The National tribune., 1899-10-19
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
Visit to Our New Possessions
i'm the Pacific.
BY OSCAR F. SAMPSON,
Ist N. Y. Vols, Spanish War.

In the former article spoke of the earlies
known history of the islands; in this shal
treat of the native of the islands. the Ka
naka. Although there are so per cent
Chinese and japanese, 10 per cent. Portu
guese, and about eight per cent. Americans
and other foreign people in the islands. the
natives smiling face and aloha" of vel
come greets you from the time you enter the
land until Your leave.
This sunny-natured son of the soil is by
far the most interesting individual you
meet in this "land of liquid sunshine:
YOU find him at every turn. and no ooclI-
patton can get along without him; his
familiar and quite attractive face greetS You
in the store, the hotel, the printing office; at
public works and upon the wharf: in the
churches and schools. and at all places OF
amusement. With few exceptions he greets
yoI kinily, almost winningly, with his
fcien illness. and the stranger feels in
touch with him at once.
CHEERFUL AND HOSPITABLE.
His home and hospitality are yours
without the asking: food, drink. and such
else as he has TO bcstow are given with the
utmost attention to your needs. am quite
of the native has been ill-rewarded by IN
grateful visitors.
The Kanaka makes the most obliging
and careful of clerks, though their success
as clerks rarely advances them further;
because, as | mentioned before. a kanaka
cannot govern, and neither is he capable
of handling business with any degree of
success where systematic work or unusual
ability is required.
Having been some weeks in the islands,
and seeing no native in business for HIM
self, inquired the cause of native friend
of mine. He gave me this explanation:
when you have been with us longer you
will understand the reason better. will tell
you now that number of Hawaiians have
undertaken it, but have always failed"
But what is the trouble?" asked know
ing the good qualities of his people in the
capacity of clerks, laborers, mechanics and
dozen and one vocations.
Simply because when the Kanaka gets
dollar in his pocket he is never easy until
it is gone" was the quick and truthful
reply.
1t truly seems that nature has had her
hand in compelling these natives to be thus
by helping their life to be free from the out
look of failure of crops, hard Winter seasons
and such other troubles as have taught
their more successful friends many lessons.
Our friend gets along very well with his
fruit stand and his fish STALL indeed, ii were
almost useless to live there without these,
and he does notable work with his boat
traffic; but aside from these his life is given
in labor to others.
SEA-FISHING AND BOATING.
Sea-fishing, boating and swimming the
native never tires of. The Kanaka is
ready to own his ignorance of practical
farming and stock-raising; in truth, he is
quite willing the Chinese and japanese
shall do this work. His existence is not
dependent upon these duties, and conse-
quently it is seldom We find native who
has more farm land than is required for his
patch of taro plants and few swine. But
as soon as he sets out upon his fishing trip
you notice change in the whole makeup of
the individual; he is a changed man, alert,
active, ambitious and daring. All the
deep sea-fshing is carried on by the native
Hawaiian.
Coming from our camp to the city one
evening as a heavy sea was coming in and
darkness was fast approaching, caught
sight of few tiny specks out upon the
waves. In few minutes / saw they were
native fishermen in their "proas," or native
canoes, returning from fishing trip AS
/ stood, looking in amazement at their
steadiness when in danger of being over
turned or dashed upon the rocks in the reef,
two of the canoes with one occupant each
shot up on the beach and the native greeted
me with smile and an aloha" CHow are
you, friend.)
Here was my first chance to examine the
"Proa." Ifound this one about 10 feet long
and perhaps two feet wide in its widest part,
and tapering toward both ends. They are
usually made of very tough bark and
pitched inside and out These boats are
successfully kept from overturning by a
simple outrigging made by the thoughtful
native. Upon each end of the boat long
arm extends over the water, and to the ends
of these is fastened another pole, or runner
to float upon the water, and serves to hold
.he equipoise of the boat.
So simple and practical is this arrange
ment that very few fishermen lose their lives
through its unsuccessful working. Even
should the boat upset by accident, as it may