The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-01-31
At
LUNAL|lO
Aged naWaiians in
Their Annual
Feast.

ISnow supports this retreat for man!
1 helpless, INDECENT and aged Hawaiians
1t is the gladdest day in all the year fol
the old natives gathered there for it i!
| the one upon which each gets a new
outfit of clothing and a luau remark
| able for its quality and size 1t is the
| day on which all the old people are
| happy in shaking hands land talking
with outsiders, whom they do not often
see.
| There were many enjoying the luau
| under the oversight of Mrs. Ellen
| Weaver, the lady who manages the
home and is regarded as a relative
and kind one at that, by all the OLD
| people living there The reporter found
! Mrs. Weaver receiving her guests at
| the entrance to the main building. She
was pleased to see everyone. She led
| the guests about the grounds and
| through the buildings of the Home.
| Mrs. Weaver has managed the Home
| in d way that has won her a warm
| place in the regard of the old people
who are spending their last weary
years there.
Among the natives she had many odd
experiences Sometime ago a young
native who was totally blind went
to Mrs. Weaver and told her that he
wished to marry woman inmate who
was nearly three times his own age.
Mrs. Weaver was shocked at this
matrimonial proposal. She tried to
reason with the blind man and finally
told him that the woman had years
enough to be his grandmother. The
natives response to this sally was:
mo pilikia, L cannot see her. 1 am
blind. What matter If she look old
to others, to me all persons are same
age
On Friday an old native approach
ed Mrs. Weaver with a complaint.
Early on Founders Day each man in
the home is supplied with pair of
blue trousers and a new shirt. This
native said: II do not want blue trou-
sers. I am kahuna nui. / want black
trousers. I am greater man than
the rest" Mrs. Weaver humored him
also and gave him a pair of black
pants. This made him very happy.
While the guests were being entertain
ed at the Home this kahuna nui sat
on chair and played on an instru-
ment that is now rarely used among
the Hawaiians. This is a nose flute.
Kahuna hui blew into the bamboo
flute through his nose. Theetnusic thus
produced was peculiar and seemed to
be of an agonizing sort.
But there were many other old ma
tives there who were just. as inter
esting as the man who called himself /!
a big kahuna. In one place there sat /
a row of six persons. Each was blind !
all RI "a I'M
hands with visitors and responding to
greetings with a hearty aloha nui."
In the old mems ward there were some
beridden patriarchs, white haired, and
very i'll, yet anxious to shake hands and /
tell everyone how glad they were of the
visit. One old fellow seemed happy in
chanting song which was said to be
the favorite of King Lunalilo during
that monarch's lifetime. Among those
Did fellows were men who were at one
time famous in Hawaii, famous as po-
Iitical leaders and as the chums OF
Hawaiian monarchs who have laid in
heir graves for years.
They all seemed happy. Their
wants are few and all of these are
heerfully supplied by the mana cement
# the Home.
The other section of the building is
lsed for old ladies. And there were
some grand old DANES among them,
women who in their time had fascin-
ated some of the earliest visitors to |
Hawaii Among them are ladies bare
y able to move around, suffering with
Ill sorts of complaints, yet all were |
lappy and content. They pointed to
leatly set tables where there was an
abundance of Hawaiian food and soda |
water. The old ladies wore leis as
,rettily as schoolgirls and to everyone
hey gave a hearty handclasp and
cal hearty "aloha nui."
on in one corner of the grounds
here was steaming pit. From this
| roasted pig had just been taken.
Fhe hole was large and so there was
! large fire and much steam. Around
he pig there were fish, sweet potatoes
md other edibles and all of this had
leen cooked at one time. And when
he dishes were passed around con-
aiming these things the joy of the old
natives was complete. 1t took three
lours and half to cook the pig.
The Territorial band, governed by
'aptain Berger, furnished music. And
he gay parties all about the extensive
awns o. the Home completed a scene
which will be long remembered by the
trangers present.
In all Honolulu there are probably |
10 better kept grounds than those of
he Lunalilo Home An air of neat
less and comfort pervades the entire
The rooms occupied
Is bedrooms are scrupulously clean,
lght, airy, and pleasant.
In the women's wards there was one
Id lady who for some time has refused
o see visitors When they are around
he keeps her head covered with a
hawl but she enjoyed the luau as
much as anybody yesterday.
Mrs Weaver served some neat 1uau
lunches to her visitors at the same
ime that the natives were enjoying !
heir feast. Many old residents of
honolulu who are well known TO the
natives at the Home took pleasure in
enewing acquaintance. Many of the