The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-06-04

to tell how the business and politics
of the Hawaiian Islands have been
affected by American rule. but what
OF the American woman's life in these
little mid-sea possessions of ours?
What sort of change does she find in
social and domestic matters?
AS far as her house is concerned
the difference is not as great as one
might imagine. In the old days, be-
fore the overthrow of the monarchy,
many of the wooden houses were
shipped over in pieces and put to-
gether by their Yankee owners. That
is why there is so much New England
architecture to be found here. The
modern houses are nearly all built in
bu(ngalow fashion with broad veran-
dat. so that much of the family life fs
i'm the open air. Contrary to the prac-
tice in the West Indies, carpets and
rugs are used upon the floors in the
dwellings, and the furnishings are
similar to those used in American
houses. with the possible exception or
tapa. mats upon the walls and polished
caIabash bowls for ornaments.
SOCIETY BECOMES EXCLUSIVE.
Honolulu is the social centre of the
famed for it's hospitality, although
greater caution is now observed To-
ward the stranger than formerly. Hos
pitaIity has been much abused in the
mast for in the old days a pleasant
address and a full purse were all that
was necessary to open the way TO the
inner social circles of the place. After
several bogus counts had been enter
tanned and whole raft of pretenders
of one sort or another had imposed up
on the people they became more eau
tious
The life of the American society
woman on the Islands is gay. There
is a. whirl of teas, dinners, receptions,
balls, pfcnics and bathing parties.
These bathing parties are distinctive
feature, and on a moonlight night
nothing could be more entertaining
than to watch a party in the surf.
Stockings and shoes are seldom worn,
beause one can swim better without
then and the ride in the surf boats
necessitates as little clothing as posi-
BILE. Light refreshments are often par
taken of in the water, and it is novel
sight for a stranger to see japanese
servant in bathing costume passing
around light drinks and refreshments
to the submerged bathers.
DESCRIPTION OF NATIVE FEAST.
A Iuau or native feast, is not only
given by the native Hawaiians but by /
of entertainment very much in vogue |
and is much sought after by strangers.
The table is always covered with terms
and earlands of a sweet smelling vine |
which resembles smilax. Garlands OF |
red. pink, and white carnations are
combined with the green, and upon |
this artistic covering are placed Gala
bashes of polished cocoa-nut shells,
while brilliantly polished small bowls |
are at each place for the individual
The main dishes are always poi and
fish. Poi is the national delfcacy or
the Hawafians. 1t is made from the |
taro, a sort of potato which grows In
marshy ground. The COOK pounds it
TO a pulp in mortar. and it is served
in bowls in the form of a white, sticky
paste It tastes sour, but is famed
remedy for indigestion. 1t is still eat
en- with the fingers by the natives, but
the wealthy class of Hawaiians use the
fork Ike Europeans.
Fish naked in leaves and served in
a Ieafy covering is one of the del1ca-
cies of this feast. Live shrimps run
about the table and it sometimes makes
the stranger nervous to have some one
with whom he is talking pause in MS
remarks long enough to capture and
bite the head off of a wriggling shrimp.
Little raw fishes combined with seaweed
are considered great dainty. Other
items of food served at one OF these
native feasts are dried fish, oysters, and
roast pork which is cooked under
ground for n day and a night There
are always great bowls of soft, green
cocoa-nuts and several kinds of ba-
nanas. The cocoa-nut poi which IS
eaten as a pudding furnishes a dessert
which is very tempting to the Hawai-
Ian palate. and one which is relished by
the average American. The native
style of serving a feast of this sort
is to have the table spread upon the
ground in picnic fashion.
STAPLE ARTICLES OF DIET.
Baked bananas are always staple
article of food and rice is on every
table. Fish is usually baked or steam
I'd in leaves thus retaining all It's
juices and natural taste. Baked POI
s eaten with butter and salt, ana
the bread food is considered a most
1ea1tAful diet. Cocoa-nut milk is very
nourishing and is regarded as favor