The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-07-28

James X. Writes Notes from Island
of MolOkai.
Death of Judge Kuhamanu-Natives
are all Healthy and Happy.
Sturdy Fishermen.

HALAWA, CMolokaD. July 24.-The
saddest event of the month was the
sudden and unexpected death Of w.
Abel Kukamana, District Magistrate of
Molokai, which event took place at
Kalaupapa during the early part OF last
week. Kukamana left Pukoo for the
Leper Settlement on the 9th inst. to at
tend court there, and expected to re-
turn to his home at Pukoo the early
part of last week. Kukamana not In
the very best of health when he left
for Kalaupapa, but his friends did not
in the least anticipate that death was
awaiting him at that ''Vale of Sorrows
and Death" He leaves few distant
relatives and host of friends to mourn
his loss. The sad news of his death
was brought by two country criers, as
that was the very best means over here
of circulating any news. The hum
and buzz of telephones do not disturb
the ears, for such inventions are IN
known here.
The first record of death in Halawa
valley for a period of nearly twelve
months was the death of the oldest
resident of the valley, grandmother
of M. Hoonani Kane of Kamehameha
Normal School. She died at the very
mature age of over eighty years, hav-
ing born during the ''Ai Kapu" or Tabu
period, when Hawaiian women and
young girls were taken with a thous-
and times more care and pride than
during these times.
According to the vital statistics OF
this place, this would place Halawa
among the best and healthiest spots in
/ Hawaii nei. The residents care very
| little for medicines and much less for
kahunas, although Molokai nui a
Hina is and has been celebrated in the
annals of Hawaiian history as the
Land of Scorers and Witchcrafts. y
/ Halawa valley is a perfect sanitarium
| in itself The leaves of taro exhale
( fragrant perfumes in and around the
neighborhood throughout the year
The residents are most fortunate that
there are no rice patches here to yitiate
| the air with unpleasant odors, and
! the natives are the better for it too
! The same is to be said of all Molokai
although a report has been circulated
that rice plantations are to be started
at Kamalo and Kaunakakai in the neal
future, water to be supplied by means
of artesian wells.
/ Miss Emma Jones of Honolulu
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. G. w. c.
by the Rev. Manase at Pukoo the 9th
day.
Mrs. Liki is the biggest woman or
Molokai that can ride horse astridC
like young girl and even better. Sh'
is sister of F. ]. Tesla, and about the
same number of pounds avoirdupois
but she appears as light as feather
on horseback.
A fishing whale-boat from the othe
side of this island. has been here thre,
days now waiting for a good chance
to haul in large school of akules nov
lowering off the harbor for severa
/ days. The fishermen have made twl
attempts already but with no success
although the writer had tasted of I
few that we're caught in the net. TIL,
head fisherman has large force o
men with him-oYer ten to take charg
of the boat and the nets and as man.
more act as lookout men. The latte
will sit for hours in the open sun on ;
high promontory and from their ele
waited position point out to tn
fishermen below the course the fisl
are taking. The fishermen are 10
of jovial fellows. Fancy clothes beini
thrown into the sea-all for joke!
Kalahale, the ablest surf-rider Of
Molokai, is still living in Halawa val
ley and at the very advanced age o
over seventy years. He has told tn
! writer how he acquired dexterity il
that branch Of Aquatic sports-noV
, almost unknown to the rising genera
ton of Hawaiians. 1t was craze cal
: most as that prevailing among tenni
: players) among, the youth of thos
days. Practice makes perfect, he says
and only in that way did he learn t
perform feats of standing in variou
; attitudes on a surf-board while bein
borne on the top of the waves at
break-neck speed. He is old now an
lacks strength and agility, but perform
ing feats on surf-board he could neve
forget Halawa folks who have see
) him giving exhibitions in his balm
: days all say that Kalahale did perforI
most wonderful and graceful feats.