MY BELOVED HAS GONE.

Mr. Editor of the Kuokoa Newspaper, Aloha oe:—Please be so kind as to welcome to a free space in your paper, the words above. Being that on the morning of the Sabbath, June 9, 1912, the angel of death visited our loving home in Hanalei, Kauai, and took the breath of Mrs. Rose Kanewanui, and left behind the body to return to the earth; and the puolo¹ of love is left with the husband, the younger siblings, the children, the grandchildren, the family, the intimates, and friends who grieve after her.

She was born from the loins of Mrs. Paakiha Puniwaa and Mr. Daniela Waiolohia Paniwaa at Hanalei, Kauai, June 17, 1853, and died June 9, 1912, she lived on this earth 58 years, 11 months, and 23 days.

At age seven, she was educated in the English language at the school of Waioli, Kauai, and Miss Abe Johnson was the teacher. At 12, she entered as a brethren of the Church of Waioli, Kauai, under the direction of Rev. Johnson, and she was a member for 47 years, until she died and met with her Lord in that realm of peace where his servants rest.

At 17, she entered into the Kawaiahao Girls’ School which was under the principal Miss Bingham. At 24, in the month of January 1877, we were joined together in the covenant of marriage by Rev. R. Puuki, and from then forth until her passing, we were joined together in the embrace of love for 35 years; and from our loins came 11 children; death snatched 10 and my beloved wife, and I am left with one, and a elder brother and younger brother, along with many relatives.

She was a native and familiar of Kauai of Manokalanipo, and a mother who volunteered her time with church duties and Ahahui C. E. [Christian Endeavor] and she was a member of the Ahahui C. E. of the elders of Waioli.

She was a kind mother, inviting, and welcomed friends to visit our home, and she left me and our child [lei], a daughter and grandchildren and the family to remembering and grieving for her.

Me with sadness,

S. KANEWANUI.

Hanalei, Kauai, June 14, 1912.

¹Puolo is  a bundle, and is used here figuratively.

[One should not just stop at the regular Vital Statistics Column when looking for kupuna. Rose Kanewanui’s death does not appear in the regular column, but this sweet remembrance by her husband is filled with so much more of her life story than would be given in the Vital Statistics Column. There are so many of these throughout the pages of the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers!]

(Kuokoa, 6/21/1912, p. 6)

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLVIII, Helu 25, Aoao 6. Iune 21, 1912.