Category Archives: Kalawao

Suicide in Kalawao, 1883.

Posted on by
Reply

HANGING IN KALAWAO.

O Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, Aloha oe:

I have something to report to you, and that is this: A man hung himself on the 21st of this June, in the jail here in Kalawao, at 2:25 p. m., and he is now left to rest. Perhaps it will be set right, perhaps not.

Here is why he hung himself; 1. The estate of this man was confiscated by the Board of Health, the the superintendent of the Lepers, C. Strawn. 2. The residence of this man was torn down by the officers of the Board of health as well as his clothes trunk by the orders of C. Strawn. 3. The property of this man was auctioned off to the public by orders of C. Strawn over two days. 4. This man was imprisoned in the jail for no reason for 4 days and 3 nights, at which point he hung himself. There are many witnesses to what was done.

This is all why this man was troubled. And so we are pained by this, for we were not brought here to die in jail; because it is enough that we are inflicted with leprosy; we don’t wish for more sickness to befall us or for us to die again in jail like this.

Therefore I ask before King Kaulilua,¹ the nation, the lahui, the makaainana from where the sun rises to where it sets, from that side to this, those who care for our dear lives, the descendants of our kupuna who were wounded by the barbed spears to unify you O Hawaii as one, for whom is said, “E mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono.”²

Please dismiss, transfer, and expell this haole C. Strawn from his job for the reasons shown above; and not just him, but those who plunder the wealth of you, O Hawaii; the people who drag you, O Hawaii into difficulties; and those who hold no aloha in their hearts for Hawaii. Don’t take your time, for your knowledge, O Hawaii, has climbed the heights of Hanalei, and you are qualified to occupy the highest positions of our government and be respected for your knowledge [e elieli ai kulana ia Ainaike.]

This is not said in spite, but for just cause [he wai o lalo]. Sincerely,

William Puheemiki, Jr.

Leahi Home, Kalawao, Molokai

June 25, 1883.

¹Kaulilua is another name for Kalakaua.

²”Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono,” is the famous proclamation of Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha III.

(Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, 7/7/1883, p. 4)

KAAWE MA KALAWAO.

Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, Buke VI, Helu 27, Aoao 4. Iulai 7, 1883.

Mistreatment of leprosy patients and why we need to reshoot the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers, 1886.

Posted on by
1

ABUSE BY THE BOARD OF HEALTH.

O Kuokoa, Aloha Oe:—

Please be so patient as to show this improper behavior to clarify the above, thus: This past week the steamship Makalii arrived here in Kalapapa with five leprosy patients for this colony. These five people told me (the Writer) about the cruelty done by the Board of Health, and this is the story told by them.

On the 21st of the past month, at 4 in the afternoon, stepped onto the deck of the ship and left Honolulu, and they were placed at the bow of the ship. They were in distress while at sea due to the winds that were blowing strongly and they were covered by the sea and shivered in the cold. They were not give food for two days and then landed here in Kalaupapa. They were in desperate shape, and were treated like animals being placed at the bow. The Board of Health did not look after their well-being even if they ?????

These days, the leprosy patients of Kalawao are made to work ?????? mistreated by the Board of Health. They don’t consider the weak state of the people and are worked like slaves and they are prisoners of the law.

Here, I ????? with sincerity.

J. J. Kawehena.

[I know i keep saying that the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers need to be reshot again so that we can have the clearest images possible, but i can’t help it. Here is a perfect example. I am guessing at a good deal of the content, and where i couldn’t, i left as “????” Once the papers deteriorate and crumble away, there is no way we can get these histories.]

(Kuokoa, 7/3/1886, p. 1)

KA HANA HOOMAINOINO A KA PAPA OLA.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XXV, Helu 27, Aoao 1. Iulai 3, 1886.

Anonymous accusations against a Catholic priest in Kalawao, 1874.

Posted on by
2

The deeds of the Catholic teacher in Kalawao.

We are printing below the deeds of a certain Catholic priest amongst the leprosy patients in Kalawao:

1. Clothes—The clothes donated by the brethren of Honolulu for the needy leprosy patients of Kalawao, that is what the Catholic teacher is using to lure the people of the Evangelical faith [hoomana Euanelio] to join the Catholic religion. While he goes around doing his converting, and when they hear him they convert, but should they be steadfast, the teacher will say, “Should you join the Catholic faith, I will give you the clothing and things that you lack, should you desire.” By this action, some agree to join; there have been many converted over the clothes. This is the cunning way [kumu hinu ?] of the Catholic priest.

