The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-01-22
CEMETERIES
ARE DISCUSSED


President pukham brought the
problem of more cemeteries TO the ate
tontion oft the Board of Health ycstor-
day afternoon aud a good deal of time
was expended in the reading of yau-
ous reports aud communications ON
the natter which, however, was not
further discussed the Board approx
ing a motion OF DR. Waysou to hold
special meeting az which the matter
could boz fully gone into and some
definite action taken.
The President stated that the matter
was one which Is most imperative.
that I'm. none of the cemeteries I'm Ho-
nolulu is there space left for more
than a half dozen more intcrments.
The matter was placed before the
Board in the following manner by Mr..
Pinkham
"Unquestionably Honolulu needs
large cemetery that can properly ac-
commodate all uationalities and all
religions A cemetery that can be laid
out and kept i'm condition by provi-
sions for perpetual care, correspond
ing to standards prevailing on the
mainland. Another essential is that
such a cemetery may be reached at or
binary street-car fares
Some eight months ago thinking
real estate values had declined to a
point where private holdings Of land
might be had for a cemetery site at
a cost within public reason, | began
personal investigations and directed
Chief Sanitary Officer Tracy and mis-
successor, Mr.. Vanhuizen, to inspect
certain sites and seek for others.
The government has neither in Ho-
nolulu nor vicinity an adequate area
Of land suitable for a cemetery.
Several sites nave been mentioned
that are unavailable even if public ap-
prevail could be secured PunchDowl
is now a Federal reservation, and the
thirty-eignt and one-half acres on the
lower slopes Of Tantalus, in the rear
Of the Lunalilo Home, can not be
alienated from that home.
There is a need for immediate re-
lief in providing room for the burial
Of the INDECENT and prison dead, and
also for certain classes of Japanese,
all heretofore accommodated in the
Makild cemetery.
Directly in the rear of Mallild Gem
etery, and bounded by an extension OF
Wilder avenue mauka street line. to
the gulch below Punchbowl and fol-
lowing the contour of the gulch until
it nearly joins the mauka line of the
cemetery, is a knoll containing pos
sibly two acres of government land
suitable for burial purposes. The
land is useful for no. other purpose.
The Board can properly recommend
this land be added to the Makilli Gem
etery and thus relieve the situation
until a larger cemetery can be estab-
lished
Here / may as well state that the
Board has never in any instance failed
in its duty toward the helpless poor,
| decent burials, with the aid of the
High Sheriff, the county and benevo-
lent societies, having been provided.
There being two cemeteries on Ka-
mehameha " road and the vicinity
and accessible from the street-car line,
l made and directed special investiga-
ton to be made in that locality
While considerable land might be had
excavations and valuations proved
that section unavailable.
I'VE again turned to the Gear, Ian.
sing site on the slopes of Diamond
Head. This is directly below the
United States batteries. Mr. VcnhIi-
zen has in his report quite exhaustive
ly reviewed this site.
From a letter since received from
the manager of the Honolulu Rapid
Transit & Land Co., and submitted
this location is at present unavailable
81 have personally investigated both
Manoa and Palolo valleys. They pre-
sent no possible sites.
Il am much impressed with the
availability and suitability OF certain
lands lying mauka of the Waialac
road at Moiiili. In this tract the
government owns eleven acres, the
Bishop Estate has over one hundrei
acres, and one or two other Ownera
such areas that it would seem posi-
BILE to secure a cemetery site large
enough for the requirements of an IN
definitely long time, one that could be
beautified and cared for and, In add
ton, reached at the lowest street-Car
fares. We have had no opportunity to
make special soundings.
"The Pearl City cemetery is very
fairly reported upon by Mr.. Vanhui-
zen, whose report on cemeteries Is pre-
scented and whose work commend to
the Board for appreciation.
Il hope the Board of Health will
not cease to urge settlement of the
cemetery question, for 1t is a question
that must be settled, and no time is