The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-07-23
Training of Hawaiian Youth.

Mr.. EDITOR: With your permits
sion, I would like to make a few
remarks regarding the physical
training of Hawaiian youth; not
that I can introduce new facts, but
rather to point out the necessity of
adhering to natural laws regarding
the health and development of the
bodies of Hawaiians, especially those
of white parentage.
From various causes that only
partly result from a warm climate,
! Hawaiian youths are receiving a
training; both mental and physical,
that cannot do otherwise than lead
to degeneration of race, to general
debility, bad health and premature
death. Young Hawaiians grow up
to fully average height, full of
nervous energy as seen in THEN
rapid movements; but they are
lamentably wanting in those powers
of endurance which are always the
winning qualities in all battles OF
life, whether the avocations be of 6
mental or physical nature. I am
not at present considering excep
tional cases; but refer manly to the
samples of Hawaiian manhood seeI
daily upon the streets Of Honolulu
nor do l include youths or young
men of foreign training-my re
marks being only applicable t.
youths trained on these Islands.
The climate is not to blame for thu
evident lack of physical training t.
which [ allude, because in tropica
Australia, where the heat is yer,
much creator, the sons of Europeal
colonists indulge, to very larg,
extent, in all the outdoor sports
of England--including pedestrian
matches, cricket, rowing and man,
other athletic exercises. I do no
attempt to prescribe what kind 0
outdoor sports or games should b
chosen on these Islands; but the.
should be Of vigorous nature, am
bring into play all the muscles O
the body. On this account pedes
trianism is one of the best; becaus
: it exercises all the muscles, especi
ally if uphill and down hill grade
are traversed. This is an exercis
t prescribed in all cases where person
are put in training for extraordinar,
physical feats. Yet, pedestrian
matches are never undertaken
. on these Islands, and the leg
are exercised as little as pos
sible in the daily affairs o
life. If business calls a man
couple of blocks away, he rides in
: hack or in his own carriage 1nstea(
of walking the distance; then he in
consistently complains that his bust
ness is of a sedentary nature requir
ing Turkey rhubarb, purgative pill
and other nostrums. His liver i
blamed, his kidneys are at fault, b.
has too much bile, and he has al
ache here and an ache there. HI
never thinks that all these ailment
are caused by the lack of natural ez
ercise which he should give to hi
body and all its functions. Evel
many Hawaiian mechanics am
laborers err in a similar direction
the exercise of their trades onl
brings into action certain muscles
which are developed at the expens
5 of others that are allowed to remain
inactive; and we frequently see
strong-armed blacksmith hobblin,
, along on legs that carry him wit
| difficulty.
} The great aim should be to exel
else the whole body, not to overta
any portion, but to actively and re
guIarly employ every muscle givel
by nature for this use. In no othe
, way can healthy and vigorous bod
be built up and maintained, and tn
people who neglect Natures system
E of physical training are bound t.
degenerate both mentally and physic
, ally.
| If Hawaiian youths would wall
more and use hacks less, the chang
, would be greatly favorable to thei
constitutions and to their persona
comfort. They would be more sci
reliant,more enduring under fatigue
accomplish more with less difficulty
and have on the average NOR,
pleasant and longer term of life.
HERCULES.