Celebrating Liliu’s 75th birthday, 1913.

LILIU IS 75 YEARS OLD

There Were Many Who Went to Congratulate Her This Tuesday.

This Tuesday past, Queen Liliuokalani was seventy-five years old, and her friends, companions, locals and foreigners visited her at her home at Washington Place to see her, and to give their congratulations to the Queen of Hawaii nei for reaching that old age.

Just like in past years, there was a rush of the citizens of town to see Queen Liliu; it was so in the morning of this Tuesday, and the Queen welcomed warmly all who shook hands with her; it is estimated that their number reached a thousand.

The hours set aside for the public to visit her was from eleven o’clock to twelve o’clock, but there was celebration on the previous Monday night by singing groups with their instruments, as they serenaded the window of the home of the person for whose birthday it was, until the hours when the sun appeared.

After eight o’clock in the morning of that Tuesday, there was also a luau given to celebrate the day, and the royal attendants and a few malihini were invited, and they sat at the table laden with so many good things.

When the time came for the opening of the audience with the public at eleven o’clock of that morning, everyone showed up at Washington Place [Wakinekona Hale], and there too was the Royal Hawaiian Band [Bana Hawaii] honoring the one whose birthday it was.

Present was the Honorable Edward K. Lilikalani, where he stood ready to greet the public, and Colonel Iaukea and John Dominis introduced them before Queen Liliu, as the Queen would always give a smile to each and everyone who shook hands with her.

There also was Princess Kawananakoa to assist the Queen, wearing her finery, while the interior of the reception room was decorated with flowers, and feather capes [ahuula], kahili, and everything hearkening back to the past era, the time when this archipelago was governed by Monarchs.

At this audience, there were many Hawaiians who showed their affection for their queen, by kneeling before her and kissing her hand as they were used to doing.

After the audience, the Queen and her attendants got aboard automobiles headed for her seaside home in Waikiki, where a party was prepared and waited for her and the malihini invited to meet with her and to enjoy with her that day.

The Royal Hawaiian Band [Bana Hawaii] was also there following her to Waikiki, to continue to give honor to the table of the queen.

There were several hundreds of invited people that arrived to that party, from kamaaina to malihini, and they all ate until satiated of what was prepared, and they drank to the health and happiness of the mother, with happy thoughts and with hope that the life of Queen Liliu would be extended and that she would have more years to live.

(Kuokoa, 9/5/1913, p. 1)

PIHA NA MAKAHIKI HE 75 IA LILIU

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LI, Helu 35, Aoao 1. Sepatemaba 5, 1913.

More on the Queen’s 75th birthday, 1913.

MANY EXTEND FELICITATIONS TO QUEEN ON HER BIRTHDAY

TO LILIUOKALANI

On her seventy-fifth birthday

No monarch in the wide, wide world,
Deposed or on the throne,
Can boast of the loyal subjects,
Or the faithful friends you own.

Not alone of your own dear islands,
But of every race and clime,
You have hosts of fervent admirers,
Whose love dims not with time.

May the years touch you ever so lightly,
And your life be filled with peace,
Till the One above with His heavenly love,
Bids all our troubles cease.

C. D. W.

Pretty homage was paid to Queen Liliuokalani at her Beretania street mansion this morning. It was the occasion of her seventy-fifth birthday. With those about her whom she has loved for many years, those to whom she has turned in the turbulent and calm periods of her life the beloved queen opened the doors of her home for a public reception this morning.

The band played and the people came. Scores entered her residence and greeted her. Her guests this morning are to be counted among the residents and strangers, persons of prominence and persons in the obscure paths of life, the rich and the penniless, the light and dark—all came to meet the queen, to pay their respects to her and do her homage.

Kapellmeister Berger’s band played near the door of the mansion. Mr. Lilikalani, a pictureque figure with his many medals of honor reminiscent of the days when he was the lord high chamberlain of King Kalakaua’s court, introduced the guests, while Princess Kawananakoa, wonderfully beautiful in her gown of black chantilly lace and white charmeuse with the feather lei of royalty draped about her neck, assisted the queen in receiving.

