The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-01-08
CALL FOR SUPPORT OF NATIVE
SPORTS.
Honolulu, Jan. 6, 1908.

EDITOR STAR:--The affairs of the
Outrigger Club are still hanging fire,
and not only do not outsiders come
forward in its behalf, but the original
members are hanging back as if the
paying of their dues Of only five dol
lars a year were going to ruin them.
Now | would like to ask, if this idea
of Fords, of reviving the Hawaiian
sports and games, and which he, an
an utter outsider devoted nine months
of his time. and no end of hard WORK.
is of no consequence what ever? In
deed it is considered to be of so much
importance that great many con-
slider that he has put us all to shame;
and particularly when it's known that
he had no means to speak of, and
spent almost his last penny in this
promotion work.
Again a great many consider its Of
so much importance that not only
should this Outrigger Club of Ford's
be continued, but a rival club start
composed of all Hawaiians. II is said
it is well enough for the foreigners
or the haole to form club of this
kind, but what is mainly wanted is a
surf board and outrigger club that is
purely Hawaiian.
/ But to do this someone must be
found among the rich natives that
will do what this man Ford without
means has done for the haoles. And
! | would like to ask, if there is not
someone among the many rich ma
tives, who it's well known have bar
rels of money and any amount of leis-
ure, that will come forward and help
out their own countrymen, and do
what they can towards reviving these
Hawaiian sports and games among
their own people?
And I would also suggest, if no one
among our white race, who it's we'll
known have even more money than
the natives will do nothing in the
way of helping along this club, that
the Promotion Committee be asked to
do something for it. 1t is said some
twenty thousand dollars is spent in
promotion work and the work of in
ducing people to come here; and if
such is the case one would think a
little of this large amount could be
spent in promoting sports that the
tourist most desires to see, or the Ha-
waiian sports and games. In paying
or spending so much money in induc-
ing people to come here. and then
doing nothing, or very little toward
reViving those sports and other things
which would so highly interest, enter
tain and please the tourist, seems to
me something like a man going TO
great expense in building a theater
and then forgetting to engage the ac-
tors or performers. OF course I NAV
be wrong in this supposition.
But If none of these people will do
anything to help the club along. il
VIII be no great hardship for the mem
Der to pay their due, which would.
perhaps, be sufficient to carry the club
along, though not enough to do all
that is contemplative Many thanks
are due to Mr. Herbert, Mr.. McCand-
less and others, as well as to the la
dies, and to the boys for the various
ways in which they have assisted anr
helped the club along. 1t is hoped
that the wall, and also the roof of the
dancing hall, will soon be started, as
there is danger of much of the work
being destroyed if those are not done
or attended to at once.
1t has been suggested that a rice
straw roof be placed over the dane
ing hall, in place of a grass roof.
Very truly,
GEO. OSBORNE.