood beneath the stream.  The association does not want to return the stones there; they have been something much cared for by the Filipinos and others, and other stones of Kukaniloko have been cracked because of candles placed upon them, and the grounds are full of rotting fruits and flowers; and seeing those things which marred the beauty of the area was why they were moved to where they stand now. Those stones will not be considered again for return to Kukaniloko.

As for the $3000 in the bank, it is from donations made by people who went to worship the stones, but the association has not agreed to take a cent of the money, but it will instead be appropriated for use for works benefiting the people of Wahiawa.

(Kuokoa, 11/24/1927, p. 4)

E WAIHOIA ANA NO NA POHAKU KUPUA MA KO LAUA WAHI.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LXVI, Helu 52, Aoao 4. Novemaba 24, 1927.

Healing Stone (?) of Wahiawa, 1927.

Supernatural Rock of Wahiawa

Honolulu, Oct. 26—This rock being visited by people to worship these days is becoming something that truly is stirring the thoughts of some people here in Honolulu, and some who are living near Wahiawa are appealing to the Government and to the power of the Board of Health to move that rock from where it first stood, because in their opinion, this action by the people will cause an epidemic to grow here where all ethnicities are going and touching themselves against the bodies of others, and this will perhaps cause sicknesses to spread from one to another.

The Board of Health refused to step in and block this action by people who believe their ailments will be healed by touching the sick area to that rock of Wahiawa, and the birthing stones of the High Chiefs of this land in ancient times.

Some people have said that their weakness due to rheumatism by them going there and touching their areas of pain to that rock. Some say that their weak areas were not cured by touching the rock.

If the Naha Stone was not moved to the mauka side of the Hilo Library here, and it was left where it was from olden times, then the healing powers of these Birthing Stones of the sacred Alii of Hawaii and the Stone that Kamehameha the Great flipped over and which became a symbol of his victory over this entire Archipelago, and for which Kamehameha spoke these words:

“He Naha oe, a he Naha hoi kou mea e neeu ai. He Niau-pio hoi wau, ao ka Niau-pio hoi o ka Wao.”¹

With these words did Kamehameha put his shoulders up to the Naha Stone [Naha Pohaku], and flipped it over, being this was a stone that could not be moved by five men. Perhaps some sick with rheumatism will rub up their ailing places against the Naha Stone in the future.

[I was reminded of this by a picture of two stones with the caption “Sacred Stones at Wahiawa” from the Lani Nedbalek Collection displayed at the Pineapple Festival today.]

¹”You are a Naha, and it will be a Naha who will move you. I am a Niaupio, the Niaupio of the Forest.”

(Hoku o Hawaii, 11/1/1927, p. 3)

Ka Pohaku Kupua o Wahiawa

Ka Hoku o Hawaii, Buke XXI, Helu 23, Aoao 3. Novemaba 1, 1927.

Pineapples in Wahiawa, 1920.

Truth About the Hawaiian Pineapple Company

The Hawaiian Pineapple Company always upholds good relations amongst its employees, supervisors, and heads, and we believe we always have the full backing of our employees, and if that weren’t the case, gaining the progress we have today would be incomprehensible.

The farming of pineapples in Wahiawa is on about 10,000 acres of land, and we believe that it is producing, with the aid of the steadfast workers and machinery of the newest model, the finest pineapple of the world.

Canned at the pineapple plant in Honolulu, in a single day from 1919 on, more than 650,000 cans of pineapple. This is due to the modern processes and new machinery, along with the skilled and careful workers.

JAMES D. DOLE,

President of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company.

(This is the third advertisement.)

(Kuokoa, 6/25/1920, p. 4)

Na Mea Oiaio Pili i ka Hui Halakahiki Hawaii

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LVIII, Helu 25, Aoao 4. Iune 25, 1920.

In honor of Honey Bee Day, 2013.

[Found under: “BITS OF NEWS OF HAWAII NEI.”]

Honey in the mountains.—There are a lot of honey bees in the mountains of Oahu nei. We see all the time buckets full of honey that is gotten in the uplands of Manoa and Kalihi by the haole man, Okamu. It is said that it is abundant in the cliffs of the Koolau. Friends, do try tasting this thing called honey; it is very good with bread.

