The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-06-08
MEMORIAL STONE
LAID IN PLACE
[From sundays Advertiser

(From Sundays Advertiser.) I
Sincere words of appreciation and
thankfulness for the philanthropy of
those that have made the Mid Pacific
Institute possible, were spoken many
times yesterday afternoon when, with
appropriate ceremony, the memorial
stone was placed in the partially con.
structed building of the institution in
Manoa valley.
Coupled with the acknowledgment of
n lasting Indebtedness to those who
have contributed to the endowment of
the institution, was the expression of
firm belief by all of the speakers that
the founding of a non-sectarian school
along the lines of the Mid-Pacific In
stitute was an educational step of far
reaching results, and that the useful
ness of the institution would increase
with every passing year.
Previous to the exercises of placing
the memorial stone luau was given
to the visiting delegates of the Hawai-
ian Evangelical Association in the
grounds of the Kawaiahao Seminary,
the Hawaiian band also being present.
Mr.. A. NJ. Merrill, president of Mills
Institute, spoke in behalf of the Chi
u
| establishment of the institute. He
dwelt eloquently on the debt that the
| present prosperity of Hawaii owed to
| the Chinese laborers in the past and
declared that it was fitting that
school on modern educational lines
should be ready for the reception of
the sons of the Empire when they
should wish to come to Hawaii for en-
4 ipht nn, 10 hat hoI
| been one of the most important factors
in the upbuilding of the Territory 8
| greatest industry, and that a number
of applications had already been receiv-
ed from Chinese youths who desired to
leave their native land for the educa-
tional advantages now to be had IN the
| Territory.
The Mills Institute Glee Club render
ed selection in pleasing manner and
was followed by Rev. Mr.. Okumura,
principal of the Japanese school, who
drew some interesting comparisons be-
tween the educational methods of Japan
and America. He said that the spirit
of educational progress that distinguish
ed the people of the United States,
was rapidly being imbibed by other
nationalities and that Japan was in the
forefront in adopting the new ideas.
Commends the Work.
Rev. DIR. Sheffield, for forty years
missionary in China and formerly presi-
dent of Tung 'Cho College, spoke in
brief commentator of the work that
the MidPacific Institute was intended
to accomplish. He said that char
acter building was the most essential
thing that an educational institution
could undertake and that the final test
came in the ability to turn men and
women into the daily struggle of the
world with the capacity of meeting the
problems of the day with a true Chris
tian spirit.
In the course of a general statement
on the aims of the institution, F. w.
Damon, president of the Board of Man
ayers of the Mid-Pacific Institute, gave
great credit to Mr.. Wilcox of Kauai for
his advice and financial assistance. He
said that while he knew that Mr.. Will
cox always shrunk from publicity in
good doing, he felt that it was due to
the people interested in the welfare of
the MidPacifc Institute that they
should know and appreciate the great
services that had been rendered by Mr..
Wilcox and that to him was due the
thanks and appreciation of the people
of the whole Territory.
A Mr.. Damon said that the institution
had been planned on broad lines, both
from architectural and educational stand
points, and that while the endowment
did not permit of finishing the entire
structure at the present time, it would
be completed as far as the exterior was
conce med and the interior of one wing
} left as a mute appeal to anyone who
felt able to come to the financial as
sistance of the institution.
The speaker pointed to the Chinese
| characters that formed a part of the
: decorations ON the partly finished build
, ing, which he said We're from Confu
cius, the translation being that "be
tween the four seas all men are broth
/ ers.n This, he said, was a summary
of the whole idea and aim of the in
stitution and that it would meet the
educational wants of the Territory on
strictly unsectarian lines.
Local Traditions.
| Mr.. Damon stated that there were
/ many interesting traditions about the
/ locality in which the building was locat
, ed and he read statement of Mrs
. Nakuina, who lived in the vicinity
when girl, as follows:
Kapilipili was part of the Metcali
estate and was Mrs. Nakuina's (hi'
1 daughter) playground from earliest
5 childhood. Kapilipili (sticky) was 81
called for two reasons. One was from
the grass pilipili-ula, which "stick'
. closer than friend,'' and also per
( haps on account of the sticky natur,
of the soil, there being two or tire,
clay banks on the land In the fiftie!
} the clay bank had periodical eruptions
of edible clay, when men, women and
children would flock to those banks
1 and fill their gourds with the sticky
glutinous mass. The Hawaiians gath
cred and devoured the edible "palo
, To-" not from hunger or lack of food
, but because it was really a most de
! lieious article of diet. / much pre-
farrad II at oil fitnaa 10 at;aG al