The Steamship Australia, 1900.

A DAY OF CELEBRATION FOR THE STEAMSHIP AUSTRALIA IN HONOLULU.

The picture above illustrates the scene that cannot be forgotten by the crowd of thousands of Honolulu nei, as it goes on its ocean path to the Golden Gate of San Francisco. This is a regular festivity here in Honolulu. The men and women are decorated with lei of this and that variety, and it is glorious to see, the beauty of everyone. It is so very beautiful.

[The Australia was one of the many ships that took Hawaiians to and from this Archipelago. One of her famous passengers was Sweet Emalia, Emalia Kaihumua, the composer of “He Aloha Moku o Keawe,” which is a song composed in far away San Francisco during a time of great turbulence, where the writer yearns for her homeland.

Don’t forget to tune in tonight to the 94th annual Kamehameha Schools’ Song Contest! Its theme this year is Songs of World Travel!!]

(Kuokoa, 3/23/1900, p. 1)

LA HOOHENO NO KA MOKUAHI AUSETERALIA

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XXXVIII, Helu 12, Aoao 1. Maraki 23, 1900.

William S. Ellis, leader of the glee club accompanying the Royal Hawaiian Band on tour, 1906.

THE ROYAL HAWAIIAN BAND AND THE HAWAIIAN GLEE CLUB.

WILLIAM S. ELLIS, THE LEADER OF THE SINGERS THAT ARE TRAVELLING WITH THE ROYAL HAWAIIAN BAND.

In the month of June, the Royal Hawaiian Band is leaving Honolulu and going on their tour of the states of the United States of America, and their number will increase until it includes forty people. Other than that, the band will go with a Hawaiian glee club that is made up of twenty people.

William S. Ellis formed the glee club going along with the band, and currently there are fifteen skilled singers who are practicing. When the band arrives in San Francisco, this glee club will be increased by the club that is touring America under the leadership of John S. Ellis.

(Kuokoa, 3/9/1906, p. 1)

KA BANA HAWAII A ME KA HUI HIMENI HAWAII.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLIV, Helu 10, Aoao 1. Maraki 9, 1906.

Nane Alapai, 1906.

THE HAPPY-VOICED KAHULI OF THE HAWAIIAN BAND

When the Royal Hawaiian Band and the Hawaiian Glee Club leaves for America in the next month of June, Mrs. Nane Alapai [Nani Alapai], the Beautiful-Voiced Kahuli of the Hawaiian Band will accompany them, should there be no obstructions in her way.

When the band first went with her along, the haole of Portland, where they travelled to, were driven crazy, and that is the reason that there was unequaled exclaim for the beauty of of the singing along with the skill of the band; and their travelling there caused a great interest in Hawaii, which is why there is a great influx in the number of haole coming to the Hawaiian Islands.

Mrs. Nane Alapai [Nani Alapai], was born in Lihue, on the island of Kauai, from the loins of her parents, on the 1st of December, 1874; her parents are Mr. Malina and Keokilele is her mother. And after going around Kauai during her youth, she was taken…

(Kuokoa, 3/16/1906, p. 1)

KE KAHULI LEOLE'A O KA BANA HAWAII.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLIV, Helu 11, Aoao 1. Maraki 16, 1906.

to Honolulu, where she was educated at the Catholic Boarding School for Girls. She married her husband, Mr. W. J. Alapai almost eleven years ago. She has some siblings other than her; five brothers and eight sisters.

When she joined the Royal Hawaiian Band until today, she spent nine years singing before an audience, and during that whole time, her singing has brought much delight in Hawaii’s people and more so in the malihini who come to Hawaii and then go to America; they are so much more delighted; and this is very valuable to Hawaii and to her herself, and this advertises Hawaii’s beauty; the beauty of her ridges, the beauty of her mountains, and the beauty of the songs of her people; it seems there will be a lot of Hawaiian singer born as a result.

(Kuokoa, 3/16/1906, p. 5)

KE KAHULI LEOLE'A O KA BANA HAWAII.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLIV, Helu 11, Aoao 5. Maraki 16, 1906.

