Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-09-06
OF EARLY MISSIONARY WORK

Men of the present day when they
think of the matter often have to con-
Tess that. they know very little about
the methods and detail of early mis-
sionary work, and the systems OF la
bor adopted. II occurs to the writer to
give some OF the features of the work
in North Hawaii.
Upon the first arrival of missionaries
on these Islands a few main points
were occupied, viz: Kailua. l.ahaina.
Honolulu and Waimea on Kauai.
These were centers Of effort. Later on
as the force was increased the area
OF the group was divided up into def
mite fields" each Of which was TO be
thoroughly worked up by the mission
airy In charge, the assistant. when two
families were at one station, being
generally q teacher or physician. The
entire field in each case was to be gone
over and organized. and no hamlet left
out.
Waimea Mission Work.
without stopping to give the differ
tul ulNlhlOnh vi lut VI
wall, this article will deal with the field
whose central station was Waimea, In
South Kohala. About the year 1881,
eleven years after the first coming Of
the missionaries some OF these faith
full laborers felt the facilitating in
fiuence OF the climate OF such stations
as Kailua and Honolulu, and II was
thought wise to choose some elevated,
cool locality for new center OF work
whittier different ones could repair al
times, probably with the idea OF rota-
ton In service, or perhaps of having
one permanent family, while the assist
ants could go and come as was most
beneficial. DR.. Judd OF Honolulu. and
Mr.. Ruggles of Kaawaloa went on a
tour OF inspection, and selected Wal
mea, about 200 feet above the sea, and
central of North Hawaii. Both fami-
lies removed thither and remained for
some months. Or. Baldwin, later of
Lahaina, was stationed there when DR..
Judd left, Mr.. Ruggles returning tn
Kaawaloa. Rev. Lorenzo Lyons and
| Mrs. Lyons who arrived In Honolulu
In the large and vigorous reinforce
ment OF 1882, were Immediately assign
ed to Walmea as their home and place
of work. DR.. Baldwin remained but a
year or two, going with his family IL
L.ahaina, and the scheme OF making
|, Waimea health station seems to have
been abandoned partly on account OF
the bleakness of the climate in rainy
weather, and partly because missionary
service required constant attendance
at one place. Mr.. Lyons was thereafter
the central figure in the work In thai
section, remaining faithfully at hi;
post for Gfty-four years.
No Horse Trails.
The field at first included all Kohala
both North and South, and Hamakua
In 1887 North Kohala was set on by IL
self, under Messrs. bliss and Bailey
leaving to Mr.. Lyons all that long stril
OF country. now the Hamakua can
belt, extending from the present Ookal
plantation to Wnipio, and including tn
deep valleys OF Waipio. Waimanu an
Honopue. II must be remembered tina
there were not even horse trails Il
those days. the native foot paths de
scending directly into the guiches an
climbing the other side. The othe
half OF the field including Puako. w
villages to the south, and Kawaihn
at the sea, and two villages in Kawa
hae mountains, Waimea itself contain
ed several villages, All the countr
was populous with natives, Waipi
alone having thousand people.
Getting Acquainted.
At first the work consisted OF sc
ting acquainted with the people an
making preaching tours through Il
district and in examining and direc
ing the schools which had already bee
established in the preceding decade
many sections Then came the gre
revival OF 1888, during which year al
the succeeding one, hundreds and eve
thousands Of people focked to the ce