The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-07-20

were transferred to the decks of the
warships, and accompanying each LOT
of fruits was the following letter ad,
dressed to the ships commanding of
icer:
HAWAIIAN HOOKUPU.
Following an old Hawaiian custom
of bestowing gifts upon royalty and
other distinguished visitors, the people
of these islands make this fruit offer
ing to the officers and men of the At
lantic fleet as an expression of their
loyalty and aloha.
Honolulu, T. H., July, 1867
The hookupu is one of the earliest
forms of affording entertainment to a
visitor, and yesterday was revival of
custom which no doubt endeared it,
self to the men of the fleet, for every
where that fruit was distributed the
men eheered, looked happy, and showed
extreme eagerness to taste the gifts,
while officers personally expressed their
thanks not only for the presents but the
brought. Hundreds and hundreds of
kodak pictures were taken and the story
of the offering will find its way into
every part of the country.
The offerings came from the islands
of Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii.
Alligator pears, pineapples, bananas,
mangoes, sugar cane and cocoanuts
formed the bulk and these were deliv,
cred to the Railroad wharf and sorted.
This in itself was task, for much of
the fruit ripened too fast in the warm
weather prevailing and tons had to be
thrown away. Yesterday morning Wal,
ter F. Dillingham;, chairman of the
commissary committee, assisted by Cliff
ford Kimball, Gilbert Waller, Gerrit
Wilder, Harry Dennison and a corps of
Hawaiians, sorted over the fruit, and
arranged it in six equal divisions, one
for each vessel in the harbor.
A barge was tastefully decorated at
the corners with banana stalks each
stalk bearing bunch just ripening,
with tops of cocoanut palms elevated
between bearing clusters of nuts. The
floor was covered with rushes and upon
this green carpet rose six mounds of
cocoanuts; the bananas were placed in
tiers bordering boxes of richly cclored
the latter coming mainly
from the Wahiawa plantations, while
sticks of sugar cane tied in bundles
looked most tempting. This work of
the materials devolved upon
Mr.. Dillingham; and assistants, who
worked from six in the morning until
$780, the time set for the cruise to
begin. and at which hour the work was
The tug Intrepid, which
towed the barge, was also decorated
with couple of coeoanuts draped over
the bow, palm branches topping the
nasts, and similar decorations along the
deck rails.
When the scow and tow swung out
INTO the harbor they presented unique
picture. Tt was a cruise of peace and
plenty and the sailors of the flagship
catching sight of the queer
looking craft, crowded to the rails to
watch their approach. The music of
Hawaii mel, sung by Ernest Kaai and
MS quintet of musicians, fioated across
he harbor to the ship, and presently
he band of the flagship mustered on
he quarterback. As the scow swung
Up to the Connecticut the band played
I martial air. Officers as well as men
exhibited keen interest in the great
masses of fruits and nuts on the scow
leck. Sailors pointed and made ges-
lures indicating their delight at the
prospect of getting on the outside of
he luscious morsels. Chairman Dilling-
nam asked permission of the officer of
he deck to go alongside to send the
fruits aboard and the permission was
gladly given. A file of blueiackets lin.
I'd the steps of the gangway, the boxes
If mangoes and alligator pears were
passed up. 1t looked like a bucket
brigade at fire, Just the same eager
haste to get the stuff up the ladder.
Following the bananas came the cocoa,
nuts. And then the fun commenced. |
At first the coeoannts, which We're
passed from hand 70 hand across the
barge deck, up the ladder to the quar-
.er deck of the flagship, were sent along
slow y, then faster and faster, until
he nuts were falling everywhere. When
/ nut fell down the gangway and struck
4 bluejacket on the head the crowds
walked up and applauded and waited for
another similar incident Once a nut
fell to the water grazing little native
living boys head. More laughter and
fur. Did the sailors enjoy the cocoa
MT passings Well. yes! It was harder
york passing up the heavy pineapples. |
eight TO ten in a box When ono vouncr