The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-09-08
y. Z. EMF RSON,
Corresponding Secretary
Honolulu, December 6, 1898.

Honolulu, December 6, 1898
In addition TO the circular, we have
also sent out in some cases, bit of
the history of our school, which Mr..
E. G. Bond has thus written:
In response to a request for some
information concerning the origin and
history of the Kohala Girls School,
will state as follows:
1T is my impression that the school
originated in the demand of the time
for schools that would give to the Ha-
cation than was available at the pub
lie schools, and probably in an accep-
tation of the adage that the character
of a nation depends largely on the
character of it's mothers. What other
influences may have combined with
these for the inception of the school
l am unable to say.
THE building operations must have
begun about the middle of the year
1874. 1t will be noted that this was
previous to the passage of the reel
procity treaty; consequently previous
| to the time of prosperity which fol
| lowed that event.
Money was scarce and mechanics
were not readily secured. A carpenter
| was found to undertake the building
| but the work must be pushed, and
| with characteristic force, Rev. Ella:
Bond, at that time pastor of the ma
| tive church and founder of the school
| devoted his unstinted energies, body
and soul, from early dawn to the dark
ening hours of evening, to the speedy
accomplishment of the work, in thu
capacity of laboring mechanic an(
| OverSeer, in a manner that seriously
| injured and permanently undermined
his health.
| "The school opened December
1874, with Miss E. w. Lyons, who haC
been teaching in the Hilo Boarding
| School for Boys, as principal, with one
assistant teacher and Rev. S. G.. Lu
| hiau as assistant in charge of the man
ual labor department, which at tina
| time consisted in keeping the grounds
in order, and preparing the native fOO(
after Hawaiian methods. Father Bono
| conducted the business affairs of The
| school and held the general Supervi
| sion. The principal was conscientiou:
and faithful TO the discharge of the re
sponsibilities devolving upon her.
''In three years from the time of it:
opening, the pupils numbered 80 to so
| being the full capacity of the accom-
| modations. But the corps of assistants
was at times inadequate, and at the
| close of the term in October, 1882, she
resigned, which resulted in closing the
school for a term of years.
"In 1889, after fruitless endeavors
| through large correspondence anG
the agency of friends, to secure anoth.
err principal-which may be noted as
an indication that teachers for schools
| were not as readily available as at the
present time-and finding that his own
| failing health would prevent his ever
again assuming the responsibilities OF
such a school, Father Bond decided the
property, in trust, to the Hawaiian
Board. By singular coincidence
| there was at that time in Honolulu q
| tourist, or visitor, in the person of Miss
Henrietta Whittier, a relative of the
well-knOwn poet of that name, who
on being interviewed by the officers o.
| the Hawaiian Board consented to as
sumo charge of the school, selecting
her own assistants. A board of mana
| gers was appointed, and the schoo
reopened October 81, 1889.
1.-The number of pupils admitted thu
| first year was 81, and in the following
year %, and the attendance in 1913:
| appears to have been 60.
"The building had been improved
| and extended after the close of the frs
year. Various changes have takeI
place in the corps of teachers. The fac
ulty now numbers 5.The attendance tn,
past year was A, and at present dat'
rs So, a number being unable to ente
for want of ability to pay the moder
ate charge of $50 year for board ant
tuition. 1t is not to be supposed tina
this charge will cover the current ex
penses of the establishment"
We were at first limited by the Ha
waiian Board to this Island in the dis
| tribution of our circulars. This, o
| course retarded the work. But nov
| that the distribution is more wide
spread, the receipts are more encour
aging. Mr.. c. NJ. Cooke has most gen
erously remembered us with $1,000
Probably about 5000 of this will be pu
on the endowment fund, which viii
make about $1,000 for that purpose ii
the Kohala treasury We have not We
heard from those appointed in othe
places to receive funds, but We hav
had so many encouraging answers t.
our circulars and so many promises o
money, that we feel that We have pros
pered We are, at least, rich in kline
friends, and we are very glad Of thi
opportunity to thank them for all thei
sympathy and helpfulness.
MAY BELL TRUETT.