BITS OF NEWS FROM THE PATIENT SETTLEMENT

Mr. Editor,

Aloha oe:

Please insert this in an empty space of our beloved [newspaper], and it will whip about all the borders of the land so that the many friends will know who live from Kumukahi where the sun appears to the setting of the sun at surface of the sea at Lehua.

In the morning of Saturday, May 21, our Superintendent W. J. Feary along with a number of leprosy patient assistants left the Settlement. The end of their ocean path aboard their arc (canoe) were the valleys of Pelekunu and Wailau, in search of paʻiʻai for the patients living here in the Colony. It was for that reason that he was sent on this search; it was not his own idea, but because of all of the patients.

They visited Pelekunu and met with the kamaaina, and W. J. Feary talked with them about ʻai, and that it was difficult acquiring, but due to the grace of the Heavens, they met with good fortune, in that they received some ʻai, but by using W. J. Feary’s own money. They did not receive a lot there, so they left Pelekunu and sailed on for Wailau. They met with the kamaaina there to discuss ʻai. The kamaaina denied them. They would not receive ʻai, unless they paid in cash. W. J. Feary thrust his hand in his pocket and and paid for the ʻai that would be enough for the colony, that being 750 per week.

With the success of their mission, they turned back along with the Mokolii on their path to Waikolu with the paʻiʻai on board numbering 744, while 6 paʻiʻai was lost at sea, The ʻai was flung ashore at Waikolu. The patients were told to fetch them from Waikolu, and they did as they were told, and each received paʻiʻai. The patients were overjoyed at receiving paʻiʻai. Those weeks when they patiently ate haole food, without being satiated. Only now has their minds returned after their eyes saw their staple food. Much sthanks to W. J. Feary, our Superintendent.

On the 26th of May, 6 patients were taken from the Colony to the Kalihi Receiving Station for reexamination per the order of the Board of Health.

On the 29th of that month of May, caught in the burning grip of the law was the champion of the Koolau cliffs, the one whose name is famous, for going on Board of Health lands.

My appreciation goes to the Editor, and with the typesetting boys my salutations.

William N. Kuaana,
Puahi, Kalaupapa, Molokai, June 3, 1898.

(Aloha Aina 6/11/1898, p. 6)