The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-04-09

of the island was knvFoSemF
a number of natives were brought be
fore the committee
NATIVE TESTIMONY
Kaleiopu. as chairman OF the com
mfttee. explained 20 the native W.T.
nesses the nature Of the investigation
which was TO enquire into the eondi-
tion OF the government lands and the
treatment Of the natives BY Mr.. Gay.
Kealiihanahananui. the first witness
called. testified that he had been born
on Lanai over sixty years ago and had
made that island his home ever since.
at KamOkn-
The witness said the Kan0ku land
had been fertile years ago. being COW
cred with shrubbery. He was not ae-
auainted with all the Lanai lands but
knew Kaa district and Mahana- Knew
Maunalei also.
That latter guIch was cultivated D.
the natives for taro. an industry which
was discontinued BY the rapid increase
IN the number Of goats These goats
had been on Lanai before he was born
land have been increasing ever since
4 They had been brought here originally
As tame goats but some had escaped
The last time the witness was m
Maunalei gulch was many years ago
when the taro patches we're stin De-
ling cultivated. The growers OF this
/ ra-o used the water Of the stream
u there. The raro patches were mostly
kuIeanas. he had been informed. and
/ each had a share Of the water. Wit
i ness did not know on what land the
water rose
/ Al that tirne there we're no OtheT
streams in Lanai except during the
rainy seasons. 10 live streams During
-ha life OF the witness he had noticed
no change il the amount Of rain OF
ltra island. He had never paid any
attention. when he vas a young mar
tnev were raising sweet potatoes or
Lanai. but he could remember nc
wheat He remembered watermelon
being raised in the basin, the only IT,
rigation being the rainfall
During the dry seasons the natives
, got brackish water from wells al tn
beach and some inland natives haf
risrerus in which 20 store a supply.
= He owned three kuleanas- containini
E in AL twelve acres. Hr. Cay mas mad
/ No oTer for these lands nor tried .
b get them. Gay was a good man AM
l. supplied the natives with food whe'
. they had none. he had never hear
isf any natives being ordered OF Lana
s,- Cav and be knew none q the IA
ives in lis part q the island Ia
ben ordered away. Gay also employ
- he natives q Lanai 20 work 20
him
re knew u good lands on Lanai ou
v-a-ras ne committee 20 tel ain
v-ha-a water for them was % Be 80
f-r-r he had never left the sand De
p -ausa he mad been born there a.
--1uzr AZ times ne and the otnsr IA
- ives have u 20 10 Lahalna Tor tooo
z r4z thought j. would De- beneficial q
3 ne natives 70 homestead. after ne IA
= 4 baa the reaning q a homestead ex
-rsfna4. He had never heard g home
stealing before. bur thought y0uni
m ought o De- able % comply VIZ
Z ne requirement.
pa-rf-= thought TIE questions Wer
rz--f-r TOO deep for The witness
{ Tn ws--ess aza1l repeated rs a.
: zz~-f---= bu- wanted % know aEa'
+ ~rz-z the water was 20 come from
Tr= -z-rEe had u move from the up
-a-ss ~ -r= beach Cor water and a
= !. -f-z u d-1u-l had had o. 60 Q
p r-araz-a for q water Supply.
~. silva asked him how many ar
-e---+~ rad been on the Island a.
q -. 80 .--s-e q lot Re id 70
2 g----- ---=-a -za- water was going z
ri --v- am silva asked him = the goat
z~a-ss r. a- ~ r. had unders,7o.
--a- they were responsible j. SON