Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-06-13
LETTERS
- NEW TRUSTEE FOR THE
BISHOP MUSEUM.

| Editor Honolulu Star-BuIIetin: -
Sir: Although the several trusts
/ forming the Bishop estate" are prs
vate trusts, their magnitude makes Il
q matter of public concern when the
appointment of a new trustee is to be
presently considered. As on former
similar occasions, there is . claim
made that native Hawaiian should
be en- the board Of trustees, although
Mrs. Bishop did nOt sthink this wise
when she founded the first OF dhe
three trusts, the Kamehameha
schools 1.-THE only one where a native
son could have any especial interest1.
neither did Mr. Bishop. in founding
the museum and the Charles r.
Bishop trusts, name any native Ha-
waiian on either of these boards: and
who can deny that both Mr. and Mrs.
Bishop afully understood the undesir-
ability of such an element on such a
trust?
Is there not need of change of
"a different character in the selection
lof trustee2 Unfortunately, the same
board of trustees to whom was en-
trusted the administration OF the
schools was chosen by Mr.. Bishop 70
have charge of the very different
trust of the museum administration,
| for reasons probably economic, other.
wise unknown to the present writer.
That a scientific institution should
not have q single scientific sym.
pathizer on its board of government,
to whose consideration must often
L - &k,,-. -
perience of business men, howeVfr
capable, Is matter OF regret, but
surely there is no native Hawaiian
who would not be wholly out of place
on scientific governing board. Those
who have read the annual reports OF
the director of the museum have seen
that the problems presented to the
trustees of the museum are not in
frequently beyond the scope of busi.
ness men, however skilful and eff
Gent in their private business.
Some 10 years ago, am informed,
the director proposed plans for three
additional buildings, which he con.
sidered necessary for the full organi-.
zation and arrangement of, an institll.
ton which had outgrown astonishing
~ the original idea of the founder.
Mr.. Bishop approved the plans AMI
offered to pay the cost of construction
tmore than $3.50, 900, 1t is saidl, but
before the trustees could begin the
San Francisco fire caused the with
drawal OF Mr. Bishops offer and only
one of these buildings has since been
built
Among the many expressions of re-
spect and gratitude that the death OF
Mr.. Bishop called forth might be
noted the one published in Thrum's
Annual where the director Of the
museum made the appropriate sugges-
ton that the other two buildings
should now be built as monument
to Mr. Bishop, thus completing the
monument he had reared to the mem.
DRY .of his wife. These two great
Benefactors to not merely the Ha.
waiian race but to the Islands, and
by the museum w0rke 60 scientific,
world beyond the Pacific Ocean.
might have thei ashes were.
united In Death d common monument
to perpetuate their memory. Tits
suggestion seems to have fallen euns
needed.
While there are many business men
III Honolulu tally able to sustain the
business end of so great trusts, Isl
that all that IS needed It has been
q notorious fact that nearly all the
instructors In the Kamehameha
schools have been brought from.
abroad, almost always without the
least previous knowledge of the Ha.
waiian. mind and characteristics, as
shown in the past history and accom-
pkshments of the race, and by the
time they obtain some insight many
OF the teachers leave the schools,
Residents who understand Hawaiian
history and can sympathize with the
Hawaiians are fast dwindling to 4
very small number, and it seems
strange that the Hon. Sanford B. Dole,
now relieved from the toll of the JUDI
ciary, has not been called at once to
I'LL the existing vacancy en- the board
OF trustees. He would be acceptable
to both Hawaiian and haole, and I
am informed that he has already been
museum trustee and first president
of the board.
l l.-# r. &