2. Wooden staff—The Catholic teacher constantly carries a staff in his hand, and it is with this that he converts people to his faith. This is what he does. For that person or persons who are resolute against being converted over clothes, they are struck by the cane of the Catholic teacher. This is what he does with the cane, and he converts them.

3. The church house—The church in Kalaupapa is of the Catholics.¹ He uses this church to convert some people to his religion. This is basically what he does. When the church was completed in Kalaupapa, the Catholic teacher when to the houses to convert people; the Catholic teacher said, “What is your faith.” “I’m a Calvinist [Kalawina],” that being a Protestant of the Evangelist faith, said the person in response. “That is a faith without any church,” said the Catholic teacher.”We are fine without a church; we hear that our kahu is coming and will hold services at the homes of brethren, and if we are in good health, we will attend the services,” he answered. “That’s no good, for here is our church, you all should come in, and then I’ll give you people clothes, and things you need, should you all desire,” replied the Catholic teacher. With this and everything else said in that conversation, some people converted, and some others remained steadfast behind the truth of the Gospel.

4. The cemetery.—The cemetery of the Catholics recently constructed here in Kalawao is one of the things used by that Catholic teacher and the Catholic disciples to convert people to their side. This Catholic teacher saw that the people were troubled with dead bodies left out, eaten up by pigs; and he was intent on converting the people to his belief, and therefore, he ordered Honolulu to send over several bundles of pine lumber; it arrived recently and is now standing here in Kalawao like a net to catch stupid fish who stray and are caught. So too is this graveyard; there are two faiths who come in, and they are left until the day they rise; who will they be for?

5. Extreme Unction [Ukione].—This act, Extreme Unction, is one of the most heinous acts which the Catholic teacher is doing here in Kalawo, and we all agree that this is akin to thievery. This is what he does. For those who don’t convert over clothes, or the rod, or the church, or the cemetery, he practices Extreme Unction on them. When the Catholic teacher sees or hears of a that a patient has grown weak, one that is from another faith, he goes to them constantly to urge them, and because the patient grows weary, he submits, whereupon the Catholic teacher performs the Extreme Unction; and when the patient recovers, he protests this improper deed of the Catholic teacher; this happens often; some people protest, and other mistakenly submit. From what we’ve seen, the Catholic teacher by these actions is like a yellow-eyed cat spying on its enemy, the mouse. And we believe that these actions of the Catholic teacher are not right in his sacred and faithful position.

Here is another new important thing we are witnessing. On the night of the 22nd of Dec. of the year 1873, at maybe 10 o’clock of that night, Kaiakoili (m) died, he was a brethren of the church of Kawaiahao, and he contracted leprosy and lived here in Kalawao, and was a member of the Siloama Church, and this was his faith until the day he died. However, on the night shown above, during his last hours, he was Baptized [Babetema ia] by Kulia (f), who is a disciple of the Catholic faith, but he was Baptized when he was dead.

Leprosy Patient.

¹St. Philomena Church

(Kuokoa, 1/17/1874, p. 1)

Na hana a ke kumu Pope ma Kalawao.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XIII, Helu 3, Aoao 1. Ianuari 17, 1874.

People suspected of having leprosy held in jail, 1872.

Posted on by
Reply

The leprosy patients taken to Kalawao!

O Kuokoa Newspaper: Aloha kaua:—

Perhaps some two or three weeks ago, those afflicted with the “Chinese disease” were assembled in the jail here in Lahaina. And it wasn’t just people from Lahaina, but some were also from Lanai: men, women, and children. And on this past Saturday, August 10, they totalled 30; 21 from Lahaina nei and 9 from Lanai; but the gathering is not over. And in the coming weeks, it seems as if the total of all those put in the jail will reach forty or more. And when the Minister of the Interior [Hutchison] arrives from Honolulu, they are examined for those who should go to Kalawao, and the rest are released for another time.