[It seems today is Honey Bee Day. There are many articles dealing with bees and honey from early on in the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers. I posted some earlier and they should be easily found by doing a search on the top of the right-hand column…

Also, if you are lucky enough to be on Kauai today, according to the Garden Isle Press, there are fun and educational activities being put on by the Kauai Beekeepers’ Association at Kauai Community College! Go check it out!!]

(Kuokoa, 11/25/1865, p. 2)

Meli o ka nahele.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke IV, Helu 47, Aoao 2. Novemaba 25, 1865.

Utah paper reports on the victorious Hawaiian cowboys at Wyoming, 1908.

HAWAIIANS DEFEAT AMERICAN COWBOYS

For a dozen years back there has been held in Cheyenne, Wyo., what is called Frontier day, which calls together thousands of people from many states, and involves wild west performances of the most interesting and expert character. There is wild horse riding, steer roping, and a cowboy carnival in general. For the first time in the history of these contests the championship for steer roping has been taken away from the United States. Three Hawaiian cowboys were on hand, and one of them carried off the highest honors. He had met the former American champion, Angus McPhee, at Honolulu in July, and there defeated him. Ikua Purdy, the full-blooded Hawaiian cowboy, promised to come to Cheyenne and make good his defeat of McPhee against all comers. He brought only his saddle and heavy rawhide lariat, which equipment provoked smiles among the local cowboys. Purdy was accompanied by a fellow-Hawaiian, Archie Kaaua, and he too, made a record. There may be a few cowboys among our readers, for whose benefit we extract from the Denver Republican the story of the Hawaiian victory as follows:

At first the Americans laughed at the Hawaiians. The laugh was changed to admiration, however, when Archie Kaaua roped in the fast time of 1:09, defeating the best previous performance of 1:11 by Peter Dickerson of Arizona. Then came the champion, Purdy, and when he had tied his steer securely, the judges announced his time as 1:03 2-5. A mighty cheer greeted him. By this time the Americans had not only the greatest respect for the dark-skinned visitors, but they feared them and predicted they would win. The next day Purdy, Kaaua, Hugh Clark of Cheyenne and Peter Dickerson, the only men qualifying for the finals, roped. Kaaua roped in the slow time of 1:48 1-5, and the Americans took hope. Then Dickerson fell down and got no time. Then Hugh Clark roped in 1:20. This left Champion Purdy with the best time of 1:03 2-5, but he had to rope another steer. Excitement was at fever heat, for Clark had attained the best average for the three days up to this time. Finally Purdy’s steer was turned out of the corral, and with a dash Purdy was after him. Purdy made a perfect throw, “busted” his steer, and, slipping from his horse, ran quickly to the fallen animal and in a twinkling had “hog-tied.” A great shout went up when the time was announced at 56 seconds, and Purdy was declared the winner and retainer of the championship title, Clark was second, Kaaua third and Dickerson fourth.

(Salt Lake Tribune, 9/1/1908, p. 10)

HAWAIIANS DEFEAT AMERICAN COWBOYS

The Salt Lake Tribune, Volume LXXVII, Number 140, Page 10. September 1, 1908.

More mele and coverage of the Waimea cowboys, 1908.

ROPING GLORY FOLLOWS THE FLAG

If the wail had come from Boston, or from Bangor, or Podunk,
There’d have been a precious diff’rence in the thoughts we would have thunk,
But for Rochester, in New York State, to go and make a break
About these most important isles—it really takes the cake!

There’s a paper in dear Rochester that tries to stir the nation
With a statement that most clearly shows a lack of observation,
For it says Americans have lost their cowboy reputation
To Purdy from Hawaii (read below for information).

Since Hawaii’s in the U. S. A., I cannot understand
Why she thus should be referred to as a sort of foreign land;
The lariat laurel still adorns a brow American
In fair Hawaii, U. S. A., and Purdy is the man!