Stopping by at Washington, D. C. on the way to see the Queen, 1887.

KING KALAKAUA’S WIFE.

QUEEN KAPIOLANI ARRIVES AT OUR NATIONAL CAPITAL.

Arrangements Made for the Queen to Call on the President and Mrs. Cleveland—A Benevolent Creature on Her Way to Visit Victoria—Queen Emma.

QUEEN KAPIOLANI.

Washington, May 4.—Queen Kapiolani, of the Hawaiian Islands, who arrived in San Francisco on April 20, arrived in Washington to-day and immediately went to the Arlington Hotel. Arrangements have been made for the queen to call on the president and Mrs. Cleveland at noon on Wednesday. The queen and suite will arrive here early Tuesday evening and go at once to the Arlington. A time will be appointed by the queen during her stay here for the diplomatic corps to call on her, and she will also probably receive calls from the naval officers who have been stationed at Honolulu, all of whom have met her majesty, and many of whom have danced with her.

After spending a few days here sight-seeing she will go to New York. From there she goes to England to be present at the Queen’s jubilee. She has never been out of her own country before, and is quite anxious to see the “greatest woman on the face of the earth,” as she calls Queen Victoria. Queen Kapiolani is not of what is known as royal blood in Honolulu. Strictly speaking neither is King Kalakaua of royal blood, as he was elected to the throne and did not inherit it. Continue reading

Royal Hawaiian Band on major tour, 1906.

THE HAWAIIAN BAND HAS LEFT

Miss Annie Leilehua Brown is the Kahuli¹ that has Left.

Madame Nane [Nani] Alapai Pulled Out Over Some Issues—The Places They Will Visit.

MISS ANNIE LEILEHUA BROWN, THE KAHULI OF THE HAWAIIAN BAND WHO HAS LEFT.

On the evening of this past Wednesday, the Royal Hawaiian Band gave their aloha to the communities of their beloved land, and travelled across the wide ocean to the Golden Gate [Ipuka Gula] of San Francisco, and from there they will travel the major cities of the Father Land. They made the deck of the Steamer Korea adorned with them.

There were sixty people on there of the band and glee club, and the majority are Hawaiian, with a few Portuguese; and some people are waiting in San Francisco to join up with the band there. All of them are under the management of Mr. J. C. Cohen, the haole who took the band earlier to Portland [Pokolana].

There is one sad thing, and that is the dropping of the sweet-voiced singer of the band, Madame Nane [Nani] Alapai. Due to a differences between her and J. C. Cohen about her husband, Mrs. Alapai has left the band, and returned to the bosom of her beloved husband; this is a noble example of the power of aloha that is triply bound betwixt a man and his wife; and she will abandon the prestige and power of money.

Hawaii however does not lack in all sorts of singers, so that band is not missing a singer being that they were accompanied by Miss Annie Leilehua Brown, the bird that enlivens the nights of Niolopa. Upon this Hawaiian girl lies the hopes of J. C. Cohen that Hawaii will be lauded with much praise, and that before the band returns home, this girl will become something big.

There are men in that band with beautiful voices, and they will be made to sing solos. There is Jack Ellis, one of Hawaii’s fine tenors; Beni Jones, the bull of the Kawaihau Glee Club; William Ellis and Solomon Hiram, the baritones. When they are all singing together, it is just so beautiful!

These below are all of the people in this tour of the band:

Executive Staff—J. C. Cohen, general manager [lunanui]; A. A. Lotto, business representative [lunahana]; W. Prestidge, master of properties [malama waiwai]; W. Schwartz, assistant master of properties [hope malama waiwai] and librarian [malama pepa].

THE BAND.

Captain H. Berger, Director.

Clarinets—D. K. Naone, C. Palikapu, F. Santanna, L. Salamanco, P. K. Kakalia, S. Opeka, J. M. Gomes, A. H. Elona, P. Kanoho, A. Baker, G. K. Gilman, D. Nape, S. Santanna.