Here are the names of those taken to Molokai aboard the ship Warwick [Wawiki], Captain Keoni Bulu, today, the 20th of Aug. 1872:

From here in Lahaina—Pahuhao, Kaohimaunu, Ekela, Kailiopu, Kalimalepo, Kalala, Kapiioho, Lono, John Europa [? Europe], Puaahiwa, Kiki, Mokumi, Kaailau, Kekahi, Kumano, Manuwai, Aiai, Kekapa, Alapai, and Kaiwi. From Lanai—Isemaela Pali, Nahora opio, Nui, and Kane.

All of these people, they were separated from their companions, and parents left their children, children left their parents, and so too did friends leave friends.

On the day they were taken, the pier of Keawaiki was packed, and the friends of those who were being separated wailed in grief, while some of them were determined to go along with their sick, but that was not possible; and it seemed that there were but five or six who went along for just a while then returned; and there was only one woman who swore that she’d go with her husband and leave her bones in Kalawao.

Kaiwi.

Lahaina, Aug. 22, 1872.

(Kuokoa, 8/31/1872, p. 2)

Na mai pake i laweia ma Kalawao!

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XI, Helu 35, Aoao 2. Augate 31, 1872.

New Years celebration in Kalawao, 1888.

Posted on by
Reply

NEW YEAR’S FEAST IN KALAWAO, MOLOKAI.

On new year’s day of this year, a feast was held in the land of the leprosy patients at Kalawao by the Board of Health, and all of the patients were invited to gather within the party lanai where they feasted upon the things prepared for them. Mr. Ambrose Hitchcock [Hutchinson], the Assistant Superintendent of the Hospital, sent a letter to the President of the Board of Health, reporting on the good outcome of the efforts done for the leprosy patients.

Upon that same ship which arrived the letter from the Assistant Superintendent, the President [of the Board of Health] also received a letter of appreciation in Hawaiian, which was signed by the Committee chosen by the patients, to express their delight in the kind act done by the Board of Health for them. Here is a copy of that document.

N. B. Emerson, Esq.,

President of the Board of Health:

“Aloha oe—We are the Committee chosen by the Assistant Superintendent of the Leprosy Colony, whose names appear below; we humbly put before you our expression in response to your gift spread before the patients, to celebrate the new year.

“The patients are joyous and delighted with the great blessings sent by you, they ate until full, and this a something brand new for them.

“This is our expression, respectfully,

J. Kahaulelio,  S. Kamahalo,

F. Gaiser,  A. Puaaloa,

J. A. Kamakini,  P. Kaluna,

J. Kahauola,  S. Kamoahaku,

P. Kiha,  Kunui.

“Done and signed at Kalawao, January 12, 1888.”

[I think that the phrase, “this is something brand new for them,” is something to ponder and consider.]

(Kuokoa, 1/21/1888, p. 2)

AHAAINA MAKAHIKI HOU MA KALAWAO, MOLOKAI.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XXVII, Helu 3, Aoao 2. Ianuari 21, 1888.

John James Kawehena passes away in Kalawao, 1887.

Posted on by
Reply

He has Passed on; He has Gone

With a heart darkened by sadness, I ask you to kindly leave me a space in your pages¹ for this, so that the many people of the one who has passed on to death will know. At dawn of yesterday, June 22, John James Kawehena left this life, and returned to the everlasting side of the earth. He spent 7 years, 10 months, and 26 days in this forsaken land; and as for us, his friends of this land without parents save one, the Board of Health [Papa Ola], for him is our remembrance.

His land of birth was Kaupo on Maui; his parents were Maunaloa (m) and Kauahine (f), and the three of them lived together; he has a younger sibling in the Apuakea rain,² D. Loheau.

He was growing thin with shortness of breath for these past months, and in the night of the 22nd of this past June, the shortness of breath grew worse and his breath was unbeknownst to us snatched away for good; and the next morning, we went to wake him but he was already gone and his body was stiff; much aloha for him.

He was an active writer for this colony, reporting the news of this land of leprosy patience to the whole world; and he was one of the heads of a newspaper. His writings will no longer appear in your columns.

Aloha to the [kikiipi ?] boys of the press.

JAMES IMAIKALANI.

Kalawao, June 23rd, 1887.

