The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-10-09

MR.. EDITOR:-Let me as a Hawaii
an add my entreaties to those already
put forward for the conversion into
park and playground of the reclaimed
lands on Nuuanu stream banks, lately
occupied by the unsightly wash houses.
There are many natives among the
dock laborers, hackmen, etc, who are
living in hired rooms in the cheap
lodging houses on King street, Hotel
street below Nuuanu street, around
Smiths bridge and the locality known
as Kikihale. These rooms are general
ly upstairs above Chinese and Japan
csc shops, and in one instance known
TO the writer, over stables. The poor
children of these people have no other
playground than the streets.
The gradual absorption Of kuleanas
by the rich, the prudent or enterpris-
ing foreigners have forced many elder
ly natives to follow the young folks to
town, so they can be supported by the
younger generation. To such, as well
as to the children, whose natural habi-
tat are the green fields of lovely Ha-
wall, as much so as to any half tanned
wild creature, park of easy access,
provided with benches for use in damp
or rainy weather but covered with
thick manienie turf where, luxury of
luxuries, an old body could lay down
and sun ones self without fear or care
for the too critical gaze of the well
dressed members of the upper four
hundred, would be a boon indeed
few trees scattered here and there,
an occasional plot of sweet, bright or
gay flowers, and an adjoining play
ground where, after school hours, the
children could amuse themselves at
base ball or any other innocent and
healthful game, while the old kupunas
could look on at the gambols of their
descendants, dreaming and hoping that
they may acquire the knowledge and
ability to cope with the more enterpris-
ing and acquisitive stranger.
Such place would be a real haven
race, to whom the rapid march of re-
cent. events, the hustling of them by
the newcomer, the overturning Of
what TO them represents the majesty
and power OF stable government, has
been sort of moral cyclone. Their re-
ligious beliefs, as taught and accepted
from the white man, have received a
rude shock. Many waver between re-
turn to the belief and practices of their
ancestors and skepticism engendered
by a generation of unbelief in such
Rightly or wrongly, many have
learned to look on foreigners in the
aggregate as natural enemies, who i'm
patiently await the day when the sod
shall have been turned over the last of
their race, that their breath may not
contaminate the air the favored chill
dren of earth breathe.
Their moral condition is indeed pitt
| full
An open green, breathing space, as
| it were, where they can go and sun
| themselves, meet their friends and pass
away time, cannot possibly fail to i'm
press them with the idea that what
ever government we now i've unG6r,
| the powers. that be recognize their
needs and are disposed to ameliorate
their hard condition where possible.
| And now for the misnomer of Pala-
ma Park. Palama proper is almost a
mile away from this place. Aala is in
| the vicinity. Aala in the vernacular
means fragrant, odiferous. The locali-
ty was so called because in the days
| OF the great Kamehameha the banks
of Nuuanu stream were planted with
hala (pandanus), the fragrant white
| blossoms and nuts of which gave the
name to the locality. Tradition has it
that Kaahumanu, the famous wife of
Kamehameha, planned and herself
planted most of the lauhala grove of
Aala, forerunner, it is to be hoped,
of the grove and park which the rem
nants OF her race will more fully and
freely enjoy than could the commoners
of her days the grove planted by her
royal hands.
EMMA NJ. NAKUINA.