Saxophones—W. S. Ellis, L. Nunes.

Oboes—K. Peters, D. Kaiwi.

Drums—J. Naone, J. C. Freitas, J. Colburn.

The Brass Section.

Cornets—J. Amasiu, Charles Krueter, L. Waiamau, R. W. Aylett, W. Anahu, M. Moniz, W. Sea.

Baritone Horn—M. Mendoza.

Tubas—R. H. Baker, J. Kanoho, J. Kaaua, J. McCabe.

Alto Horns—M. Garcia, R. S. Kapua, G. Wela, H. Keawe.

Trombones—H. Heanu, J. Punua, J. Pa, S. Hiram.

GLEE CLUB.

Directors—Sonny Cunha and W. S. Ellis.

Double bass—R. H. Baker; Violinists—J. Colburn, C. Palikapu; flutists, D. Kaiwi, D. Nape; Piano, Sonny Cunha.

Singers—John S. Ellis, tenor, soloist; Ben Jones, bass, soloist; W. S. Ellis, baritone, soloist; Solomon Hiram, J. Harrison, P. H. Kakalia, W. Sea, H. Heanu, H. K. Clark, K. Peters, J. Kamakani, L. Waiamau, J. Edwards, R. W. Aylett, Joe Pa, J. Akana, H. Keawe, J. K. Kaaa, R. S. Kapua, J. Punua.

Female singer—Miss Lei Lehua [Leilehua]

THE PLACES THEY WILL TRAVEL.

May 28 to June 4, 1906, Oakland, California.
June 5, Stockton, Yosemite Theater.
June 6, Sacramento, Clumie Theater.
June 7, on the road.
June 8, 9, Portland, Oregon, Hellig Theater.
June 10, 11, 12, Seattle, Washington, Grand Music House.
June 13, Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria Theater.
June 14, Vancouver, B. C., Vancouver Music House.
June 15, Watcom, Washington, Beck Theater.
June 16, Everett, Washington, Everett Theater.
June 17, Tacoma, Washington, Music House.
June 18, Aberdeen, Washington, Music House.
June 19, Yakima, Washington, Yakima Theater.
June 20, 21, Spokane, Washington, Spokane Theater.
June 22, Missoula, Montana, Music House.
June 23, Helena, Montana, Helena Theater.
June 24, Great Falls, Montana, Music House.

¹Kahuli are the famous singing land shells which are often used to describe sweet-voiced singers.

(Kuokoa, 5/25/1906, p. 1)

UA HOLO AKU LA KA BANA HAWAII

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLIV, Helu 21, Aoao 1. Mei 25, 1906.

June 25, Anaconda, Montana, Margaret Theater.
June 26, Butte, Montana, Broadway Theater.
June 28, Pocatello, Idaho, Auditorium.
June 29, Logan, Utah, Thatcher Music House.
June 30, July 1, Ogden, Utah, Music House.
July 2, 3, 4, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Theater.
July 5, Salida, Colorado, Music House.
July 6, Pueblo, Colorado, Music House.
July 7, Colorado Springs, Music House.
July 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, Denver, Colorado, Tabor Grand Theater.

(Kuokoa, 5/25/1906, p. 8)

HOLO AKU KA BANA HAWAII.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLIV, Helu 21, Aoao 8. Mei 25, 1906.

Hawaiian boy in the military writes home to his mom, 1921.

A LETTER FROM A BOY TO HIS MOM.

JOHNSON KEALOHA

February 23, 1921.

To My beloved Mama:—I received your letter, and with much aloha for you and papa, I am writing this letter. I was pleased to find out that you guys received the check that I sent, that check that you sent to me and that I sent back.

Mama, I had a very happy experience here in Balboa; we had a swimming meet, competing with the swimming team of the Balboa Club. I won the 50 yard meet, and the competitor for the Balboa Club lost. Older brother Kalei was with me, he is now the captain of the Yeoman of the warship Wyoming. Kaehu won the 200 yard meet, this was a race where you swam face up. We lost the relay race [heihei paku’i], however some of us were right behind the winner. We will race once again on the 24th of this month with that same club. I believe that by the time you receive this letter, we will soon reach San Pedro in a couple of days.

