The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-11-14
Hooulu Lahui.

These words in Hawaiian signify, "National
Gro6th.'' Emanating from His Majesty KALAKAUA,
Awho in his addresses to the people during the Royal
fProgress frequently impressed upon them his own
earnest hopes and desires for the recuperation of the
race <hoouIu i0hEi have become the Watchwords at
all public gatherings of the natives On Wednesday
1ast a public meeting of some two~or three hundred
persons was held at Kawaiahao Church, called to dis
euss this subject, by an associatian of which His Ex-
eelleney w. L. Moehonua is the President. 1t was
intended that His Royal Highness Prince Leleiohoku
should address the meeting, but he was prevented
from attending by illness. The Hon. J. Moanauli
was chosen President of the meeting, supported by
their Excellencies Gov. Kapena of Maui and Gov.
Kipi of Hawaii. The object of the meeting was
stated to be by Gov. Kapena, in a few well-chosen
words, to elicit the views of the people at large, as
well as to arouse their interest in whatever may tend
to check the national decay, and to conserve the pros
perity and welfare of the race. Thus invited, quite
a number of short speeches were made by individuals
among the audience, several speaking elOquently and
well, for the Hawaiians are very generally born ora
tors. OF course the views expressed on a subject
upon which wise heads might well differ were very
divergent. and some of the plans proposed whereby
the nation might be made to grow again were peurile
and absurd; but on the whole, the general opinion
seemed to be that too much care cannot be bestowed
upon the nurture and education of the young, and 10
directing renewed attention to this branch of hooulu
Iahui, some good may have been accomplished by the
meeting.
One Of the speakers Eve did not learn his name)
showed that he was. for q native Hawaiian, a rather
advanced thinker. Said - The project adopted
by the Legislature of making a loan of a Million of
Dollars, is q very good one, so far as it goes. But
say, borrow five or six millions at once, and lay it out
in making good roads and bridges where there are
none; leading the streams that now run to waste over
the barren plains, which only need the water to bear
abundant crops of cane; improve the harbors for the
shipment Of produce; do these things, and we shall
soon have an increase Of population"
The best speech was one by the Hon. J. 4. Cum
mings, (himself q half-caste) delivered by him on
Hawaii during the late tour of the Prince on that ISL
and. and which was read to the meeting of Weines-
day. We translate the substance
1.-The subject of the increase of the people, has
been very prominently and earnestly brought forward
by His Majesty the King, and more importance is
given to the discussion than in the times Of any Of our
previous sovereigns. Our King is deeply impressed
with the fact that the people are wasting away, and
he is anxious to find and apply a remedy. During
the tours which be made Immediately after his Access
sion to the Throne, His Majesty's constant endeavOr
in meeting with and addressing the people, was to
impress upon their minds the necessity of making a
general and sincere EFFORT TO stay the decrease Of our
race, and to again build upon the nation.
1.-The population Of these islands was estimated by
Cook at 400, 900. Some years afterwards, the num-
Der was stated at 10000. By the census Of 1872,
the population has fallen to 81 ,53l. What a harvest
has death reaped among this people since their first
discovery 1t has rendered bare and desolate our
once populous hillsides, our lovely valleys and broad
plains. The once fertile fields are deserted, and the
clustering seaside villages have disappeared. The
causes Of this depOpulation are numerous, and can
he understood; but the first question for every true
Hawaiian is to enquire, How can the nation be resus-
citatedl
"a little inquiry will show that the great majority