The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1907-02-01
657H
BIRTHDAY LUAU

| Lunaillo, was celebrated at the Home
for aged Hawaiians. There was an
elaborate luau and much enthusiasm
which even the steady downpour OF
rain could not dampen. The day be-
fore, there had been a general distribu-
ton OF clothing; holokus and leis for
the women, shirts and denim trousers
cor the men, and a red handkerchief
FOR each man. AS the garments were
ready made, the men were lined up on
the lanai that some idea of their re-
quirements might be obtained. so the
tall man should not be fitted out with
trousers several sizes too small, or the
small man with those intended for the
! six-footer. This had to be done in
good season that the alterations might
be made in time for the festival. For,
of course. the new clothes were to be
worn on the great occasion.
The same precaution was taken with
the holokus, and the result was that
everybody was suited. Word was sent
to the fire company on Wilder avenue
that IL they saw blaze at the Home
any time during the night they need
not turn out as 1t would only be the
fire lighted to heat the stones in the
pit wherein the fat pigs were to be
roasted. 1t was a wise precaution, for
the fire was big one. It was kindled
Nj I,.v TO-
and burned until 6 a. M. when the
stones were pronounced sufficiently hot
The pigs-there were a pair of them
were fine, large animals, and when
they were taken out at 2 p. M, they
were done to a turn. They were, like
wise, substantial evidence that the Ha-
wall method Of cooking pork has never.
been improved upon. But for the rain,
the feast would have been served out
Of doors, as a real luau should be, but
the weather made this impossible. 1t
also prevented the attendance Of d.
rector Berger and his band, for whom
accommodation could not be made in
the crowded house.
The banquet was served in the din
ing room on three long tables strewn
thickly with ferns. On this were set
forth the juicy pork, poi, sweet pota-
toes, taro and lipeepee-sea weed-a
highly esteemed native delicacy, kukui
nuts, rolls and bottled soda water.
There was no fussing with glasses; the
soda water was drunk from the bot
ties, and enjoyed all the more. That,
too, is a favorite refreshment with the
old people, and somebody said IL one
was asked on his dying bed what he
would like, the answer would be-soda |
water
Everywhere the royal colors were In
and green-ferns, or
ange cosmos. mingled with the fine
cream colored blossoms of the ii. The
chandelier and the kings portrait were
encircled with heavy garlands of these
flowers, and tall stalks of bamboo were |
arranged around the doors |
and elsewhere. In the parlor, in ad-
iition to the orange and green, were
some beautiful floral arrangements by |
4 Japanese lady guest, one of which
was a vine in q bronze vase, all typ
'ying, as Japanese flower arrangement
nust-heaven, earth and humanity.
Mrs. Weaver, the matron, who dis
charged her duties as hostess In a
graceful and most competent manner,
wore as an insignia of her office, q lei
II yellow feathers-not, however, of
he sacred 90.
At three o'clock the inmates of tho
lone filed to their places. with much
and chattering. They had
,een anticipating the luau and had
'een saving themselves for 1t. by abb
tanning from the ordinary food. A
'rief speech was made by Sam Hama
III. He reminded his brethren that
hey were celebrating their great day.
nd that each one should remember
18th thankfulness the generosity of
heir king who had made such kind
revision for them in their old age,
and sheltering them, and
ssuring them care and comfort in
heir time of helplessness. Above all.
hould they feel thankfulness to God 4
Or having put 1t into the heart of
ling Lunalilo to so provide for them.
liss Mary Parker, one of the trustees, |
nd the only one present, then pro- 7
osed three cheers for King Lunalilo
nd they were given with a will, even e
he women joining with their shrill I
'eble They then Immediately turned
heir attention to the eatables, knives t
nd forks flew, and the guests did not y
,ruple to smack their lips audibly as
ley sampled the poi and the savory
lsh with the unspellable name that
'ent with the pork and which was
scellent.
The poi was eaten In the time-hon-
ed fashion washed down with copious
raughts from the up-tilted soda water
)ttles. For once, the rules were sus, Z
ended, and in accordance with the old
istom, the old people were allowed to
TRY away to their rooms the remains
the poi and pork and kukui nuts.
nd, literally as they had been helped,
Iere was good deal of 1t left. They
I'd had fine donation OF mullet.
rough Mr.. Colburn. from Prince Da.
DIS estate. but this they requested to
I'VE saved for today. thereby stretch
& out the banquet as far as possible.
here are In some of the rooms sew
al who were too decrepit to appear
the table: one, a bedridden para
tic who lies most OF the time in a A
upor, and whose end Is fast ap-
There was one woman OF unsound
ind whose one surviving happiness
to wrap herself in a scarlet blanket, -
pleasure that Mrs. Weaver has seen
It she shall have. All these were 4
n special table being