The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-12-27
Thousands Join in Festivities for
the Opening of the Christ
mas Holidays.
HONOLULU is JOYOUS SIGHT
Confetti and Ribbons Utilized
by the Mingled Nations
for Funmaking.
Carnival NIGHT in Honolulu!

Surely nowhere else in all the wide
world was there such a cosmopolitan
outpouring of exuberant joy within the
same area The spirit of Christmas
Eve, with all its good will, was in evil
dence, and the throngs which filed the
streets, from King TO Beretania and
from AlalSea to Nuuanu, particularly,
volleyed and Numbered with confetti
and horns to their hearts content, each
individual a unit of good humor and
fun.
For the time being Santa Claus took
a back seat
Early in the evening the preparations
took shape. Hardly had the semitropie
sun dipped below its horizon of blue
sea than blare of trumpets was heard.
This was a signal that the festivities
were in order.
From All Directions.
From Waikiki and Moana, from Ka
lihi and Nuuanu, came the roisterers.
Many came on the cars, for the COM
pany provided a special service, lasting
an hour later than usual; some came in
automobiles; from nearer points came
thousands on foot. All Honolulu, with
her fifty thousand inhabitants, joined
in the whirlpool of joyousness.
Along Fort street, between King and
Hotel streets, was the vortex. 1t seemed
at times as though everybody insisted
ment, which, within a marvelously short
time, was spread with a gaudy covering
of confetti and paper ribbons.
Altogether, it was promenade of
the Nations. First came the Hawaii
ans, like a great family of children all
of whom seemed to know every other
one; happy as larks, the pretty gills
powdered with confetti and garlanded
with leis and many-colOred ribbons.
Malihinis from all quarters of the
globe took part in mild way, dignity
vanishing as they collected the paper
powder. The kamaainas entered into
the spirit of the carnival with all the
'oldtime energy of experience.
Oriental Touches.
But there was an oriental coloring
injected into the occasion by the
throng of japanese and Chinese. Scores
of japanese women, in their national
costume, were present everywhere, and
were as jolly as the jolliest of all.
Then there were the Portuguese, Fill
ers, all in the procession.
And threading their way in all direc-
tions through the throngs were soldiers
from Fort Shafter, Fort Ruger, Camp
Ieilehua and the Marine Barracks The
boys in kaki were as lively as crickets
and twice as well behaved, receiving,
some might have thought, more than
their share of the attention so gener-
ously distributed.
Naturally no carnival could be sue.
cess without its quota of noise, vocal
and otherwise, mostly otherwise. Where
all the horns came from so suddenly is
mystery, but that they were there
can not be denied. Also there were
other things, nameless, some of them
but all noise producers; while cow'bells
were favorites.
Popular Shakes.
e. o. Hall & Son, early in the even
ing, hung out two ropes on which were
strung number of Chinese bells. Ev'
eryone who came along was supposed
to give them shake and SO keep the
jangle going. Everybody did, but the
iangle wore out because the ropes did
not last However, it was fine fun for
a time.
over each sidewalk flowed two rivers
of humanity in opposite directions,
pelting each other with the confetti.
Around and around they went, from
King to Hotel street. to Bethel street,
down King and up Fort again, never
ending.
And then, just before midnight, a
soft Hawaiian rain, shot with moon
beams, fell upon all impartially, but it
did little to interrupt the festivities.
And so, until an early hour this morn
ing, the fun was fast and furious, and
the Christmas Eve Carnival of Homo.
lulu for 1910 will go upon the record
as one of the most successful and pie
turesque ever experienced.
Round About Chinatown.
Around Chinatown things were quiet
eT than usual last night, all the crowd
being conferred about King and Fort
street corners Outside their doors the
Chinese stood with stolid faces evident
ly thinking TO themselves what fools
these white people were. Occasionally
a stray boy with horn would find his
way down and wake them mp with dis
eordant noise, but otherwise, everything
was quiet and peaceful.
A few of the shops were decorated,
but only in a half.heaTted sort OF man
ner, and here and there few OF the
children could be seen running round
with balloons. or stray dog enFeerlng
through the streets with tin banging
behind HIM. Chinatown generally took
no interest in tho proceedings ~ All
those earniyally lnelined Joining the
downtown thTongs