The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-06-04
Social and Domestic Features
Copyright By Frederick ] IRE IN
Copyright 1905 By Frederick ]. Haskiin.

lONOLULU-It is all well enough
10 tell how the business and pol
itics 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, before the
overthrow of the monarchy, many Of
the wooden houses were shipped over
IN pieces and put together 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 bungalow fashion
with broad veTandas. so that much OF
the family life is in the open air Con-
Tary to the practice i'm the West In
dies. carpets and rugs are used upon
the floors in the dwellings. and the fur
nishingS are similar TO those used in
American houses, with the possible ex-
ception of tapa mats upon the walls
and polished Gala bash bowls for orna-
mcntS.
Society Becomes Exclusive.
Honolulu is the social center of the
islands, and the little town Is far
famed for its hospitality, although
greater caution Is now observed to-
ward the stranger than formerly. Hos
pitaiity has been much abused in the
past for in the old days a pleasant ad-
dress and full purse we're all that was
necessary to open the way TO the inner
social circles of the place. After sew
eraI bogus counts had been entertained
and a whole raft Of pTetenders OF one
sort or another had imposed upon the
people they became more cautious.
The life OF the American society WO-
man on the islands is gay. There Is d
WhiTl of teas, dinners. receptions, balls,
piCuiCs and bathing parties. These
bathing parties are distinctive fea-
tuTc, and on moonlight night nothing
could be more entertaining than to
watch a party i'm the surf Stockings
and shoes are seldom worn. because one
can swim better without them. and the
ride i'm the surf boats uecessitates as
little clothing as possible Light re-
fTeshments arc often partaken of in the
water and It is novel sight for a
stranger to see d japanese servant in
bathing costume passing around light
drinks and refreshments to the sub
merged batheTS.
Description of Native Feast.
\ luau. or native feast. is not only
given by the native Hawaiiaus but by
the Americans as we'll 1t is form of
entertainment very much in vogue and
- much sought after by strangers. The
table is always covered with ferns and
garlands of a sweet smelling vine which
resembles SmilaX. GaTlandS Of red.
pink and white carnations are combined
with the green. and upon this artistic
covering are placed Calabashes of pol
ished cOcoanUt shells. while brilliantly
oh
for the individual The main dishes are
always poi and fish. Poi is the nation
al delicaCy of the HaWaiianS. Ii is
made from the tarO, 8 sort of potato
which grows in marshy ground. The
cook pounds Il to pulp in 4 mortar,
and il Is served in bowls in the form of
white, sticky paste. 1t tastes sour,
but is a famed remedy for indigestion.
II is still eaten with the fingers by the
natives, but the wealthy class of Ha-
Waiians use the fork like Europeans.
Fish baked in leaves and served in
leafy covering is one of the deIicacieS
of this feast Live ShTimpS run about
the table and il sometimes makes the
stranger nervous to have some one with
whom he is talking pause in his re-
marks long enough to capture and bite
the head of of wriggling shrimp. Lit
tie raw fishes combined with seaweed
are considered great dainty. Other
items of food served at one Of these ra-
tive fCasts are dried fish. oysters and
roast pork which is cooked underground
for day and night. There are al