The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-04-16

ton while young, perhaps he would have become
an industrious man and celebrated for his skill.
We cannot certainly say that this would have
been the case, for he was never tried in any
work.
When Kamehameha v. died, he began to
leave OF his boyish frolics, and tried hard to
bear. his government with mildness, prudence
and all the wisdom he had, but IL was not long
ere his weakness of body began, and he became
i'll, and finally died on the 3rd of February, 1874,
aged 80 years and 3 days. The Hawaiian race
mourned sincerely for him, for they had great
love for their chief, who loved them and their
land. He died childless, he left no descendants
TO bear his name, but he was not without heirs,
for he made by his will, the Hawaiian race his
heirs.
The principal characteristics of this chief were
as follows First, he had no sympathy Will the
ignorant fOllies of ancient times, its supersti-
tons or its deceiving practice of medicine.
Second, he was a gracious chief, he was accessi-
bic to the lowest nature, he cared not for the
pomp and vanities of royalty. Third, his great
est work was this, which will preserve his name
forever-his last will and testament.
There are many persons in these days who boast
much of their love for this land and their ex-
ceeding jealousy for Hawaii. Who is the true
Hawaiian ? My answer is, the true Hawaiian is
he who constantly shows his heart of love by
acts of love to his country.
Lunalilo did not talk much of his love for his
native soil, but on the 7th of June, 1871, he
wrote his testament leaving all his lands after
the death of his father, as a capital to build
a home where could be cared for the destitute
poor and feeble of Hawaiian blood, preference
to be given to the aged.
; There have been many monuments erected
in the ancient Kingdoms of this earth. In
Egypt were raised lofty obelisks cut out of
single stones, but these shafts have not remained
in that land: some have been taken to Rome,
and to Paris, one to London and this year one
to New York, 1t is over three thousand years
since these obelisks were cut. They were not
erected to perPetuate some good deed, but mere
ly to preserve the name of the King who put them
] up, and, as we see, they are going as strangers to
foreign lands. But this house, whose corner
stone is going to be laid to-day, is a gift of love,
a good work, and it will perpetuate the name of
its founder. 1t IS well for us to think much of
this GIFT. No other Hawaiian chief or commoner
has done a deed like this. Lunalilo alone up
10 this day has left his property for the Ha-
waiian race. His name should forever be
cherished.
To-day is laid the foundation stone of this
home for the poor old men and woman of
Hawaii. This home is their city of refuge, a
sheltered harbOr for their last days of weakness;
here they will have peace and q~uietness after
battling with the stormy seas of life.
This great home is to be built of stone quar-
ried from Punchbowl, and thus Hawaiian stone
IS to protect Hawaiian bones.
This is not a hospital for the sick, this is a
home for the aged who have no homes, for the
remnant of those Hawaiian families in which
none remain who are strong and able to provide
the means-of living. This is not a home for the
young and vigorous, nor for those who are poor
on account of their laziness. This home is for
those who are unable, on account of feebleness
from age or other similar causes to provide their
own homes. l hope, and such is my wish, that
there will be but few who will seek the benefits
of this home; for this Kingdom will not flourish
if its population is largely to be found in hospi-
tails and poor houses.
That Government is prosperous whose lands
are filled with men who are strong, energetic at
their work, and who are hornyhanded from hard
foil and who ouioy fha Oraof hfasaiun of aafipy
their own food which they have earned from
their own labor and the sweat of their brow.
But the aged and feeble Hawaiians of both
sexes have a RIGHT to be here in this home which
the royal heart has gwen out of his boundless
love for his countrymen.
May this house stand forever. Oh sun, rain,
tempest and lightning, deal gently with this
home that it may resist the gnawing tooth of
time; and may the good God in heaven assist the
Trustees with wisdom, and give patience and rest
to all those who may be gathered within its
walls.
After the Band had played Beethoven's
Morning" the Hon. S. K. Kaai delivered an
admirable address in Hawaiian of which the fol-
lowing, eloquent as it is, fails, AS all translations
must do. to give an adequate rendering.
Your Royal Highness-his Distinguished Conn
pDuy-dHd my FeiLoo Couhtrymen =:
L feel honored in being called upon to address
you on this notable occasion, which has called
us together to witness the performance of an in
teresting ceremony. In the words of the olden
times, 1 will say Hear, 0 Hawaii of Keawe,
Maui of Kama, Oahu of Kakuihewa, and Kauai
of Manokalanipo - Turn We and listen and OBJ
serve For the finishing touch is about to be
applied, and the cement Is to be spread which
shall firmly fix In its place the cornerstone of
the Home-the Retreat-the Odsis-the place of
refuge from the chilling blasts and the rains of
winter, cool shelter from the heat and the weari-
ness of summer. 1t is to become a tabernacle,
where the weary shall rest unframed by the
storms of life that may rave and roar without
a haven IN which there are no fees to pay, but
everything is freely given to the needy.
Ny cOuntrymen I! This noble and sacred en-
terprise is the gift of one of our kings, the be-
loved LUSALILo the first, and the last of Kekau-
luohinuiomano, the brave, the fierce in battle,
the famed founder of this Kingdom in the Pacific.
Our noble-hearted King dearly loved his people,
AMI by his gift he has testified that love to all
the world, to be heartily acknowledged for its
name not only by this intelligent audience, but
to be told of to his honor in the remotest as we'll
as the darkest corners of the earth. 1t is some
thing for you, true Hawaiians, to be not only
grateful for but to be proud of. This Is the voice
of your loving King, calling in loving terms to the
old, the destitute, and feeble men and women,
and the orphan children, the houseless and home
less, the jewellers in miserable huts, ON the bar
rem hillsides, in rocky gulches, or on sandy
pEains-he bids you, one and all, to come, hereto
be fed-here rest and find a comfortable home.
Therefore, my fellow-countrymen. it well BELTS
us, we who knew this great-hearted King, Who
so sincerely loved his people--it Is meet that we
should treasure his memory in our Utmost hearts,
as the giver of this noble charity. 1t costs US
nothing and with him the gift was the simple
outcome of a generous nature, trained and edu-
Gated under Christian influences. This King en-
joyed the blessings of civilization, which were
denied to has ancestors, the pagan kings and
chiefs of the old, old times of our Islands Those
who well knew the late King, and the ancient
history Of that family, must acknowledge that
none ever equaIled him in deeds of generosity
like this. Their history is crowded with deeds
of a very different character.
But Kamehameha l., in the old days of pagan
darkness. crime and degeneration, sent forth mis-
royal command to the nation that murder and