I am in good health, and I hope that so too are you two and everyone as well at home. O Mama, one more thing I wanted to tell you, of which I am happy about, and that is this, I received my gold medals a few days ago, from the Mayor of New York. I will send the medals to you, when he returns to the states.

In a shooting practice amongst the Pacific and the Atlantic fleets, the Pacific won in a competition held in the sea of Panama. I will stop here, because I am returning to catch a skiff to go back on board the battleship New York, so much aloha for you and papa and all of the family.

March 15, 1921.

My dear Mama:—I am sending the two of you this dipoloma [palapala homaikai] given for crossing over the Mediterranean Sea [Kaiwaena] with a American battleship. I was going to send you this with the other things I sent you,  but I forgot because I was very rushed, so I will send you this “diploma” now, and I hope that you will get it.

Mama, I want you to frame this diploma in a big wooden frame so that it doesn’t get damaged, and I also hope that it will be something nice for the family to look at always. Both older brother Kalei and I crossed over the Mediterranean Sea. Write me if you get this diploma.

I am in good health, and so too is older brother, Kalei. I hope that there will be a swim meet between us and the club of South California this coming month; our superior is organizing a meet between the club of the warships of the Pacific and that of California.

I am stopping here and will write again to you mama. Give my aloha to papa and all the family at home. From you loving child,

JOHNSON KEALOHA.

(Kuokoa, 4/8/1921, p. 2)

HE LEKA NA KE KEIKI I KONA MAMA.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LIX, Helu 14, Aoao 2. Aperila 8, 1921.

“Lei o ke Aloha” band making music abroad, 1919.

Hawaiian Musician Boys Making Progress

From the right, Samuel Keaunui, leader and manager; Dan Smith, tenor; John Kahookano, guitarist and steel guitarist; James Holstein, baritone.

There are a great and many Hawaiian youths that have left Honolulu to go to America to sing and play music, with much acclaim everywhere they have travelled, like what has been reported about them in newspapers in America, which makes Hawaiian music famous, and makes Hawaii nei famous as well.

There has been a letter received by the Editor of this press, Charles S. Crane, from Jimmy Holstein, explaining the progress made in their singing and music; this is happy news for their many friends here. Here is what he had to say:

“I am sending a picture of the Club “Lei o ke Aloha,” managed by Samuel Keaunui, a boy from Honolulu, that I want you to print in the newspaper if possible.

“We are comprised of five members, and are acting under the Acting Company, Western Show Print Co., of Seattle, Washington. We have just began, but we hope that we will travel all the states as well as Canada, as per the itinerary prepared by Thomas J. Culligan, the one making this club famous in Seattle.

“Currently we are moving from one place to another everyday, aboard trains, ships, automobiles, hardly ever spending more than a night in one place. While constantly travelling, we have much appreciation for this work because of the great delight received from our singing and music; and this is what we strive to attain. We hear much of Hawaii from those who went there and whose desire never ends to go there once again.

“Until now, we hear much of the admiration for Hawaii from the fathers of the poor and the rich, who spent some time there, and this has become something that the Hawaiian boys enjoy.

“Once we were invited to play for a ball, by a millionaire, and because of our find singing, we were invited to parties of prestigious people. The hospitality we received from various people in certain places has been great.

“We are all from Honolulu, and are not drinkers, and this is something which our leader is proud of. We are but youngsters, as seen in the picture; the oldest of us is 26, that being Dan Smith, our tenor, who was with Toots Paka before, that Hawaiian boy that was famous for some time; the club famous for acting.

“Being that we hope to travel through all the states and some of Canada, we will have a long story when we return to our land of birth. I will write to you all the time to tell you how we are doing. For now, there is nothing  we have to complain about, like what we have seen, or the true enthusiasm of the audiences wherever we’ve played at, and we are working in every way to bring fame to Hawaii.

