A CHILD AND A NATIVE OF HAWAII
Last week, the last rites were carried out on the body of Joseph Kahahawai, the one who was shot by some soldiers after they kidnapped Kahahawai from the courthouse.
Kahahawai went to show himself before the officials, or those of the court, and when he exited from that office, he was pointed out by a women sitting upon her car to some other haole people.
When one of the two of them saw that Kahahawai was coming out, one of the haole went and said to Kahahawai to go with him, and showed Kahahawai a written document, and that was when Kahahawai agreed to go with him to the side of the car, but not the car belonging to the woman who pointed Kahahawai out; he went and death was sentenced upon him without him knowing the consequences of him agreeing to accompany these haole.
On Sunday was the funeral rites, and his body was laid to rest at Puea Cemetery on School Street.
As was reported in the papers, the funeral was large as the buddies and friends of the boy went along with his body to the graveyard.
The first services over his body was held at the Catholic church, and thereafter he was taken to the graveyard, and there, Rev. Robert Ahuna of the Christian Science Church held the last rites over the cold body of the child of whom the parents said their child was not at fault.
The Rev. Ahuna spoke before the congregation gathered together [?], “This kind of thing has not been seen here in Hawaii, but now this cruel deed is taking place because the law was taken into the hands of some people.”
There were thousands of people who came to Puea Cemetery.
Because there were so many people, they tried to move apart the people standing, as the hearse could not enter.
After the services by Rev. Ahuna, that famous hymn was sung, the hymn sung always at graveyards when someone is buried. That hymn is “Ka Lani Kuu Home [Heaven is My Home],” and after it was over, that beloved song of Hawaii nei, and a Nationalistic song for Hawaii’s locals [Hawaii Ponoi] was sung, and then dirt was covered over the child of Hawaiian parents who are loved.
He has gone forever, but memories of him shall not be forgotten.
(Hoku o Hawaii, 1/19/1932, p. 3)
Ka Hoku o Hawaii, Buke, XXV, Helu 33, Aoao 3. Ianuari 19, 1932.
