The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1920-04-09
Early Days
OF Hawaii
Continued from Page 81


king himself, a female premier, four
governors of islands, four women of
rank, and FIVE chiefs of the third rank.
The people were allowed to choose by
districts annually seven men to be
members of the national legislature
for a year. Two from Hawaii, two
from Maui and adjacent islands, two
from Oahu, and one from Kauai.
There were hereditary rulers elected
Legislators (chiefs or mobiles and re-
personal---very. appointed judges, and
appointed collectors (taX officers who
collected the poll tax, land tax, and
labor taxi
After the conquest of the islands
by K~amehameha l, the seat of the
government was for a number of
years at Lahaina, at a place called
Juaehu. The first session of the Leg
islature was held there in 1910 and so
were the succeeding sessions to, and
including the session of 1916.
There had been laws made by the
king prior to the first session. Some
of them were made as far back as
1898 and some in 1S33-but all the
laws which were enacted prior to 1S4O
with their changes which were to re-
main in force, were r~e-enacted or ap-
proved in 1910.
In the Legislatures of 1910, 1S45,
1916, and 1851 women as members of
the House of Mobiles, were members
of the legislature-among them were:
Kekauonohi (wife of Liholiho) Keo-
hokalole, Kekauluohi (mother of Lu-
nalilo), Konia (wife of Kamehameha
IT'D, Kalama, Ruth Keelikolani %(sister
of Kamehameha " and W, Alapai,
Kahakaleleponi (wife of K~auikeaouli.)
These women were not elected by
the people and in that sense were not
representatives of the people, but most
OF them were women of remarkable
ability and character.
Others who held responsible posi-
lions beside Kaahumanu, Kinau, and
Queen Emma, were Namahana, acting
g%overness of Oahu, Kalakaua COVER
ness of Maui, Waihinepio, another gov
erness of Maui, and Liliha, governess
of Oahu.
All of these women ruled in troubl-
Gus times-when there were ~jealousies
and di"scontentment among their own
people-trouble with men-of-wars men
merchantmen and foreigners who
brought great quantities of liquor to
the islands and who tried to undo all
Tic SOOu TIC IulOOlOLldl I'D III IllCil
followers were doing. There was
stealing and breaking of laws-lies be.
ing told and efforts made by the mis-
chief-makers to get the people to in.
fluence the chiefs and those in author.
ity to break down the laws and to
slacken up on restrictions of all kinds,
iThese women held their own, and
reled wisely and well. The example
and influence of the untiring, unset
fish, good, early missionaries had a
great deal to do with the stability OF
character of some of these splendid
women rulers.
Today, one ruler does not have all
the power. The government is chosen
by the people-their representatives
make the laws-their members of the
executive government carry out the
laws. The President of the United
States appoints the Governor and the
p Territorial Secretary, both of whom
must be citizens of the Territory.
The Judges of the Supreme and Cir
cult Courts are also appointed by the
President. The other Territorial.
officials are appointed by the Governor
with the approval of the Senate.
The Senate consists of fifteen mem
bers and the House of Representa-
tives of thirty, men who are elected by
the people and who make the laws
The Governor has power of veto, bur
a two-thirds vote of both Houses
passes any measure over his vote.
Property is now secured to all by
the laws, and taxes are fixed and re
gulated.
We, as women, wives and mothers
of Hawaii, should look forward to, an(
work for, the time when we will bt
considered citizens, with a right t.
vote, and with a voice in the making
of the laws of the country in which
we live.