Says the Rochester, N. Y., Post Express:

For the first time in the history of the Frontier Day sports at Cheyenne, the championship for steer roping has been taken away from the United States Ikua Purdy, a Hawaiian cowboy, carried off first honors in the steer roping contest, defeating the crack American cowboys. For the benefit of readers who are interested in this strictly American contest, the following description of the winning of the championship is extracted from the Denver “Republican:”

At first the Americans laughed at the Hawaiians. The laugh was changed to admiration, however, when Archie Kaaua roped in the fast time of 1:09, defeating the best previous performance of 1:11 by Peter Dickerson of Arizona. Then came the champion, Purdy, and when he had tied his steer securely, the judges announced his time as 1:03 2-5. A mighty cheer greeted him. By this time the Americans had not only the greates respect for the dark-skinned visitors, but they feared them and predicted they would win. The next day Purdy, Kaaua, Hugh Clark, of Cheyenne, and Peter Dickerson, the only men qualifying for the finals roped. Kaaua roped in the slow time of 1:48 1-5, and the Americans took hope. Then Dickerson fell down and got no time. Then Hugh Clark roped in 1:20. This left Champion Purdy with the best time of 1:03 2-5, but he had to rope another steer. Excitement was at fever heat, for Clark had attained the best average for the three days up to this time. Finally Purdy’s steer was turned out of the corral, and with a dash Purdy was after him. Purdy made a perfect throw, “busted” his steer, and, slipping from his horse, ran quickly to the fallen animal and in a twinkling had “hog-tied.” A great shout went up when the time was announced at 56 seconds, and Purdy declared the winner and holder of the championship title. Clark won second, Kaaua third and Dickerson fourth.

And so the Hawaiians are the best cowboys! This is tremendously important—more so, in fact, than the result of the Marathon race or winning the greater number of points in an Olympic contest. No one country has enjoyed a monopoly of the sport of foot-racing, pole jumping, hurdling, or tug-of-waring, but America did have a monopoly of wild horse riding, steer roping and all the sports and exercises in which the frontiersman and the cowboy took part. It is rather galling, therefore, to have this honor taken from us. But, after all, there is the consoling thought that if the United States is to lose the steer-tying championship, it is won by the natives of an island that is protected by the Stars and Stripes. And what is even of more importance, the Westerners are such good sportsmen that they have not uttered a word of complaint regarding their defeat.

(Hawaiian Star, 9/23/1908, p. 6)

ROPING GLORY FOLLOWS THE FLAG

The Hawaiian Star, Volume XVI, Number 5143, Page 6. September 23, 1908.

President Roosevelt and Ikua Purdy, 1909.

A GIFT TO PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.

One thing that President Roosevelt [Rusawela] was extremely pleased at from the steer-roping boys of Hawaii nei, was their gift that they sent by way of Representative Kuhio; and within a letter sent was a picture of Ikua Purdy, the champion roper of the world and canoe racer at Waikiki.

According to Representative Kuhio in his letter written to Jack Low, it expressed that the President was filled with joy at hearing that Ikua Purdy was actually the one who came away with the name champion of the world at steer roping.

This was the first he found out about the skill of the Hawaiian boys in roping steer, and it was Representative Kuhio who told him that Hawaiians enjoyed this activity for a long time, way before them hearing about the abilities of the boys of Wyoming.

On this past new year’s day, the paniolo boys of Waimea, Hawaii, held a steer-roping contest, with the idea that the boys who are proficeint at that activity would snatch the fame gained by Ikua Purdy, however, Ikua was the fastest at their contest; his time was like nine minutes [? seconds] less than his time in Wyoming.

There were twenty-five Waimea boys entered in this contest, but most of them fell, and Kamaki Lindsey took second place, with a time of fifty-seven seconds to rope, fell, and tie his steer.

(Kuokoa, 1/15/1909, p. 4)

KA MAKANA IA PERESIDENA RUSAWELA.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLVI, Helu 3, Aoao 4. Ianuari 15, 1909.

Another English mele for Ikua Purdy folks, 1908.

ALOHA, PURDY.

From the sun-dried plains of Texas
From the rolling Northern lands,
From East and West they sent their best,
With chap and spur and flying vest,
And lariats in their hands.

From o’er the world came champions,
All strange alike to fear,
Each full of hope his whirling rope
Would be the quickest one to cope
With swiftly-running steer.

Alas! for all those champions—
From far across the sea,
With face all tanned and steady hand,
To meet the best in all the land,
Came our Hawaiian Three.

Aloha, then, to Purdy,
To Archie and Jack Low!
Those ropes may fly in skillful try,
But they must come to fair Hawaii
To learn the way to throw.

JACK DENSHAM.

(Hawaiian Gazette, 8/25/1908, p. 3)

ALOHA, PURDY.

Hawaiian Gazette, Volume LI, Number 68, Page 3. August 25, 1908.