The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-12-18
ACTION on
CEMETERIES
Has Been Decided
Not to Close
Them.
NATIVES MAKE A
UNITED PROTEST
Board of Health After Hearing
Expression OF Public Opinion
Agrees TO Wait.

terieS, compelled the Board OF Health
yesterday to lay the report of City San
itary officer Tracy upon the table, and
further action will be deferred at least
until after the legislature meets and
provides for other burying grounds.
The opposition to the proposed order
was centered mainly upon the Kawaia-
hao cemetery at King and Punchbowl
streets the natives joining in protest
ing against any action towards closing
it. Over hundred people, chiefly Ha-
waiians, appeared before the Board and
their approval of the remarks OF the
speakers left no doubt as to their ear
nestness in protesting against the clos
ing of the cemeteries.
The presence of so many people was
a surprise to the members of the Board
of Health who had no idea that the
public was so violently opposed to ac-
ton on their part. The people filled
the meeting room, and crowded out into
the halls, a sort of overflow session be-
ing held in the street.
The meeting was opened by the read
ing Of the lengthy report made by SAM
tary Officer Tracy upon the cemeteries,
recommending that many Of them be
closed, because of their crowded condi-
ton and the sanitary dangers surround
ing. This report was interpreted into
Hawaiian by c. L. Hopkins, the court
interpreter, following which several
petitions were read from parties inter-
ested. One was from the residents in
the vicinity of Makik cemetery asking
that it be closed. The other was from
Rev. H. Fl. Parker for the KaWaiahao
trustees. He protested against the
closing of that cemetery on both senti-
mental and practical grounds. He set
out in the petition that nearly all the
Hawaiians had relatives inferred there
and they wished to be buried in the
same place. Then, too, the place was
crowded only in sections, which could
be closed if necessary. He contended
further that the grounds were well kept
and We're not a menace to public health,
and that if burying there was prohib-
tied, in the future the natives would
have no way to care for their dead.
President Sloggett stated that there
seemed TO be misunderstanding as
to the proposed action; that the Board
of Health had no intention of disinter-
ring any bodies, but simply to prevent
further oyercrowding by prohibiting
n he fri !, +a1
was done in the interest of public
health, and not with the intention of
working hardship upon anyone.
j. l.. Kaulukou was then called upon
to express his views. He stated that
he appeared on behalf of the people of
Kawaiahao church who earnestly pro-
tested against any interference with
their burial ground He said that
many of the lots had not been used at
all, and others had been used for but
one burial. He asked that action be
deferred indefinitely, and that in the
meantime the legislature be requested
to appropriate money with which to
purchase plot for public burying
ground. If this was not done, he stat
ed, the poor natives would be unable to
bury their dead.
John Kumalae disputed the assertions
OF the sanitary officer that the GENE
terry was overcrowded, saying his
adopted father had been caretaker for
many years, and good care had been
taken of the place
Senator Achi also spoke against the
closing of the cemetery, saying that the
Board of Health should wait until the
legislature meets and request that body
10 provide for new site. He said that
there was good land at both Waikiki
ana Palama which is suitable for a
cemetery and that he had land at Ka-
lihi which he would donate for the pur-
pose.
Rev. Hiram Bingham also spoke
against any change at present, stating
that many Hawaiians as we'll as mis-
sionaries were buried at Kawaiahao,
and that if the order was carried out
the natives might feel that the white
men We're forcing them out of their
lands and burying places. He referred
also to the building of the first church,
and the time when the chiefs drove the
missionaries to the Kawaiahao plains.
Mr.. Bingham suggested that if future
burials must be limited, that the Board
| burial there of any person not born in
the city of Honolulu, or not less than
fifty years of age.
There was objection also to the clos
ing of Makiki cemetery, and to the Gem
etery near the insane asylum Mrs
Rose objected to the closing of the
Catholic cemetery saying that both he1
| husband and children were laid to rest
there. There was also a protest
against closing the Makiki grounds by
! the Portuguese who have lot there
/ and Judge Kaulukou renewed his OBJ
lection to the closing of Kawaiahao> My
| including all the cemeteries in the city
On motion of DR.. Moore further dis
| eussion was cut off and it was decided
! that in view of the showing of public
opinion that the report of Mr.. Tracy be