¹Literally a parlor or a room to greet people

²Famous in Koolaupoko on Oahu

[Although the information from Kalaupapa and Kalawao were not usually included in the regular Vital Statistics column, they were often printed in the other columns of the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers!]

(Kuokoa, 7/9/1887, p. 3)

Ua hala, Ua nalo

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XXVI, Helu 28, Aoao 3. Iulai 9, 1887.

More on the taxing of leprosy patients, 1876.

Posted on by
2

The Leprosy Patients are Taxed.

O Lahui Hawaii; Aloha oe:—

That is the title put up by Siloama (no such person), an ignorant one from Kawaapae [“the beached canoe”], a speaking companion and lover of Waawaa [Stupid] folks, that was released in Helu 50 of the “Kuokoa” of the 11th of December, page 4, of 1875. It is for the readership to see this incompetence. In the title is that the leprosy patients are being taxed. And in the second paragraph, line 1½, he states, “taxing of the animals, all but the body of man.” Look at what James said. “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8.

Then it goes on to say: “it has almost been 10 years that these people have been living as prisoners in the penitentiary of the law, and this is the first time we’ve been taxed.” Here is what Jesus had to say to the laborers, “Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?” Matthew 20:15.

And further.—”This is astonishing that those dead to the Law are being taxed.” This is not right; it is the truth; all of the animals of the patients are being taxed, and that is the true intent of the Law.

And this too.—And even the tiniest of rights that we have are being taken away.” [The following two lines of this paragraph is not legible because of what appears to be a fold in the paper.] Yours,

LIHAU ANUENUE

Kalawao, Molokai, Dek. 28, 1875.

[This is a response to the article in the previous post.

The newspapers need to be reshot one page at a time, so that folds like these can be undone, and every possible word can be read as was intended. I am sure i am not the only one interested in what the last couple of lines said about their rights being taken away…]

(Lahui Hawaii, 1/13/1876, p. 1)

Ua Auhauia na mai Lepera.

Ka Lahui Hawaii, Buke II, Helu 3, Aoao 1. Ianuari 13, 1876.

On taxation and leprosy patients, 1875.

Posted on by
4

The Leprosy Patients are Taxed!

Mr. Editor; Aloha:—

On the 2nd of this December, the Tax Assessor [Luna Auhau] of this island of Molokai came in person to the colony of Kalawao, the place of the castaways who are afflicted with wounds of an incurable sickness, that being leprosy [mai lepera], which is called he Chinese sickness [mai Pake].

Therefore, the Tax Assessor is acting as per his power under the Law; the taxing of animals, all except the body of man. And as such, I am announcing before all of our fellow people, that this is a major thing, because from the beginning of the enforcement of this law upon people afflicted with leprosy and who are set apart as based on the intent of the edict of the Board of Health; this is the first time this sort of thing has come before the patience, as it has almost been ten years that these people have been living as prisoners in the penitentiary of the law.

Through this, I am announcing clearly to all the people living all over outside of the boundaries of the land of the skeletons. This is astonishing that those dead to the law are being taxed. So if leprosy patients are taxable in this way, then those imprisoned in Kawa [the government prison] should be taxed, for they are better off than those living here in the Colony of Kalawao; those people, there is a given time when they will once again receive their Civil rights, but we here (the leprosy patience), we will not have a time when we are relieved, because the law follows after our steps, and takes from us even the tiniest of rights that we have.

This is the Era of King Kalakaua, and the character of the history of his reign is being prepared; so “Recognize your fellow man, and don’t waste your aloha on dogs.” Aloha no. SILOAMA.¹

Kalawao, Dec. 3, 1875

¹Siloama is probably a pen name; it is the Protestant church in Kalawao.

(Kuokoa, 12/11/1875, p. 4)

Ua Auhauia na mai Lepera!

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XIV, Helu 50, Aoao 4. Dekemaba 11, 1875.

The latest from Kalawao, 1909.

Posted on by
1

News From the Land of the Suffering.

To the Editor of the Aloha Aina Newspaper, Aloha:

Please allow my small parcel a space in your newspaper which is greatly enjoyed, and that is what is down below; let the paper take it proudly around so that our multitudes of friends may see.