The queen filled well her part as hostess. A flush of delight was on her face as she met the many guests. The splendor of the scene surrounding her, the ferns and flowers of many colors, the royal kahilis, the emblems of a monarchy that is no more, accentuated the fragile beauty of the queen. Old age has put its mark upon her, no doubt, but it has been with a gentle touch; so gentle that the woman who celebrated her seventy-fifth birthday today feels that she will live to see many more years roll by.

It was, in all its ways, one of the prettiest receptions the queen has ever given; and it will probably be remembered when the others are not. At a little breakfast birthday party she was given at her home this morning, when a few of the persons she has known for many years, were present, it was predicted that this morning’s reception would be the most successful. Present at the breakfast were the Mesdames C. S. Holloway, C. P. Iaukea, August Ahrens and J. A. Dominis; and Col. Sam Parker and Allan Herbert.

The queen’s entire home was decorated. Flowers that truly embody the spirit of Hawaii were everywhere—ilima leis, plumaria, maile, roses, lilies, lehua, hibiscus, gorgeous bowls of them, gifts from the queen’s friends. Above the constant murmur of the throng arose the haunting chant of Hawaiian attendants, while the band played oldtime melodies on the lawn. It was an imposing sight, and truly gratifying to behold the love and esteem in which the queen is held from the busiest person of this thriving territory who took the time to go, to the veriest little waif who went to wish her well.

(Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 9/2/1913, p. 1)

MANY EXTEND FELICITATIONS TO QUEEN ON HER BIRTHDAY

Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Volume XXI, Number 6679, Page 1. September 2, 1913.

More on Liliu’s 75th birthday, 1913.

THE BIRTHDAY OF QUEEN LILIUOKALANI

This past Tuesday, the 2nd of September, was the birthday of Queen Liliuokalani; she has been living in this world 75 years, and she is the only reigning queen of Hawaii that has almost reached extreme age.

There was a royal audience that day as was done regularly in the years past, at her home at Washington Place [Wakinekona Hale], before noon; there were many friends and Hawaiian citizens of the queen who went to see her on that day. Princess Kawananakoa assisted her in welcoming the friends and citizens, and Colonel C. P. Iaukea introduced the friends before her, and Mr. E. K. Lilikalani escorted the malihini into the house.

The Royal Hawaiian Band [Bana Hawaii] was there entertaining the audience while they all were visiting the queen; there were many old songs, songs which the queen took great delight in while she reigned and mele that were sung in the days of King Kalakaua.

(Kuokoa, 9/5/1913, p. 2)

KA LA HANAU O KA MOIWAHINE LILIUOKALANI

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LI, Helu 35, Aoao 2. Sepatemaba 5, 1913.

More on Liliu’s 73rd birthday celebration, 1911.

BIRTHDAY OF LILIUOKALANI

Honolulu, Sept. 2—The commemoration of Queen Liliuokalani’s birthday was held today, and according to what the Queen said to some of her friends:

“This is my seventy-third birthday, and i am in good health; i have left behind the disturbing things of this world in which we live, and have surrounded myself with many friends.”

The Queen’s health is fine indeed, and in the morning, the Band of the County [? Royal Hawaiian Band] arrived to play while she dined on breakfast until 10 a. m. Several associations arrived to giver their congratulations to the Alii; and at 11 o’clock, the procession of haole friends to see the Alii began, and this perhaps is the grandest royal audiences of haole giving their congratulations to the Queen.

The Queen was attired in a beautiful garments fitting of her stature, and attended by the Princess Kalanianaole and Mrs. Irene Holloway and Mrs. C. P. Iaukea. The place where the Queen sat was surrounded by many different kahili, and it was her steward, the Honorable C. P. Iaukea who introduced the many strangers. The Alii, the Queen, met each one who came to visit her and she placed a kind smile upon her Royal visage. When the writer for the Hoku [this newspaper, Hoku o Hawaii] appeared before the Alii, she immediately asked, “How are the famous lehua of the land, the lehua of Hilo; are the famous blossoms of the land still beautiful?”

