REMINISCENCE OF MY DEAR HUSBAND WHO HAS GONE AFAR.

WILLIAM K. HOLOUA

To you Mr. Solomon Hanohano, the Editor of the Kuokoa Newspaper; Aloha oe:–Please insert the words above into the body of our people should there be spare room, and it will take it so that the family and friends of my dear husband who has gone afar, from the rising sun at Kumukahi to the setting sun at Lehua.

I am a malihini before you, but aloha has urged me to step unfamiliarly onto your wondrous deck.

On Thursday morning, August 24, 1922, at 10:25, my dear husband William Kanuu Holoua grew weary of this life, at our adoptive home, 440 North King St., and left his cold body for me and our only child who grieve in this world.

Auwe, my never ending aloha for my dear husband, my companion in all places. He was born at Naalehu, Kau, Hawaii, in the month of January 22, 1877, from the loins of his mother Kinolau Hilinai and Daniel Holoua Aa, his father, and he spent 45 years, 7 months, and 2 days in this world of hardships, when he passed on.

We were joined in the covenant of marriage on April 25, 1895, at Keauhou, Kau, Hawaii, by Father Kelekino, we were married for 27 years and four months, and it was death that separated us for all times; our marriage was blessed with two sons; our eldest son died, and remaining is one of my sons, Joseph Kanuu Holoua.

When he was with good mental faculties, he was an open-hearted man, welcoming, and hospitable to all that visited our home. He was important to his friends, from the prominent to the lowly, he cared for his wife, and his entire family living in our presence.

He did all sorts of work to make a living. He joined the police force in the district of Kau, Hawaii, in the month of February 1, 1914, and from police to jailor, and from that position to lieutenant, and because he had a sickness which made his thinking go strange, he left his work in the month of August 1, 1921, and it was from then that the sickness began small until it grew large.

Because of this difficulty, we left the land with our child on April 2, 1922, and wandered to this unfamiliar land in search of a cure, but there was no victory over this sickness which he had, and it turns out that he returns to his land of birth as a corpse, aloha for our sailing the ocean together, and he goes alone leaving me in this unfamiliar land. Auwe for my dear companion.

His body was taken to Borthwick Mortuary to be embalmed, and on Thursday, the 31st of August, 1922, his body was revealed to see his features, and the day following was the last time we saw his features for the very last time.

With grieving heart, i recall that unforgettable night. Auwe my dear companion, my husband!

We give our full appreciation to everyone who came to mourn with us, along with your gifts of flower bouquets and paper lei; we are greatly indebted to you all, and to our aikane goes our great thanks; Mr. and Mrs. A-i, our parents in this unfamiliar land were more than parents to a child and blood to blood, it is to them that we owe the most. On the following first of September 1922, we boarded the Maunaloa to take home his body to Kau.

When we stopped at Honuapo, the pier was filled with intimates, friends, and the police force in full uniform. It was overcome with emotion, it was as if my dear husband was standing with them. The police force carried his coffin and placed it on the car, and stood at the start where the procession began to march from the pier to our home, makai side of his coffin, at Kaunamano Homestead, Naalehu, Kau, Hawaii, under the direction of George K. Kawaha.

While the grave was being dug, his prayer gathering was being held at the residence of J. L. K. Kawaha, and at the grave was where his final memorial was concluded.

We give our thanks to the people who gathered on that day, and the sailors of the Maunaloa for their help to dig the grave of my dear husband who has gone afar, and to George K. Kawaha goes boundless appreciation, as well as for previously helping us. Blessed be the name of the Lord, He who giveth and He who taketh away. Amen!

With the Editor of the Kuokoa go our final regards, and also the boys of your press,

With sadness,
MRS. LIHAU K. HOLOUA,
JOSEPH H. K. HOLOUA.

(Kuokoa, 10/19/1922, p. 3)