The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-24
HONOLULU CLEANING HOUSE.
HAWAII'S BIG CITY STARTED
on THE REFORM ROAD.
Notorious Iwelei stochadc Abolished by
the New Territsriai Government
Grand Jury discovers . had state
Of Affairs In the Insane Asylum.

the New Territarial Government
GRAM Jury Discovers . Had State
Of Affairs In the Insane Asylum.
Honolulu seems to be headed for reform.
Though the work OF the inrular Legislature
In the first session was not very satisfactory,
owing in some measure to the dominance
of the native or Home Rule Republican
party and it's ~quarrels with Gov. Dole and
his Cabinet, the other machinery Of the new
Hawaiian Government appears to I've work.
ing smoothly toward better conditions in
the islands.
This In especially 40 in Honolulu, where
there liz great room for improvement. One
Of the first steps toward cleaning up tho
city was the closing OF the Iwelei ~stockade,
which wal built under the old regime.
Here the disorderly women OF the city,
most Of them slaves Of Japanese masters.
were compelled to live. The stockade
came TO be looked upon as one Of the sight 8
Of Honolulu TO be visited by tourists.
The city had been divided from the first
on the wisdom OF the plan. and though n
wa successful enough in keeping vice out
of the streets Of the city it's other features
gradually earned it's condemnation. II
was a legalization not only Of vice. but also
of the practical slave trade in which the
Japanese were engaged.
When the new Territorial Government
came into power the question was seriously
considered, and II was decided TO abolish
the system, the law under which II had
been established being declared In con-
fiict with the act organizing the Territory.
The high fence or stockade was torn
down. Attempts by the Japanese TO con-
tiinue their trade insyoung girls OF to reopen
their dens In other parts Of the city are
being resisted vigorously.
Recently the Territorial Grand Jury,
OF which Prince David Kawahanakoa was
foreman, reported on condit ions in Homo
lulu and pointed out 9 number OF. chances
for improvements. The jury made a tour
of the city al night and found many evil
places. Its report compliments the police
force W doing all In its power to patrol the
city with a small number Of men, and the
report adds:
TT seems to this jury hat IL the last
legislature had attended to their duties
a. public servants and looked more to the
protection Of our citizens and the public
welfare in general that these facts would
not exist"
The jury's real discovery. however,
was made In the Territorial Insane Asylum.
This institution has $50 patients, Of whom
lis are men and 81 women. The report says:
The buildinss Of the asylum are one
stored frame Affairs, and consist OF six
wards for patients, an administration
building, a cottage for the captains OF the
guard, and another for the guards, one
for the women attendants or nurses and n
small dead louse or morgue. .
The wards or dormitories consist OF
rooms with bare floors and walls, called
cefs, which in fact they are, They are
usually furnished with an iron springhess
cot and bedding, though In many instances
the mattresses are laid upon the floor. as
there are not enough bedrooms to accom-
modate all the patients. Yet in some
cases II IL regarded advisable To limit the
furnishing TO a mattress pillow and quit
Ward No. 2 IL the oldest ward in the
asylum. Its floors and porche- and foun-
dations are decaytd and the building II
unfit for Us present occupancy.
in this building are the mems dining
room and the general kitchen from which
the meals OF the women patients are car
ried 10 them in baskets and are eaten by
them on the grnss In fair weather aud other
wise on their ward porches. a. heir din
ing room has been turned into a dorrnitorv.
owing to the " condition OF their
quarters.
The general kitchen IL furnished with
A good range. but otherwise it's equipment
n primitive. there being no steam table,
or any OF the improved cooking appliances
usually found in similar institutions in
other States and Territories Of the Union.
The utensils are old and badly worn and
" AiNAA '"l| ~ ~ ''F ''
tomato cans, there being no other cup"
provided
Ward No 4 il the woman's ward and has
normal accommodations for nineteen pa
tents, vet thirt v -three women are houred
there, many sleeping on the hoOrs 81 the
cells owing TO the scarcity Of cote
There h no work provided for the in
mates except for a very few in the taro
and garden pai chew ard about ia. kitchen
and wards. Neither arr there any forms
of amu-ement and there II No mueic, nor
are there any Appliances for physical er-r-
ctre nor are outdoor games encouraged
for either sea
The jury made strong recommendations
for a reform ~ these conditions and the
report naturally caused ~omes ha' Of a
sensation The tin can drinking utensils
were quickly thrown away by th" super
intendeH ~ the asylum and good cuIS
substituted
Other improvements are h"ing made,
bTi a thorough cleaning up ~ The instnu-
tlon ~ impossible until more money IL
provided for it, maintenance
Public opinion h. nov aroused. how
ever. and Win u~nd"ub'sdl, fnrcs l"Riria-
tive action 90 remedy thu and other owls
IN the CITY