The Queen wore a white lehua [lehua puakea] lei from Hilo, and on her Royal countenance was happiness. On that morning of her birthday, she presented the water leaping land of Waikahalulu as a Park for the public, and it will be administered for the benefit of the people.

The Hoku o Hawaii prays for the long life of the beloved Queen of Hawaii, and although she has no throne upon to rule, hers is the throne of aloha within the hearts of her loving people. May the Queen live in God.

[Unfortunately the issues of Hoku o Hawaii from 1906 to the early part of 1917 (including this article) are not available online! The more people talk about the importance of the information in the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers and the need to rescan those newspapers clearly and make them accurately searchable, the more chance there will be funding for it!]

(Hoku o Hawaii, 9/7/1911, p. 2)

LA HANAU O LILIUOKALANI.

Ka Hoku o Hawaii, Buke 6, Helu 18, Aoao 2. Sept. 7, 1911.

Queen Liliuokalani birthday celebration, 1911.

Birthday of Liliu.

On this past Saturday, September 2, it was the birthday of Queen Liliuokalani, and a royal audience was held midday of that day between 11 a. m. and 1 p. m. in the afternoon.

At 8 a. m. in the morning of this Saturday, the Royal Hawaiian Band [Bana Hawaii] appeared at Washington Place [Wakinekona Home] and played Hawaiian songs which were composed by the alii during the Monarchy of Hawaii nei, and some of these songs were composed by Queen Liliuokalani. The Royal Hawaiian Band played for an hour in the morning to commemorate the birthday of Liliu at Washington Place, and they played once again from 11 midday to 1 in the afternoon.

At 11, the public was allowed to come and see the alii. The Kalama Society, Kaahumanu Society, and Kauikeaouli Society arrived to see the Queen.

The interior of Washington Place was decorated with kahili, just as during the era when the alii ruled—it was beautiful and awe inspiring to see that morning. The Queen sat upon her cotton chair [noho pulu], with two boys behind her chair, holding long kahili, with ahuula upon their shoulders. The Princess Kawananakoa was on the Queen’s right, and Colonel Iaukea was on her left, and he was the one who introduced the Queen to the malihini and to the townspeople. There also, were the heads of the Territory, County, and Federal government. There were many distinguished people of this town who went to see the alii, and by the looks of it, almost one thousand people came during this royal audience.

What shocked this reporter on that morning, was that two-thirds of the people who went to give their congratulations on the birthday of the Queen were malihini and haole. As for the true Hawaiians, only but a few went to see the alii. Reflecting back in time, and seeing Liliu in her finery, i am lulled into recalling the days when Hawaiians were proud upon the soil of their native land.

(Kuokoa Home Rula, 9/8/1911, p. 4)

ka La Hanau o Liliu.

Kuokoa Home Rula, Buke IX, Helu 36, Aoao 4. Sepatemaba 8, 1911.

Fund raiser for the building of St. Augustine in Waikiki, 1901.

FAIR AND LUAU.

A fair and grand luau was held by the Catholic brethren in the armory [hale paikau] outside, this Saturday afternoon. There were many people who showed up to this fair, and we hear that they made a lot of money through the items sold and the luau. Amongst the dignitaries who appeared at the fair was Queen Liliuokalani. The Royal Hawaiian Band [bana aupuni] was there, entertaining the visitors that came, and with the coming of night there was held a dance in the armory. All the proceeds from this fair will be given to the church of St. Augustine being built outside of Waikiki.

(Aloha Aina, 7/20/1901, p. 5)

AHA FEA ME LUAU.

Ke Aloha Aina, Buke VII, Helu 29, Aoao 5. Iulai 20, 1901.

A composition for Hawaiians boys going away to war, 1918

Mele for the Hawaiian Boys

Seen below is a mele composed by the Honorable W. J. Sheldon for the fifty Hawaiian boys who gave themselves to join the war on the side of the nation of America. It is a song put before the Royal Hawaiian Band, to be played before the public.

