The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-10-16
LEWALEWAS
MAY co
Gilbert Islanders
May Leave on
lsIeWOrth.
Manager Arundel Makes
Liberal Offer of
S. a Head.
Rev. Bingham and Consul Hoare
Eager to Raise the Money.
All are Homesick.

An attempt is being made by the
Rev. Hiram Bingham, British Consul
Hoare, Manager Arundel of the Paci-
fic Island Development Company and
others interested, to ship back to their
homeland, the Gilbert Islanders brought
here some twenty years since for plan
tation labor. An opportunity has been
afforded by the presence of the British
steamer Isleworth which leaves for
Ocean Island $50 miles southwest of
the Gilbert Islands on course that
brings the steamer close to the most
northerly of the Gilbert group.
The islanders were brought here in
different ships under contracts for la
Dor work during the years 1880 and
1882. In the contract was clause
agreeing to ship the Gilbert Islanders
back to their homes after conclusion of
the contracts Man of them were en-
ployed on Koloa plantation, Kauai
and a large proportion were taken
back according to agreement Others
remained, it is stated, voluntarily.
Many it is claimed were not offered
passages.
During their stay here the Islanders
have kept themselves in colonies. For
some time many lived in a settlement
of huts on sand enclosed by the stone
wall built into the sea at Kakaako,
back of the Quarantine wharf. There
they supported themselves by fishing,
the women assisting by braiding hats
and mats. Later they removed to Ka-
lihi camp where some 120 now reside.
There is colony of eighty at Lahaina
and a few live on the shores of Pearl
Harbor. Their mortality rate through
them are true Gilbert Islanders but
some come from the New Hebrides and
other South Pacific islands allied to
that group. All of them are homesick.
The Gilbert Islands being a British
protectorate the colonies here are I'M
der the control of that country and
British Consul Hoare has taken
strong interest in the matter of send
ing them home. The Rev. Hiram Bing-
ham, for years engaged in missionary
work in the Gilbert Islands and prac-
ticaiiy the only intermediary between
them and the white mans language
has always attempted to ameliorate
their lot and holds $1,000 in trust for
forty of them, twenty from Lahaina
and twenty at Kalihi who have long
been saving to get home. Two men
own $500 and the rest average about S35
apiece in trust.
When it became known that the
steamer Isleworth, which expects to
leave Saturday afternoon, would af-
ford an unhoped for chance of the ISL
anders getting back to their native
strands, Consul Hoare and the Rev.
Hiram Bingham spoke to Mr.. Arun-
del who is in charge of Ocean island
and the movements of the Isleworth
on the subject. Mr.. Arundel who has
done much philanthropic work among
the South Pacific natives at once con-
scented to do what he could and offered
to take the whole 200 back to the Gill
berts for $1,000 which would just cover
the actual expenses of lost time and
arrangement of quarters.
20 de
their own simple fare which would not
cost them much and would it is thought
be largely betrayed by contribution.
An alternative offer will take fifty pas
sengers for $500 or IS a head.
This latter arrangement could easily
be taken advantage of by the 40 who
have money in trust and still land them
home as capitalists. Should they wish
to accept in Kalihi wireless will be
sent to Lahaina and connection estab-
lished for those wishing to go from
there by the Kinau which will arrive
in Honolulu some hours before the
Isleworth leaves. All effects Of those
leaving will have to go at sacrifice,
but these are neither numerous nor
valuable and getting home Will GER
tainly outweigh every other considera-
ton.
1t is hardly to be expected that the
capitalists of the crowd will divide
their hard earned savings with their
fellow countrymen though this may be
done to some extent. Great excitement
prevails in Kalihi camp where a big |
talk" is being held.
Mr.. Bingham makes an appeal to
Honolulu philanthropists to help the
,.-.,.s;o,, ;s1opdars stranded in q conn !