Category Archives: Editorial Commentary

Newspapers of the past, 1889.

Posted on by
Reply

Ka Oiaio newspaper said that the Paeaina [Ko Hawaii Paeaina] newspaper will perish sometime these day. Hey! “Just like the wish, so too is the desire.” The Paeaina is telling you, O Ailuene Buki [John E. Bush], don’t go off and get stranded in that desire. When Ka Oiaio is being buried in the grave of Ka Hoku o ke Kai, Ke Ola o Hawaii, Ka La o Hawaii, Ka Hoonanea, Na Lani Ehiku, Ka Elele Poakolu, Ka Elele puka la, Ke Alakai o Hawaii and the Makaainana, while the Paeaina continues to move forward, shining a light upon the glory and the good name of Hawaii nei; consistently fending off rebels and those trying to overthrow the nation to make Hawaii lose its independence, so that it can’t grow in the future. E Johnnie! Don’t open up your mouth again lest you get a welt on the forehead from the Paeaina.

(Ko Hawaii Paeaina, 8/31/1889, p. 2)

Ko Hawaii Paeaina, Buke XII, Helu 35, Aoao 2. Augate 31, 1889.
Advertisement

Hawaiian Language in 1918.

Posted on by
Reply

Is It Right to Neglect Our Mother Tongue?

To the Editor of the Kuokoa Newspaper; Aloha oe:–I ask of your graciousness in allowing me to clarify my thoughts on the title that appears above; I believe this title will become something that will motivate some of our people to also submit their thoughts [to be published] on that topic, that being: “Is it right to neglect our mother tongue?”

I bring up that question in regard to the Hawaiian language, the mother tongue of this lahui, because I see with these passing days, it is as if it is actually true, that there is no desire or wish within us to perpetuate our language to the very last generation of Hawaiians.

Continue reading →

Not a place for Laka? 1880.

Posted on by
Reply

[Found under: “NU HOU KULOKO.”]

Hula at the Fish Market.–It was shocking to see the entertainment of the hula at the fish market this past Saturday. One of the booths was filled with spectators, and the aisles for the customers buying fish were made narrow because of that inappropriate activity. Why did the police not bring that activity there under order, being that it is not a place for Laka, but it is a place to buy fish.

(Kuokoa, 7/10/1880, p. 3)

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XIX, Helu 28, Aoao 3. Iulai 10, 1880.

A boy born on La Hoihoi Ea and why newspapers are better than books, 1865.

Posted on by
Reply

Misprint.

O Kuokoaa [We are all human.] Newspaper; Aloha oe:—In Issue 33 of the Kuokoa, in the births section, the date and place of birth of our child was misprinted. It was printed this way: “July 1, at North Kohala” that is not correct, this is what is right. July 31, at Niumalu, Kauai, born was Kalahoihoiea Hapuku (m). Continue reading →

Things were looking grim for Hawaiian language, 1906.

Posted on by
Reply

Do Not Forsake Your Mother Tongue

The native language of a people, like the Hawaiian Language for the Hawaiian lahui, is called the mother tongue of the Hawaiians. From what we know, how many Hawaiian youths educated in our High Schools and outside as well are truly well-supplied in knowledge and are skilled in the mother tongue of their land of birth?

We see these days that are going by, the children are grasping English, while they really have no desire to seek out the native tongue of their land of birth. It is very clear that because the Hawaiian language government schools have been put to an end, the large water sources [poo wai] that fed into all the water ditches [auwai] of knowledge in that language for the youth of Hawaii nei have closed up.  Continue reading →

Charles E. King critique of “modern” Hawaiian music, 1939.

Posted on by
Reply

King Says Hawaiians Ruining Island Music

Venerable Charles E. King, whose Song of the Islands is among the most widely known of all Hawaiian music, pulled no punches in a talk before the Hawaiian Civic club today on modern  day treatment of island songs.

“Hawaiian music,” said Mr. King, speaking at the club luncheon at the YWCA at noon, “is being murdered—and by Hawaiians.” Continue reading →

Meanwhile, this is what they were reading in English, 1911.

Posted on by
Reply

NO RACE SUICIDE IN STONE FAMILY

Mayor Fern’s Multiplying Grotto and the Story of Na Iliili Lanau o Koloa [Na Iliili Hanau o Koloa].

BORN.

STONE—In Honolulu, recently, to the wife of Na Iliili Stone, thirteen Little Stones, sex as yet undetermined.

Continue reading →

What they were reading 100 years ago.

Posted on by
Reply

THE TALE
OF
Kepakailiula
THE FIERCE ONE AND
FEARLESS WARRIOR
OF
HILO HANAKAHI A THE
FAMOUS ISLAND OF
MOKUOLA, JUTTING OUT IN THE SEA

(An Old Story of Hawaii Nui Kuauli)

(INTRODUCTION)

The writer of the moolelo needs to explain first about some things people say about this famous Moolelo of the old days of Hawaii nei so that all sorts of thoughts will not well up in our readers of this moolelo. According to the beliefs of some who memorized this Moolelo of Kepakailiula, he was born in Kaakea, Waipio, and below that famed valley of “Beautiful Waipio where the cliffs face each other,” is where he was raised as a favorite. Continue reading →

Disclaimer and the power of the missionaries and the church, 1869.

Posted on by
Reply

A disclaimer:

Mamuli o ke kono ana mai a ka lehulehu e hoopuka i Kaao a moolelo Hawaii a haole ma ko kakou nupepa, a no ka mea hoi, no ka lehulehu ka nupepa, nolaila, ua ae aku makou e hoopukaia ke Kaao Hawaii malalo iho nei. Aka, ke noi nei makou, o na olelo maalea a me na olelo hoomanamana o ka wa kahiko, aole no ia he mea na kakou e manaoio aku ai; he hoike ana ia i ke ano hupo loa o ko kakou lahui i kela wa. O na hewa a me na olelo pelapela, e kapae loa aku ka haku Kaao ia mea mai kona kakau ana mai. Continue reading →