It is believed that if these Hawaiian boys head out to the training camp in America on Tuesday, this song would have been sung for them in their honor. But as their trip is postponed until the arrival of a military ship, therefore the boys have been set back until next month. It is still believed that this will be one of the songs that will be sung to honor them. Here is this mele to glorify these Hawaiian youths:

WIKIWIKI OVER THE TOP

He kama oiwi Hawaii oe,
He aa,  he koa wiwoole;
Imua no ka pono oi ae,
A inu i ka wai awaawa.

Hui.

Ku kilakila Hawaii,
Iwaena o ka Pakipika,
O Hawaii no ka oi,
Wikiwiki over the top.

Hawaii no oe a ka imiloa,
Loa ka imina lanakila,
Hanohano oe e Hawaii,
I na oiwi o ka aina.

O ke Akua pu me oukou,
E na kama oiwi Hawaii,
Uumi ka hanu a lanakila,
A lei i ka hanohano.

Hakuia e Wm. J. Sheldon.

[Which went something like this:

QUICKLY OVER THE TOP.

You are a native son,
Daring, a fearless warrior;
Forward for the greater good,
And drink of the bitter waters.

Chorus.

Hawaii stands tall,
Amidst the Pacific,
Hawaii is the foremost,
Quickly, over the top.

You are Hawaii, of explorers,
Far reaching is your search for victory,
Proud is Hawaii,
For the oiwi of the land.

God be with you,
O Native sons of Hawaii,
Be patient until victorious,
And wear the honor like a lei.

Composed by William J. Sheldon.]

(Kuokoa, 5/17/1918, p. 3)

HE MELE NO NA KEIKI HAWAII

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LVI, Helu 20, Aoao 3. Mei 17, 1918.

New library to open, 1913.

CEREMONY WILL OPEN PUBLIC LIBRARY

All Invited to Attend Special Program Tomorrow Afternoon

Governor Frear will be the first patron of the new Carnegie Library. He will receive Registration Card No. 1, and will be the first to enter the big building when it is formally thrown open to the public tomorrow afternoon.

Unique and appropriate exercises will characterize the formal opening of the library tomorrow. The program for the exercises was completed yesterday afternoon by A. Lewis, Jr., president of the board of library trustees, Secretary W. H. Babbitt and other members of the board. The splendid new building, made possible by Andrew Carnegie’s gift of $100,000, will be the scene of a notable gathering.

With Mr. Lewis and Governor Frear as the central figures in the ceremony, the program will begin at 3 o’clock, when the Royal Hawaiian Band, arranged for by Secretary Babbitt and Mayor Fern, begins an hour of music.

At four o’clock the ceremony proper will begin. Mr. Lewis will make a short address appropriate to the occasion and will then introduce Prof. M. M. Scott, principal of McKinley High School, who has been prominent in the work for the new library. Chairman Lewis will then, as president of the library board, give to Governor Frear Card No. 1. Then the chairman will unlock the big front doors of the building and will escort Governor Frear inside. According to the little ceremony arranged, the governor will then proceed to the central desk and will be met by Miss Edna I. Allyn, the librarian, who will issue to the executive the first book from the new institution.

As soon as the governor has entered, the public will follow, the entire library building being open to visitors, with the assistant librarians and employees detailed as escorts.

The Outdoor Circle of the Kilohana Club has furnished a number of beautiful palms and ferns with which the interior will be decorated.

Registration cards will be generally issued tomorrow and intending patrons of the library can sign the cards and be enrolled from four to six o’clock.

The new library, it is emphasized by the board of trustees, is absolutely free to everyone and books will be issued upon presentation of the properly signed registration card. There is also a traveling library feature, the committee on which is headed by Robbins B. Anderson.

[Tomorrow will be a hundred years since the library opened! See the many related activities going on in commemoration of this great historical event! It seems that the Royal Hawaiian Band will be there tomorrow morning to celebrate just as they did a hundred years ago!!

I am not sure why I could not find an article in the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers announcing this opening. But there is this from a couple of years later!]

(Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 1/31/1913, p. 1)

CEREMONY WILL OPEN PUBLIC LIBRARY

Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Volume XX, Number 6499, Page 1. January 31, 1913.

