The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-09-10
EXODUS FROM KAKAAKO
souTH SEA ISLANDERS REMOVE
no KALIHl
Spuattcrs Avail Themselves of Govern
mont Omor-plcased with Their Ncw
Quarters Were at Liberty TO stay.

The exodus Of the Gilbert Islanders
from the settlement at Kakaako COM
menced yesterday afternoon, and thus
morning will see but few of the late
inmates remaining at the camp at the
harbor mouth.
The emigration was not compulsory
one although a scare was started yes
terday morning among the Hawaiian
denizens at Kakaako to the effect that
the whole camp would have to move by
ten o'clock this morning under cOmpul-
sion of the police. The rumor arose
from the orders given by Captain Merry
of the naval reservation TO "a group of
natives who were maintaining a little
settlement Immediately behind the
quarantine shed and distinct from the
main settlement These people three
weeks ago We're given weeks notice
to quit and yesterday morning were
ordered to pack their things and go.
There was no hardship entaied in their
particular case as they had made ar
rangements to live with their friends.
The messenger sent by Captain Merry,
either misunderstood or exceeded his
Instructions and notified John
Poai and some dozen other Hawaiians
living in the camp proper that they also
must clear out. Added to this, the fact
that the Gilbert islanders We're pack
ing up preparatory to moving to the
new quarters offered to them at Kalihi
created CONSERVATION in the breasts of
Poai and his friends.
Captain Merry, being appealed to,
stated that he had left the matter i'm
the hands Of the Board of Health and
personally did not want to make trou-
BILE, being willing that the settlement
should remain as long as the United
States did not require the space DIR.
Pratt, executive officer of the Board of
Health said that the settlers were to
be served with a notice giving them two
weeks in which to raise their houses
above the beach and conform to GER
tain regulations. If these were carried
out the settlers might remain in their
present location. AS Poai and the rest
of the natives have raised their dwell
ings they will not have to move away
for an indefinite period as far as the
Hawaiians are concerned. There are
only about a dozen of these however
and when the Gilbert Islanders have
moved today their presence will be
hardly noticed, while the removal of the
shacks hitherto occupied by the men
from the South Seas will remove what
has hitherto been considered by many
as an eyesore to incoming steamers, the
ramshackle though somewhat pictures
que settlement at Kakaako
ARE REJOICING.
The Gilbert Islanders who are now
abandoning the settlement are not do
ing so against their Wills, but rather
with rejoicing at the better quarters
provided for them. AS far as the au-
thorities are concerned, they may re-
main at Kakaako providing they con-
form with the changes requird by the
Health Board.
When the fact was first exploited in
the press, that the settlement must go,
the Rev. Hiram Bingham, who was,
n mi G nv
the official protector of the Gilbert ISL
anders who were brought here in the
early eighties for plantation work and
of which immigration the people at
present in question are the remainder,
took up the matter of where they were
to go.
Mr.. Bingham has always been looked
upon by the Government as the general
authority in such matters owing to his
interest in the tribe and his knowledge
of their language and ways A letter
from the Department of Public Works
was sent to him on Thursday last stat
ing that Governor Dole. acting in con-
sideration with superintendent j. II.
Boyd, had decided to make the offer
of certain houses then unoccupied in the
Kalihi Detention Camp at Kalihi, rent
and water free.
Mr. Bingham had in the meantime en-
deaVored to obtain from the authorities
an assurance of a certain number of
years of positive tenure to the Islanders
of the settlement at Kakaako, failing
which it would be hardly worth while
for the Islanders to make the alter
ations required in their village, apart
from the fact that such a course would
entail a cost that would be impossible
for the poor fishermen and hat braiders
to meet. This was unable to be grant
ed as the erection of a new coal pile or
n mi OH nt
removal of the settlement.
THE NEW QUARTERS.
Mr.. Bingham then, in company with
Mr.. Clark, who is in charge of the Ka-
lihi camp, inspected the new quarters
which consisted of two houses at the
western end of the camp. While the
houses were filled with dirt and rubbish
brought in by the rats and some of the
windows We're broken, there were great
advantages to be gained. Plenty OF
fresh water from the artesian well
would be at the free disposal of the
new tenants and there is a sanitary
system of closets with a stream of
flowing water in connection. The para
mount necessity of having a place TO
beach their canoes was also overcome,
it being possible to bring the boats up
the stream at high tide to within a
stones throw of their houses, there be-
ing also two other places where the ca
noes could be conveniently landed and
launched at any time.
Kakaako was next visited, and the
situation explained Mr. Bingham
pointing out to them that If they did
not take present advantage of the Gov
ernments offer they would have no rea-
son for complaint should they be remov-
ed in the future and there then prove
no such opening. A deputatiOn from
the village then went to Kalihi and
brought back such glowing accounts of
the new quarters that their fellow ISL
anders began packing up their house
hold goods and chattels forthwith. The
rooms We're apportioned by lot and
about half of the camp took possession
of their new home last evening carrying
their belongings with them in their
canoes. BroOms were donated by Mr.
Bingham and the rooms soon looked
presentable.
The rest, to the total number of
nearly 100, including thlrty-two couples,
will depart today with the possible ex-
ception of few who prefer to run their
chances, the native Hawaiians also re-
int,