The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1922-10-10

(This paper was prepared by Mrs.
II. P. Baldwin for the Historical De
partment of the Maui Woman's Club
and was read to that body at a public
meeting of the Maui Woman's Club.
At this particular time, when it has
been proposed that L%ahainaluna Sem
mary be abandoned as such and be
made a high school for Lahaina, more
than ordinary interest attaches to
Mrs. Baldwin's article.)
In January, 1881, at the annual
General Meeting in Honolulu of the
missionaries, when the many problems
of the mission were discussed. the
most important one seemed to be the
great and pressing need of more and
better educated teachers for the Ha-
waiian people.
After much prayer and much de
liberation, by the good fathers of the
mission, it was decided TO establish a
seminary that would serve as high
school and normal school for the train
ing of teachers and helpers in the
missionary work.
At that time there were some eight
or nine hundred native teachers, who
could do little more than teach read
ing and writing, and little very ele-
mentary arithmetic. Still, when we
remember that only II years had pass
ed since the arrival of the first mis-
s~ionaries, it seemed very wonderful
that books in Hawaiian had been
printed, schools established, and so
many native teachers trained to teach
both reading and writing, and that of
the $4,000 or more, Hawaiians, more
than thr~ee-fourths could read and
write.
Ideal Site Selected
But, more and better equipped
teachers We're needed, so Rev. Lorrin
Andrews with Rev. William Richards,
was appointed a committee to select
some suitable and favorable site for
the proposed school. After visiting
and investigating many locations, they
decided finally on a spot about two
miles above, or mauka, of Lahaina,
Maui. The first or pioneer students
of the school gave it the name La
hainaluna, or upper Lahaina. Beauti-
full for situation, on the slopes of the
West Maui mountains, at an elevation
of 700 feet above the ocean, with the
grand mountains as a background, and
the tropical town of Lahaina in the
foreground, the blue ocean beyond dot
ted with the Islands of Molokai, Lanai
and Kahoolawe, it seemed an ideal
spot for the school.
At that time it was a barren tract
of land, but with fertile soil, and a
beautiful stream of clear, cool, noun.
tain water, the possibilities We're great
and the missionaries had vision 10
see what it might become with cult
walton and care in the years to come
This fine tract of land was Il gift
to the school from Hoopili Wahine,
the wife of Hoopili, Governor of Maui
who was a kind and sincere friend
to the missionaries.
First Buildings Crude
The school opened September S,
1881, with a temporary schoolhouse,
which was just a lanai" shed of ku
kui poles with roof of grass. The
tuition was free, but the scholars were
expected to raise thier own food, and
do whatever work was needed. A
selection of the most promising and
finest young men from all over the
islands was made, all of whom were
adults, and many of them married
men.
And thus the Lahainaluna School
began, with 25 scholars, with very few
books, no tables or seats, paper or
blackboards, but with a devoted teach
er, the Reverend Lorrin Andrews, and
with enthusiastic scholars, eager for
knowledge. During the following year
a stone building with matched roof OF
ii leaves, was built entirely by the
scholars. And as time went on, more
and better buildings were added.
The work became more encourag
ing. A geography had been prepared
and printed, large maps obtained, and
Colburn's arithmetic and geography,
and writing, were added to the course
of study.
Prints Own Books
In 1883 a very poor printing press
with type much worn was obtained
and placed in charge of Mr.. Ruggles.
School books were printed, and on the
14th of February, the first newspaper
ever published in the Hawaiian Is
lands was printed. 1t was called the
Lama Hawaii" or Hawaiian Lumin-
airy. 1t was a small f~Our-page paper,
each number adorned with a wood
cut on the front page, and one page