Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-01-27
BY MRS. r. o. WILLIAMS,
Chairman Travellers, Aid Committee.

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Is 1t known that all the Inter-Tsland
steamers except the Mauna Kea dock
at Honolulu after midnight in the wee
small hours before daylight The
wharf is lonely place at such hours
for any woman travelling alone, and
Tor the innocent or ignorant young
woman place far from safe. With
no trolley cars running, she is at the
mercy of the clamorous row of chauf-
feurs and hack drivers, one of whom
usually seizes upon Der baggage, al
most forcing her to follow him. Were
all these men trustworthy, even this
situation might be deemed merely UNI
pleasant But quite the contrary Is
unfortunately the case.
Concern over this situation led the
women of the Young Women's Christ
ian Association to wish to conduct
'ast summer an experiment to find out
definitely just how many women were
travelling. who were alone and unmet
at the wharf, what their nationality
and general condition seemed to be.
and how many could be assisted. But
where should we look for the right
person to ascertain these matters?
Only one with some experience could
look under the surface and tell the
real situation at a glance. After some
search we were so fortunate as to find
Just the woman we were looking for
IN Mrs. w. l. Bowers.
Has Had Fine Training for Work
Mrs. Bowers came originally from
int
ance among the Hawaiians. She grad
uated at Kamehameha in the first
class, 1897 For six years she was
president of the Alumnae association
OF Kamehameha. Under Miss Pope's
direction this association did splendid
work In following up and visiting
the alumnae and former students.
Later a relief fund was established.
Mrs. Bowers served on the COM
mitfee to administer this throughout
her whole term, gaining much valu-
able experience as she sought out and
won the confidence of those needing
help. A little later the Hawaiian
Women's Club conceived the purpose
of having a visiting nurse in the
crowded district of Kakaako, and Mrs.
Bowers was chosen for the place. the
first visiting nurse to serve in Homo
lulu. For many yearssthis work took
her at all hours of the day and night
into all sorts and conditions Of places.
A Work Often at Night
Many of those who needed help
most shrank in fear from any ap-
proach Of q stranger, dreading that
they would be taken away to some
place where they did not want to go.
One woman with, tubercular foot,
so painful that she could do very lit
tie for herself. living only with an
aged and helpless uncle. was very hard
to win. She finally consented to the
daily dressings needed. and after long
and careful nursing. she recovered.
One dark night call came that an
old man had been found in very
feeble condition in the guaya bushes
out in KaIihi. Mrs. Bowers and her
husband drove cut to where he lay
In little shlter of bushes which he
had contrived and lived in for long
time. How he got his food no one
knew They took him home, bathed,
fed and cared for him that night. The
next day they took him to the nome
for aged Hawaiians where he lived
two years. One colored woman in
Kakaako whose husband deserted her
shortly before the arrival Of little
twin babies caused many an extra
visit by a curious habit she had of
falling asleep at the washtub or any
where else at any time. Many time
she was found at the table, a baby
on each arm. her food before her.
fast asleep. @ @s" RI z.
Assistant at kawaiahao Church
For the past four or five years, Mrs.
Bowers has been an assistant at Ka-
waiahoa church, visiting among the
families and keeping In touch especi-
ally with the young people of the Sun