The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-04-14
WANTED!
AN HAWAIIAN BAZAAR.

in these summer islands, has be-
come strongly impressed with the
need which some enterprising per-
son with moderate capital, or which
some association with an interest
in a revival of the almost extinct
native arts and industries should
undertake, i.e., some form of an
Hawaiian Bazaar where, in suit
able building, centrally located in
pleasant grounds, an industrial
exhibition of objects peculiar to the
Hawaiian Islands should be made,
not only to be seen by strangers
but for sale.
Such an exhibition should not
be annual, decennial, jubilee, or
a centennial, but a perennial ex-
hibit of the thousand and one
beautiful things which both native
and introduced talent can produce
here. AS it is now, strangers COM
ing here, particularly those who
pass to and fro from the colonies
to the States and stay but few
hours-ignorant of locality-find it
not only impossible to see what
might be had or even to visit your
Museum, but are unable to obtain
much of anything ready-made.
There are number of cabinet
makers, wood turner's and dealers
in curios, but none of these people
keep any stock on hand. AS a
consequence, it is only those who
have time to wait and are prac-
tically willing to go down upon
their knees to such artisans who
can obtain anything, the one ex-
ception being photographs. These
are excellent in character and
ready to hand.
Were I to recommend anything
it would be to organize a society or
association whose main object
should be to revive and improve
industrial and art manufactures in
all directions, but particularly in
the way of wood-turnery and cary
ing from the beautiful native
woods, in tapa-making not only
reproducing the old patterns and
forms, but introducing new art
ideas in decorating that admirable
bark, paper or cloth.
When / first arrived [ noticed a
few hats made of tape like braid,
and on making an attempt to
secure specimens of a variety of
such braids illustrating the mate
rails used and the patterns, l was
utterly surprised to see how much
taste and ingenuity, and what a
variety of material already exists,
but which is not to be seen in the
market at ALL
Both the tapas and mating are
capable of much artistic treatment
and improvement, and would make
beautiful objects, as portfolio
covers, book covers, dolls, etc., in
addition to their ordinary and COM
mon use as now obtains.
The canoe, that most character
istic thing left of the implements
of the natives should be had as
models in various sizes, but treated
artistically, made of the real woods
of which the canoe itself is made,
and following the lines Of the ORR
ginal exactly.
Abundant material for basketry
is at hand in these islands which
should be made up in many inge-
NOUS forms with the native taste,
such would compare favorably
with similar objects as made in
Japan and possibly from the other
Polynesian islands.
Fans are now made in four or
five beautiful materials thoroughly
distinct and artistic in character,
and these if made in larger guam
titles could be sold possibly at
lower prices and would have album
dant sale.
Calabashes of the rare woods in
not only the ancient forms but in
modified forms to suit uses for the
toilet, or the table would be very
popular and saleable with all
lovers and collectors of beautiful
wood objects. To these objects
could be added walking canes,
paper knives, smoking pipes, cut
wood sections, vertical, oblique and
horizontal, partly polished, all Of
which should be properly named
with the native and the technical
name, and be ready prepared in
neat boxes for the tourist to take
with him.
[ have no doubt that artistic bed
coverings made of tapa would find
a considerable export demand by
reason of their novelty, beauty
and usefulness.
The leis which are so beautiful
and symbolic of friendship and
which are peculiar to these islands
should be readily had not only in
feathers and shells but in leaves
and flowers as now obtain.
The native ferns, plants and
flowers should be had pressed
named and mounted single or il