CEREMONY WILL OPEN LIBRARY

Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Volume XX, Number 6499, Page 4. January 31, 1913.

Board of Health and leprosy, 1906.

A HAWAIIAN WOMAN HIDDEN AWAY.

After the Board of Health [Papa Ola] searched for ten months, they found Mrs. Flora K. Crowell, a Hawaiian woman, and she was taken and detained mauka of the Kalihi Hospital. It is not clear why the Board of Health chased after that woman, but there is something astonishing and unclear about what was done to this woman.

After Mrs. Flora K. Crowell was found by the officers of the Board of Health, she said she was locked away like a prisoner.

This wahine is the birth daughter of Mrs. Hattie Hiram who died on the 5th of November 1905, and she married Clement C. Crowell in the year 1900, and by this marriage the two of them had a daughter; but just six months after they had the girl, she [Flora Crowell] was suspected of having leprosy and taken away to be held at the Kalihi Hospital.

According to the wishes of her mother [Hattie Hiram], she was sent to Japan to be treated along with others who were suspected of having the illness. Being that she did not have the funds to be treated and per her wishes, she came back to Honolulu nei after nine months of being away from here.

When she arrived in Honolulu, she went to live with her mother on Beritania Street, and she was hidden there until the death of her mother. There was no one who knew she was here in Honolulu at the time, except her mother along with another woman named Keluia and George Kaia. However, when her mother was extremely ill, Solomon Hiram came, and because they were speaking so loudly, he showed himself before them; S. Hiram was shocked at seeing her; and it was then that she was subdued by S. Hiram along with George Kaia and Keluia and detained in a building on the grounds, and she was locked inside.

A few days later, while her mother was still alive, she [Flora Crowell] was taken to the place of George Kaia on Young Street, and from there she was then taken to the uplands of Kalihi Valley to live, and from there she was taken to a grass house atop Puowaina, on the road that goes up to Puuohia (Tantalus). She escaped from this place and returned to live at her own home on Beritania Street, and it was there she lived unbeknownst to others, all except an old man who brought her food.

But during her last two days there, that man did not come back, and she almost starved for lack of food; it was only because of the passing by of one of her friends from her youth, that she was brought to that friend’s home on Young Street. This was the daughter of John Kamaki, the one who gave Flora Crowell money to care for herself while in Japan.

At the death of Mrs. Hattie Hiram, John Kamaki came and took care of her funeral, and saw for the first time that here was Mrs. Clement in Honolulu nei. Her baby was being cared for by John Kamaki, who took her after the death of Mrs. H. Hiram.

When Solomon Hiram just left with the Royal Hawaiian Band [Bana Hawaii], he left instructions for some people to keep good watch over Mrs. Clement.

She is now living with her friends mauka of Pauoa, and she has chosen R. W. Breckons as the executor of her estate.

There is no doubt, the quick death of her mother and her being hidden away, will be investigated immediately by the grand jury of this session.

(Kuokoa, 11/2/1906, p. 8)

HE WAHINE HAWAII I HUNA MA-LUIA.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLV, Helu 44, Aoao 8. Novemaba 2, 1906.

Samuel Kamakaia’s Royal Order of Kalakaua to the Bishop Museum, 1919.

PRESENTATION MEDAL OF KALAKAUA TO KAMAKAIA.

The silver medal of King Kalakaua [Royal Order of Kalakaua] presented to Samuel Kamakaia, one of the members of the Bana Hawaii [Royal Hawaiian Band] is now in the possession of Malulani Beckley Kahea, who is also a band member; it is his to care for until the time comes for it to go to another member of the band, although according to Kamakaia’s wishes, it should be returned to the Bishop Museum.

Rightfully, this medal will be given to James K. Pohina, to oldest member of the Bana Hawaii active today. In 1883, this medal was awarded to Kamakaia, a gift from the King for his work as the leader of the band. In 1869, Kamakaia joined the band, and two years ago he left.

(Kuokoa, 7/4/1919, p. 1)

KA MEDALA MAKANA A KALAKAUA IA KAMAKAIA.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LVII, Helu 27, Aoao 1. Iulai 4, 1919.