“Since we are getting ready for tonight’s gig, I will stop here; give the boys’ aloha to Honolulu, and my great aloha to the boys of the press.

“Yours sincerely,

“JIMMY HOLSTEIN.”

(Kuokoa, 8/15/1919, p. 2)

Holomua Ia Poe Keiki Hawaii Hookani Pila

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LVII, Helu 33, Aoao 2. Augate 15, 1919.

Papaikou School graduates, 1919.

This is a picture of the students who graduated from the school of Papaikou, Hawaii. The total number of children are eleven, but the astonishing thing is that there are no Hawaiian children amongst this crowd. From the children who graduated, eight of them are Japanese, five boys and three girls. Where are the Hawaiian children, the hope of this race to be looked to in the future? These children are prepared to enter Hilo High School in this new school year.

(Kuokoa, 8/15/1919, p. 1)

He kii keia no na haumana...

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LVII, Helu 33, Aoao 1. Augate 15, 1919.

Hawaiians singing on the East Coast, 1908.

A SINGING GROUP OF HAWAIIAN YOUTHS TOURING IN THE EAST

Their Singing was Received with Much Delight

The picture above is a picture of some Hawaiian youths travelling America singing, and from what one of them wrote to Honolulu to his father, we can see they are making progress in their singing in America.

They were in Philadelphia at the time this picture was taken, and being that there are many places where they have been requested to go to perform music, they might be in some famous hotels now in America, or perhaps in Washington according to what Diamond Kekona wrote to his father here.

All of these boys did not leave Honolulu for America thinking that they would be making a living playing music, but some boarded trading ships, and upon arriving at America, they gave up sailing and met up with each other and decided to go around singing, and their progress has been witnessed along with them making a good living.

They met a young Hawaiian who was living in Philadelphia for 24 years, and he was working playing music and he was one who helped these Hawaiian boys immensely.

Those standing—E. Davis, William Jones, Diamond Kekona, William Puhia.

Seated—Frank Forrest, Harry Parker and Charles Kalahila.

(Kuokoa, 11/27/1908, p. 1)

HE HUI HIMENI O NA KEIKI HAWAII E kAAHELE MAI LA MA KA HIKINA

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLIII, Helu 48, Aoao 1. Novemaba 27, 1908.

J. C. K. Hopkins and his band travelling around America, 1914.

SOME HAWAIIAN BOYS TRAVELLING AMERICA SINGING AND PLAYING MUSIC

From the left to right: Joe Kama; Peter Corney; J. C. K. Hopkins, the leader; the haole to whom belongs the movies; and Moses Kawaa.

The picture above is of some Hawaiian boys travelling around some places in America, along with a movie company, using music to make a living in the unfamiliar lands.

When the Hawaiian boys left Hawaii nei, they did not imagine that they would be singing and playing music in America, but with the passing of time, they found themselves getting together with each other and started this job, getting paid well by the week.

This picture was sent by Peter Corney to his mother here and he also stated that he was in very good health as well as his friends, and that he believes that the day will come when he will become a singer.

This boy left Honolulu nei when some haole came with a steamship in search of workers for a salmon fishing outfit and he spent several months working under his supervisors, and when the salmon fishing season was over, he returned to San Francisco and there he ran into Moses Kawaa and with some other boys, and they planned to go around singing and playing music.

Many here in Honolulu have not forgotten Moses Kawaa, the Hawaiian boy who was made to sleep in the window of the Lewers & Cooke building for twenty-four hours, two years ago.

These boys work under a haole who shows movies, and the movies that he shows all over the place are of scenes of Hawaii, like shots of the crater of Kilauea, shots of surfers, the expansive sugarcane plantations, pineapple fields, and many, many scenes taken in Hawaii nei and sent to America.

(Kuokoa, 3/13/1914, p. 5)

HE MAU KEIKI HAWAII E KAAHELE MAI LA MA AMERIKA MA KA HIMENI ME HOOKANI PILA

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LII, Helu 11, Aoao 5. Maraki 13, 1914.