The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-09-09
Complaints of
Filth at Rest
House Bitter
Letters Read at Chamber of
Commerce Meeting Show
That Conditions Prevail
Which Need Attention.

Complaints of filthy conditions at
the Haleakala rest house, of over
crowding and of unpleasant expert
ences had by men, women and chill
dren who had gone up to see the won
ders and beauties of the Crater occu-
pied the attention of the Chamber of
Commerce yesterday afternoon for
more than an hour of it's two-hour
session. Efforts will be made to re-
move the causes that have led to such
complaints and to secure the services
of some one to be at the rest house
at least during the summer months,
when more persons make the trip TO
the summit than at any other season.
Filth Is Described
Plainly outspoken and to the point
were letters from Mrs. C. M. Cooke
of Honolulu and Frank Crockett of
Wailuku and it developed that they
were not the only ones who had cause
for complaint, Mrs. ID. Il. Fleming and
others having constituted another
party that had similarly unpleasant
experiences. Mrs. Cooke was espe-
cially bitter in her comments. She had
gone up expecting no such over
tloNutu tOllulIlOHS do "tlt tlCOull-
tered and found large party of work
ers from Haiku there who, she says,
made not the slightest move to make
room for later comers. There was a
shortage of beds and of blankets, wa
ter was on the floor and was thrown
on mattresses and coverings, the
floors were filthy and cooking uten-
sils were left uncleaned after use. She
said the stencil in the rest house was
such they found it impossible to clean
up and said her party, in which there
were several mainlanders, should have
been warned and not permitted to
make the trip up She would never
take the trip again and would advise
others not to do so until better ar
rangements could be offered. 1t was
said blankets can stand alone"
Worth o Aiken who takes a gen
eral supervision for the rest house
committee, replied to her letter at
considerable length and his reply was
also read.
Frank Crockett told of having made
the trip at night, arriving just as the
glow of sunrise appeared and finding
about so persons already occupying
the building. He alone of his party
entered ii and he told of similar con-
ditions of dirt, stencil and filth as had
Mrs. Cooke. Mrs. Fleming's expert
ence was briefly commented upon by
Mr.. Villiers from what he had heard
of it.
1t has developed outside the meet
ing that a Mr.. Clark had a similar
experience as to filth, but not as to
overcrowding the first of this week.
There is committee of five which
has general charge of the rest house
and the charge was fixed long ago at
81 a person using it. This is sup
posed to be paid at Olinda, where
parties get the key to the building.
e. r. Bevins said he is convinced
that not half of those going up and
using the house pay the dollar head,
one or two of several persons going
to get the key and often concealing
information as to the size of the
party, and gave reasons for such be-
lief.
Changes Proposed
One proposal is that the charge be
increased to 50 and that the commit
tee lease the house to some person
or secure the services of some one to
be at the house during the summer
months The subject is referred back
to the rest house committee to report
again at the next meeting. 1t is diff
ficult and in the past has been re-
garded as impracticable to get per
son to remain at the rim constantly
because of the remoteness and loneli- |
ness of the situation.
Other matters considered were re-
ports of the committee on telephone
rates and the report of the press con
gress committee, the chamber going |
on record as favoring county appro- |
priation. The subject of athletics in |
the schools was taken up just at the |
close of the long meeting and action
deferred until more detailed informa-
ton was obtainable, the consensus |
of opinion being that the plan was a
splendid one and worthy of full sup