Movies come regularly every Wednesday, and are shown on the evenings of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday; and every Saturday in Honolulu. There has been a building erected for the patients to watch the movies. The patients are thrilled. They donated money to buy a first-class phonograph [pahu olelo]. They are very happy with singing, the sweet sound of the strings and the blare of the brass instruments.

There was an announcement made to the ones without the sickness or those partially afflicted that wanted to be examined by the Doctors who are coming into the settlement.

Some went to sign up, and some just looked on because they did not want to go back to where they came from, being there might be difficulties waiting ahead for them. And because of the small number of those going to sign up, the Superintendent of the settlement ordered someone to go to the houses to sign people up; the total of those people number 58, but I don’t have their names; the only names I have are those who went to sign up, and they number 55, along with their doctor.

THE PEOPLE WHOSE DOCTOR IS DR. WAYSON

[Names difficult to make out.]

THE PEOPLE WHOSE DOCTOR IS DR. GOODHUE.

The Men

[Names difficult to make out.]

The Women

[Names difficult to make out.]

The total number told to the writer is 108. This includes the people chosen by the Legislature [?]

With much aloha for my Lahui.

Sincerely,

S. K. MAIALOHA.

Kalawao, Molokai, Aug. 2, 1909

[Here is just another example of why the original newspapers need to be reshot clearly before the acid in the paper consumes all of the words, leaving us with crumbs…]

(Aloha Aina, 9/4/1909, p. 3)

Na Mea Hou o ke Kahua Ma'i.

Ke Aloha Aina, Buke XIV, Helu 36, Aoao 3. Sepatemaba 4, 1909.

Poi made from wheat flour in Kalawao and Kalaupapa, 1879.

Posted on by
Reply

Poi Palaoa.

O Kuokoa Newspaper; Aloha oe:—

Here in the colony of the leprosy patients in Kalawao and Kalaupapa, flour is used to make poi [poi palaoa]; it is similar to poi made of breadfruit [poi ulu] in the yellow color, and it is truly delicious; it is a lot like taro poi [poi kalo]: your stomach doesn’t get sore, and you become full indeed; we have no poi because the taro won’t arrive to these Koolau cliffs because of the terrible weather during these months.

This new poi began at Iliopii, by a Hawaiian who lived in California who was used to making it there, and that is how he spread this new poi here; and the benefits of this poi is now known, and therefore, our poi problems are over during this stormy period, and should calm weather return, the patients will get their paʻi ʻai¹ [pai kalo].

Poi palaoa is very appropriate when working because you stay full, and it is fun to make when you get used to it, and so too with rice mixed with crackers and stirred up in a pot; when it boils and is cooked, it is time for to fill the stomach, and you will be always full.

The Superintendent of the Leprosy Patients.

In my observations, our Superintendent, Mr. N. B. Emerson [Emekona], M. D. is quick with filling the storehouse [hale papaa] with flour [palaoa], rice [raiki], crackers [barena], bags of sugar [eke kopaa], and salmon [kamano]; there is nothing to complain of Kapuukolu.²

Worship. Worship always happens now: Protestants [Hoole Pope], Mormons [Moremona], and Catholics [Katolika]; their meetings on Sundays are always full; life of the patients is peaceful now, not like before when Damien [Damiano] and when W. K. Sumner were Superintendent; there were uprisings from drinking okolehao and other alcoholic drinks made of ti, sweet potato [uala], and so forth.

Bell of the Church of Kalaupapa. On the 5th of Feb., the Bell arrived on the Warwick; a very fine bell which was a gift from the Sunday School of Kaukeano and the brethren of that church; and now it hangs proudly in its honored steeple with its ringing voice in the cliff faces of Kalaupapa, and it points out the movement of the hands of the clock, and the Sunday School of Kalaupapa fully appreciates the gift of the Sunday School of Kaukeano.

S. K. K. Kanohokula.

Kalaupapa, Feb. 18, 1879.

¹Although i tend not to use ʻokina and kahakō, i marked “pai ai” here for added clarity.

²Kapuukolu is a place on Kauai, figuratively used to represent abundance of good food.

(Kuokoa, 3/15/1879, p. 2)

Ka Poi Palaoa.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XVIII, Helu 11, Aoao 2. Maraki 15, 1879.