Christmas at Iolani Palace, 1920.
THE PALACE IS AGLOW WITH ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
The trees were bright with electric lights and the minds of the children were amazed, filled with wonder; the singing of Christmas joy and the skits were beautiful as the Christmas tree of the City of Honolulu was lit on the grounds of the capital this past Sunday; and there were thousands of people gathered while the event was held, while they sang along to Christmas carols being sung by choral groups.
The boys of the Kamehameha Schools led the singing along with the girls of the St. Andrews Priory School. Some of the songs sung that night were “Holy Light,” “O, The Little Town of Bethlehem,” a many other beautiful songs were sung. The crowd joined in the singing of the songs they knew, and when they did not know the words, they were silent.
The activities that night were wonderful because of the peace and because the queen of the night shone down her light, being this was a bright moonlit night, with a clear sky an no clouds.
There were skits performed as well, and in these performances to be seen, the crowd could watch the birth of the Lord, the angels blowing their trumpets, the following of the shepherds and the three magi to where the child lay, and their giving of gifts when they saw the child in the manger.
The audience was very appreciative of those who put on the joyous festivities that night, from the singing and so forth to the decorating of the trees with lights.
The words of the songs sung were projected onto a section of cloth so that everyone who could see could read it while the songs were being sung. The singing and the skits that were prepared for that night were wonderful.
(Kuokoa, 12/31/1920, p. 2)
Native plants! 2013.
There are many descriptions of plants and their uses and where they grew, found in the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers.
Check out this site from Kapiolani Community College and Leeward Community College, described as:
Hopefully they will be able to integrate relevant articles from the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers into their descriptions!
Christmas acrostic, 1868.
Christmas Day.
Tomorrow is Christmas,
We should remember,
Its rays rise in triumph,
The drifting clouds lie outstretched,
Joyous were the angels, the people,
The [illegible word] beautiful day of the world;
When Jesus came down,
He became as a human,
And dwelt with us,
He shared the suffering,
And the sorrows of this world,
Weary, hurt, hungry, thirsty,
Hated, abused, scorned,
Betrayed and died,
Suspended from the cross
He died for the sins of the world,
And became our Redeemer,
Sabaoth of the whole world,
At the right hand of his father.
Tomorrow, Christmas day will arrive, and it is a day to remember in Christian lands, the day that the Savior of the world was born in human form, and he walked with the people of this world, and he bore the wounds so that those of this world would be saved, should they go before him oppressed and in woe, it is he that will give them relief.
In Christian lands, the commemoration of this day is cherished, and it is a great desire of the youth and the poor to come by, for they will receive presents. At 12 o’clock at night, a service will be held at the Catholic Church. Before we forget, we leave you while saying, “Mere Kalikimasa.”
[This poem works off the phrase “APOPO KA LA KALIKIMASA” [Tomorrow is Christmas Day]. With writing also came this new form of mele, acrostic. They are found quite often throughout the many Hawaiian-Language Newspapers.]
(Au Okoa, 12/24/1868, p. 2)
Children born on Christmas, 1920.
THERE WERE MANY BABIES BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY.
There are perhaps many more babies that were born on Christmas Day, but there were not reported to the office of the board of health, where births must be recorded; the number reported was just five.
The babies born on Christmas day are these below:
To Mr. and Mrs. Antonio B. Andrade of Edward Street, near Mokauea, Kalihi, a boy, the name not known.
To Mr. and Mrs. John Akana Awana of South Queen Street, a son with the name Christy Ernest.
To Mr. and Mrs. Samuel J. Belisky of Miller Street, a daughter with the name Frances Jean.
To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Correia of Kalihi Valley, a daughter with the name Mary Gertrude.
To Mr. and Mrs. Moses W. Kaululaau of Eighth Street, near Maunaloa Street in Kaimuki, a daughter with the name Nora Kahakalani.
On Christmas eve, a girl by the name Dorothy DeVaughan was born to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Leasure of Kamehameha IV Road, Kalihi.
(Kuokoa, 12/31/1920, p. 2)
On the name Kamehameha, 1838.
KAMEHAMEHA.
That is the name of the Alii nui of Hawaii nei. This name is known to the native people, but the spelling by the haole is confused; in their letters, this and that one’s spelling is strange. Here are what ten haole have written, each are different. All of them are old-timers. They are taken from haole documents.
1. Tameamea
2. MaihaMaiha
3. Cameamea
4. Comaamaa
5. Tomyhomyhaw
6. Tamaahmaah
7. Hameamea
8. Tomooma
9. Tamahama
10. Tamehameha
(Kumu Hawaii, 9/12/1838, p. 31.)
Now online: Guide to Sheet Music Collection from the Hawaiian Historical Society, 2013.
Guide to Sheet Music Collection Now On Line
The Hawaiian Historical Society library includes a modest but growing collection of Hawaiian and hapa-haole sheet music spanning the 1860s to the 1960s. An illustrated guide to the collection can now be consulted on line thanks to the work of HHS library intern Annemarie Aweau, who compiled the guide. Ron Williams photographed the cover pages of the music to provide the illustrations. (Click here to read on…)
More Sun Sun Lau, 1941.
Goat hunting on Kahoolawe, 1911.
Goat Hunters to go to Kahoolawe.
Aboard the Maunaloa of this Friday, Governor Frear, Attorney General Lindsey [Lindsay], and Land Commissioner Alapaki opio [Charles Sheldon Judd] left for the island of Hawaii to look at the homestead lands there. On this trip, the Governor took along an automobile for them to travel mauka side of Hawaii. They get off at Kailua and get on the car to go to Kau, and from there to the volcano until Hilo and from there to Kohala until Waimea, and in two weeks the Maunakea will be there in Kawaihae and they will return to Honolulu nei. On this tour of the Governor and his companions, they will meet with the…
(Kuokoa Home Rula, 9/8/1911, p. 1)
makaainana who want homestead lands, to ask them first-hand what lands the public desires.
Attorney General Lindsey and Alapaki will make the return trip to Honolulu while Governor Frear will get off at Lahaina, and there meet up with Eben Low, Kuhio, and Kiwini [S. L. Desha], as well as with some other people, to go to Kahoolawe to judge the damages done by the goats, and if they are found at fault, shooting will be their punishment.
The long-distance steamship, the Kaena, will go to Lahaina on the 21st of this month, and by the Kaena the selected jury will go to Kahoolawe.
[See this related story, “Brother Low Recalls 1895–1920” on Hamakua Times’ website!]
(Kuokoa Home Rula, 9/8/1911, pp. 4)
Sun Sun Lau and E. K. Fernandez, 1939.
This past Saturday, the new restaurant of the Sun Sun Lau Group was opened on Kamehameha Avenue near the Lumber Yard of American Factors, Ltd. Ice cream was given to children who came with their parents. The band of Mrs. Rose Kuamoo took care of the music and hula performances.
On the previous Saturday evening, the great show of E. K. Fernandez was opened on the grounds where the show is always held.
[For you Hilo people, a little nostalgia…]
(Hoku o Hawaii, 7/5/1939, p. 4)









