Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-12-09

sea, one known as Mokapu. one as
Okala, two substantial witnesses oil
the great displacement Frcm the
headland adjacent they evidently had
falling out.
Leprogy first appeared in these is
lands In 1853 In 1864 its spread hal
/ become alarming January 3, 1865, in
the reign or Kanehameha v. the leg
islanre passed An act 10 prevent the
spread OF leprosy, (which act, by the
way, has not yet fully attained its OBJ,
iecD, the execution Of the law be-
ing in the hands OF the board OF
| health.
In, 1865 there were PA persons on
the islands reported to be lepers
| Segregation Begun In 1865
/ Under the act of January 3, 1865.
segregation was begun and plans were
made for a separate hospital Land
was purchased for this in Palolo val.
ley, Island OF Oahu, but when IL be-
came known in the neighborhood, OBJ
! iections were so strong the effort was
! abandoned. site was then secured
at Kalihi. near Honolulu, well separ-
ated from the other habitations. and
in November. 1865, the hospital was
established there. This was for re-
tention, examination md to some eX.
tent medical u of the lepers
or suspects. mis- was good. so far.
| but the need was felt for a larger
and more permanent settlement -
somewhat isolated-for those declared
| to be lepers. 10 be operated in con-
nection with the Kalihi hospital, where
efforts would continue for cure in the
early stages.
In locating a leper settlement. or
asylum, the search was soon directed
to the Molokai peninsula. so well pro-
tected by sea in front and by the tow
ering back wall. In the face of whole
east, place better adapted could
hardly have been found. The board
of health established its authority
here on June 6, 1866.
Waikolu valley, connected with the
peninsula on the eastern side, and
not accessible from other directions,
was first selected as the rich land
there could be cultivated. and the little
colony might become partly self-sup-
porting. This attempt did not sue
coed. Therefore good part of the
holdings upon the eastern and middle
portions of. the peninsula were secur-
sd and improvements begun. This
was all widely separated0rom the nom
'eper residents still remaining at Ka-
aupapa, the steamer landing. Wal
kolu valley has not been useless, how
ever, but has always been used for
cultivation of taro by employees or
lnder contract. The deep valley is
'ather moist for residence.
Some Early Officials
In the time of these beginnings, Dr.
= w. Hutchinson was president of
he board of health in 1S65-6-7-S. Was
Minister of the interior from April 26,
1855, until Dec. IL, 1872. Mr. r. w
Meyer, a resident of the mountain top
slboye us, was board of health agent,
Intending to the business. He contin-
ned as agent the practical and very
Efficient business manager of the. Lep-
or Settlement, until his death June II.
1897.
The kings commissioner to China,
being about to visit various countries
IN public duty, was INSTRUCTED to In
luire as to the methods employed in
,aring for the lepers in these coun-
tries.
s The physician at Kalihi hospital re-
ported March 2, 1866. having received
s5S lepers, 81 were sent to Molokai
asylum. 101 remaining at Kalihi hos
1ital for treatment. In sending to
Molokai somef difficulty attended the
separating or relations. Therefore, |
sew non-leper relatives were allowed
20 go along as helpers or "kokuas. " !
Some beef, cattle and sheep were sent
also to Molokai.
For Kalihi hospital and Molokai asy-
sum Cor settlement as generally adopt
cd later) the total amount of ex-
9enses in 1866 was s10.012.4S.
Trouble Comes About
Matters went on pretty well at first,
9ut after some time an ugly spirit
ewd conduct prevailed. The easy
going, good narured people seemed
wholly changed Thus the president
of the board of health reported Cat /
some length, in 1868, but could state
that a change for the better had |
come improvements had been made
at Molokai, including an hospital: Mr..
and Mrs. Walsh had been employed
to take charge I'm February, 1867, re-
lieving Mr.. Lepart, who had resigned; Il
Mr.. Walsh to act as schoolmaster
and magistrate, and Mrs. Walsh as
nurse
This 1868 report shows the number
of lepers received at Molokai, 119.
at the Kalihi hospital, 43.
The total amount of expenses for Ka-
lihi hospital and Molokai settlement
since total of 1866 was $24,S03.60.
Efforts Made to Better Conditions
From this time on efforts were
made to render the segre-
cation and treatment of lepers more
effective. Many difficulties were met
and overcome. To keep good order
in these early years was always diff
pulf