The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-05-09
Report Of The Interesting HOite,
MOlOtai, April %.
ATTENDANTS FROM AfAR
Keen Esrnsstnsss OF All SIn. lns
for Pisos-Debt Cleared or
A Fine Grafton.

old times for the natives to 10 thirty
and forty miles TO attend religious
gatherings. IL was then matter
merely of packing the suit OF clothes
in a calabash and with that and a child
perhaps on the back starting for the
distant place most unconcernedly.
To get from such valleys as Pelekunu
and Wailau on Molokai around to the
other side OF the Island Is no light
task for a man under the best condi-
tons. Half the year Pelekunu is only
reached by an almost impossible
mountain trail. and assuming the prac-
ticability of getting women and child
rem over II there are still modern es-
sentlals, black suits. boiled shirts and
pretty holokus to deal, with.-and the
trail idea must be abandoned.
However, all these schools and many
others were represented at the great
Hoike at Kaluaaha.
The newly repaired church could
easily hold GOO, yet there was standing
room only on April 30. Horses tether-
ed all over the commons testified that
many had come from considerable dis
lance. OF course the hospitality OF
Kaluaaha was being taxed to its ut
most the levy was clear beyond as
sessed valuations too. For example,
there were thirty of the Pelekunuites
and yet one small roof covered them
all, notwithstanding the fact that there
were three adults and three sick babies
already on the field. But no one COM
planned, and to see them all on Sunday
morning one would have imagined that
they came from the hotel.
The town was one continued bar
becue and many had brought consider
abb poi with them.
There are some excellent leaders
OF singing in Honolulu but It is doubt
full whether four men could be found
in this city who could have produced
any better musical effects than at least
four men from four little mountain
hamlets brought out from material
which would, pass on sight as raw"
There was little there in that long
programme lasting from 10 in the
morning until $3.50 in the afternoon
that was not in good taste, and the in
tention seemed to be TO let soft effects
predominant for there was little Of the
lusty volume which Is so frequently
death to musical effect or religious eX-
preston. The peculiarly rough tones
frequently noticed in country singing
among the Hawaiians had been care
fully filed down" and intricate selec-
tons were rendered with the finish and
decOrum of city cholrs. How it would
have astonished many TO hear anthems
requiring some difficult changes of key,
undertaken unerringly and unfalter-
ingly,-learned by ear in many cases
to be sure, but sustained without the
help of "A musical instrument, of any
kind.
And the patience OF those people!
Could you stand five hours OF excellent
music at one sitting and without inter-
mission? The music in the old church
was not always excellent, but few even
of the little children left their seats,
while there was almost no audible
comment passed upon performers even
when there might have been said to
be excuse for the strong "ka"-which
natives use on occasion.
The committee of award afterward
said that Pelekunu deserved the first
place, but this judgment was probably
based on the same grounds that in
early days to grant Doctorate to an
old Alumnus hailing from Texas, who
had not come back for many years.
He came so far, what less could we
do?" There was Kaunakakai under
the leadership OF the veteran Kiha
(about whom book might be wrltten)
and Kaluaaha trained by Kahaulelio Of
Lahaira, and Wailua whom Joel Ma
zareta had brought up to high polish,
all OF these might well have contest
ed the award, to say nothing OF that
unique people, the Halawaites whom
Peter Pascal inspired. Then there
were the boys OF Lahainaluna, who
came over In a whale-boat and whose
singing and manners and general ap-
pearance were a distinct honor TO that
old and honored institution. Those
thirty boys must have had a breezy
time coming and going over that chan
mel and they certainly deserved all the
fun there was In II as well as the
prestige they won by their excellent
performance. Waihee, Maui, was there
too In n small force, In the Saturday
night concert their instrumental music