The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-07-14
HOT TIME IN
LEPER VILLAGE
HAPPIER DAYS FOR INHABIT-
ANTS OF KALAUPAPA
AND KALAWAO.
LEPERS ARE GETTING UP A
MINSTREL SHOW.
Social Events, Sports and Other
Amusements Improve Conditions
Visit of the Board of Health.

People on any passing vessel that
went near the Leper Settlement on the
evening Of July 4, if there was such a
vessel must have thought that the
usually quiet little peninsula had
suddenly been transformed into a
small inferno. The lepers celebrated,
Ito beat the band" closing the day
with a grand ball in the evening. The
celebration, the ball and the sports
that still engage the attention of the
unfortunates, are part of the reason
why no more complaints come from
kalaupapa and kalawaO to the Board
of Health, and why the Board was
able to visit the place on Saturday
without hearing numerous kicks.
The settlement has become a new
place i'm the past two months. The
people have been walked up to a social
life and to an interest in sports and
they are having a better time now
than they have had before for years.
They have something better to do than
get up petitions and make complaints.
The new superintendent, j. ID. Nc
Weigh. put his shoulder to the wheel
at once when he took charge and by
more liberal rules in the matter of
amusements, by encouraging sports
and social entertainments, he has
aroused the unfortunates from their
I
lage there is usually something going
on. Life is happier all around. n
movement is now on foot to get up a
minstrel show. Anyone who can help
by making donations of costumes will
contribute to the enjoyment of the lep-
ers and help along a bit Of theatriCals
that will be unique.
Following up the commencement
made on June II, when, after much
difficulty in organizing teams, the first
| baseball contest was held July 4th be-
gan with sports. All day long there
were contests of all kinds, closing with
tug of war in the evening. Then
came the ball and fireworks. There
were plenty of fireworks, and nowhere
in the world were fireworks enjoyed
| more. To many of the inmates they
were new. Lepers might be seen seiz-.
| ing and lighting a Roman candle, hold
| ing it alOft and emitting whoops of
delight that would have done credit to
! the most enthusiastic patriot in the
| land. 1t was a really hot time in Ka-
laupapa, probably the hottest that usu-
| ally silent village ever knew.
The ball was another grand success
| The hall was crowded, SO that there
| was scarcely room for the dancers at
| first. The couples soon began to swing
! out over the floor, and when
| they once got started the lepers danced
the night away, to the tunes of their
| own musicians. 1t was pleasure to
| all onlOokers to see them so enjoy
! themselves, and McNeigh declared that
| it was enough reward for any amount
of labor, to see the unfOrtunates wax
ed up to enjoyment Of such an occa-
| sion.
The lepers are now allowed more
| freedom in the use of the hall. The
former rule was lights out at nine
o'clock" Now they are allowed to
keep the hail open till midnight every
night, excepting Sundays, when it is
| closed all day. Changes of this sort,
with the arousing of sporting interests
by the judicious use of funds for pri-
zes, etc, have done much to improve
conditions at the Settlement and to
create the existing better feeling.
1t has been suggested that anyone
having sporting goods to give away
see that they are sent to the Settle
ment. Baseball outfits or any other
athletic goods, ping pong sets, etc,
will find ready use. McVeigh wants a
pool table to place alongside the bill
lard table already at Kalaupapa. For
|