The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-12-28
THE PACIFIC
GOmmereialAOorrtlse
SATURDAY. DECEMBER IS.
SANITARY INSTRUCTION FOR
HAWAIiANS.

Indian Ocean, lodge in hollows of trees like mon
KEYS the savages of America, a little more ad-
yaneed, make a small rude shelter of sticks and
skins of wild animals the somewhat civilized
barbarians of parts Of Asia, and of the central
parts of America, make huts of mud baked in
the sun but enlightened people of Europe and
America, and of other parts Of the world, make
enduring houses of stone and timber.
Now the condition of Hawaiians when discOv-
cred by Captain Cook was not utterly wild like
certain East Indian islanders, nor savage like the
lowest native tribes of America or Of Australia,
but was of a character styled barbarous, some
what like that of the Mexicans in America, or of
the Tartars in Asia. One hundred years ago
Hawaiians lodged in pill grass tbatched houses,
or huts, which were. considering the habits of
the people, good shelters against inclemencies of
weather at that time. But these small huts of
the olden time were not suitable to promote any
decency of manners, and became unfayorable to
the health of the people when they began to
adopt a more artificial, that is a more civilized
style of living. The barbarous Hawaiian of 1878
was the most of his time in the open air, or oc-
cupied in the sea, and as he wore little or no
clothing his naked or hardy body could rest very
well in a small thatched hut. But how different
with the civilized Hawaiian of 1873. He wears
all the variety of clothing worn by the most civil
lzed man he partakes of a new and varied diet,
he remains much indoors. like the white foreign
ers, and is becoming a stranger to the hardihood
of the sea, therefore be needs a larger and a more
weather proof dwelling than was suited to his
forefathers one hundred years ago.
Hawaiians of this day appreciate the need of
larger and better habitations, and it must be
mentioned to their credit that they have in a
short space of time made great improvements in
their dwellings. Many of the peasantry of
christian Europe have continued for ages to live
in mud and stick novels, and multitudes of the
christianized Africans in America are content
with a stick and mud cabin, and dirt floor to this
Iar xrhilct lupnhpr IL n hunnanf in their vicinity
at less than one cent a foot; whereas Hawaiians
Of the second and third generation since the era
of heathenism and barbarism are erecting every
where throughout their isles good lumber dwell
ings, with suitable lighting, roofing and flooring,
although the material costs three and four times
as much as IN many other parts of the world.
The matched hut of the olden time is becoming
quite rare, and nearly all Hawaiians are lodged
in well made board houses with shingle roofs.
Now the chief object of this article is to call
attention to certain additional Improvements re-
CURED in the new habitations of HaBaiians, SO
that not only health will be promoted but also
that a higher degree of civilization may be at
tanned. 1t is not enough to have high walls, a
broad floor, and a tight roof, but you must have
a suficiency of chambers, so that the proper re-
lations and proprieties of the sexes may be pre-
served. If YOU do not arrange your dwelling so
that these proprieties can be maintained, there
can be no true civilization, and no sound health
for the race.
What have you now? what is the arrangement
Of many Hawaiian houses? Some of them have
only one large chamber, with perhaps temporary
calico curtain partitions, and in this one cham
Der all the members of a family sleep together.
This is as it was in the old pagan times when
men and women of all ages and degrees of con-
sanguinity would repose together in a rude state
in one chamber, and would have for cover only a
tappa c~overlet, common to all.
This barbarCus kind of life, this lodging to-
Cether IF oil SeynS this OrOmiScuOnS liViDO To-
gether Of Hawaiian families must cease, in order
to ensure the health of the race, and to enable it
to lay claim to q true civilization. There can be
no advance in well being, no practice of christian
ity, and no sound health where such n state of
living exists. 1t is of no use, o Hawaiian fathers,
that ministers of religion, or good women in SEM
inaries, teach virtue and ~propriety to your daugh-
tiers, if it shall be that when your educated girl
returns to your home she has no separate cham
Der for her privacy but must sleep in the same
chamber with you, and perhaps her brothers,
uncles, and other male relatives or friends, and
be obliged to observe certain requirements of ma
ture, which all truly civilized people endeavor to
conceal.
If any of you native Hawaiian people have a
maiden daughter, or any unmarried woman, a
member of your family, you should endeavor to
provide for her a separate sleeping apartment.
You cannot hope that your women will become
virtuous like white women, and your people will
become truly civilized, if you Go not so provide.
White women become degraded when they have
only one tenement in which to live In common
with men. Furthermore the room that is set apart
for women should be provided with many conye-
niences and comforts suited to the tastes of the
female sex. There should be a small dressing
table, and a mirror, with brush and comb, and
even articles of ointment and perfumery, so that
your daughter can take pleasure in arranging her
toilet because owing to the privacy, and these
tasteful appliances, she will care for and respect
49, o-,, ~o-,c, ~ nil -,oGra Drhara roSnaok
her also. This personal care and self respect
among the women of a people, are indications of
the highest civilization, and also lie at the found
alton Of the health, and consequent perpetuity of
a race.
1t will be well, that not only single women
should be lodged apart, but it VIII lie found very
conducive 10 health that all persons, married or
single, should sleep separate and alone, as much
as possible. in our tropical climate. This rule of
health. sleeping apart. is strongly ~enloined upon
people who live in the cold climates of Europe
and America. Then how much more must it be
necessary in the warm air Of Hawaii?
In the present improved and prosperous state
of affairs in these Islands, every Hawaiian man
who can and will work, can readily procure tire
means - erect a suitable lumber house; and 1t
will hereafter be regarded as a great shame TO
him If he does not provide a separate apartment
for the single women Of bis family. Moreover,
should he DC 40 Influential man, that d. O. say, a
minister Of the Gospel, or "a Judge of law, or a
teacher co children or a lawyer, OF "a man 60
large means. and have % hnc house CXtcrior!y,
and sbal boast Of his position aud hi- prosperity
all these tbiug- wul Dee accounted ~ % Disgrace
90 him, fu can be sand that BIS daughter. %
other single woman o. hr- household. las 20 rr-
yacy. 40 c0uvcnicuccs suited % her sex. but has
q lodge Fromiscn7usiy With mIn 10 tue % bar
barlus and fagan way.
q, Eawaiians. you must take care Of Tour
5Juus HCungE ~ You want y1.r nation g. live 3
. - tn Nj go a. 80
lodge them properly. The preaching Of TIE re
at-f#-. .s --. r-
.ng u. any sind will not improve or refine your
women u they lodge pr1mIscuousiy with the
other sex. For it Will be Of little use listening TO
the precepts ofmoraIity Of the Bible, If there be
no suitable conditions or place which will pro-