The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-07-28

and needs of the commu-
nifty better than they ever did, or could
have learned in any other way. The
Board of Health has profted by having
its work closely scrutinized, and will
be aided in various more direct ways
through the information collected. It's
position has also been doubly strength
ened by the more intimate knowledge
gained by the people of it's aims and
methods.
Big Problems to Solve.
l must emphasize the fact that our
work of actually cleansing the city
was merely superficial The reports
of the citizens who acted as inspectors
are instructive and valuable in point
ing out hundreds of places where do
nestle sanitation is lacking or defec-
tive through negligence or careless
ness on the part of individuals. All
such cases are matters that can prop.
erly be expected to be corrected by
the regular health authorities. With
the increased powers lately vested in
the Board of Health there seems to
be no good reason why such places
should continne to be menace to the
community even for a short space of
time. They require simply close in
spection and rigid enforcement of the
laws against nuisances. l believe that
we can take credit to ourselves for
pointing out a large number of cases
of this nature to the authorities, which
seem to have escaped their notice,
probably on account of the heretofore
totally inadequate size of the inspec-
ton force, and possibly in some de-
gree, at least, to inefftciency on the
part of inspectors employed.
But there are some very big prob
lens which have been brought strong
ly to the front through our work;
problems which should be faced
squarely and determinedly by this
community; problems which we shall
have to face sometime, and which will
multiply in difficulty the longer they
are evaded or ignored. The conditions
to which l refer can not be cured by
any cleanup day, but will take much
careful study and then probably years
of effort. While they are permitted
to remain as they are, Honolulu will
never be safe from costly epidemics;
nor will it be the clean and comfort
able place we should like to live in,
and to invite the rest of the world to
take note of.
We found in our inspection whole
sections of the city without sewerage
system of any kind, save that afforded
| by surface bitches; cOngested dis
tricts closely crowding upon some of
our choicest residence streets, in
which no sewer connection is possible
under the present system, and where
porous soil or overlooking cesspools
,contaminate constantly streams flow.
ing through the heart of the city;
streams from which in not few in,
stances water for domestic purposes
is taken by residents living further
down. Such a situation as this exists
along the Nuuanu stream in a number
OF places. The large section of the
city with dense and rapidly increas
ing population, of which Liliha streel
is practically the only artery of traffic
has been previously brought to public
attention by Hon. A. f. Judd, and who
again, as Cleanup Day director Of this
section, calls attention in his report
to this committee to the alarming
situation. Here there are no sewers
and the land lies in very large undi
vided blocks The land was once
practically all under taro cultivation
and many taro fields still interspersC
it. The auwais which run everywhere
through the district, supply the grow
ing taro, act as open sewers, and il
many instances furnish the domestic
water supply of the residents. This is
not a fanciful picture, and it was made
very real to a good many cleanup day
workers. You do not need to have me
tell you again that conditions such az
these are a constant menace to ever!
one who lives, or has business inter
ests in Honolulu.
There are parts of Manoa Valley il
which sanitary conditions are in
! scarcely less deplorable state, an,
Pauoa Valley and stream furnishe
some other examples There ar
places in the lower Kalihi Vale
which can not help but be unsanitar
for causes similar to those | have dc
scribed,
Now these conditions, this disgust
/ ing and dangerous state of affairs, ca
INIT he anpad with nv fbaT poard n