Evening star., 1939-04-27
BY G. A. LYON,

Then came explanations, which
brought back to mind the sharply
controverted question of l922-27, of
whether the Territory of Hawaii
could lawfully subject to public
supervision and control the schools
maintained by the Japanese resi-
dents of the islands. Since then
those long lines of children
happy, laughing, skylarking Japa.
nese youngsters-have stood in my
mind as a somewhat sinister symbol
of an undependable American al
legiance on the part of a large frac-
ton of the future citizens of Hawaii
Upon investigation, however,
have concluded that there is nc
such danger, that the language
schools maintained by the Japanese
Chinese and Koreans are not in any
material degree-if at all-inimica
to the public and political welfare OF
the islands. Indeed, it is altogether
likely that these schools will not
continue to exist in their present
proportions much longer and will
soon cease to trouble the minds Of
now apprehensive Americans.
Interesting History.
The origin of the japanese Ian
guage schools is an interesting So
Geological story. The founder of the
system was Rev. Take Okumura. {
Christian minister of Japanese birth
who is quoted in recently published
book entitled "A History of the Jap
anese People in Hawaii" written by
Ernest K. WakukaWa, an Hawaiian
citizen of full Japanese blood, now
engaged in educational work in
Honolulu. Says Rev. Okumura:
During my first month in Hawaii
1 saw little girl standing at the
door of my church. Thinking that
she might be lonely, I tapped her
on the shoulder and inquired if she
had come with her mother. Her
reply was: Me mama hanahana
yokonai.' Failing to understand her
I called to friend who had been
longer in the islands and learned
that me mama was corrupt Eng
lish phrase for my mother; that
'hanahana' was the Hawaiian for
work. and that 'yokonai' was a
Japanese expression equivalent to
cannot come Repeatedly parents
asserted that they could not under
stand the language of their children
nor be understood by them; and re-
peatedly came the request that the
opportunity be provided for the sys-
tematic instruction Of Japanese chill
dren in their native tongue"
1t is to be borne in mind, in con-
nection with this statement by Rev.
Okumura, that many Of the Japanese
then resident in. Hawaii, the men
working as plantation hands, had
been brought over in large numbers
as sugar workers-or at least per-
mitted and encouraged to come over
In numbers. They were from the
least literate of the Japanese.
Such was the inspiration of the
language school. From Rev. Oku-
muras first school, conducted some
what as a Christian Sunday school
sprang other institutions, established
by Buddhist sects for the purpose of
giving the children of Japanese an
cestry instruction in the Japanese
language and culture.
Attitude Changed.
This increase caused a marked
change in the attitude of the Ameri-
cans in Hawaii toward the Ian
guage school," as it came soon to be
and still is known. Suspicion was
aroused by the fact that at first only
textbooks authorized by the jap
anese Imperial Department of Edu-
cation and printed in Japan were
used in these schools. Mr.. Waku-
kaWa, in his book, says:
Such suspicious and doubts on
the part of Americans in Hawaii
grew in corresponding proportion tc
the increase in number of the schools
and pupils and to the growth of
Japan's influence in the family of
nations"
This hostility to the language
schools developed to the point of the
AAACA ONoStAOAA 1ll 4oA0 AL Gllc 4cTIls
torial Legislature of bill for their
abolishment. Strong opposition on
the part of the Oriental community
in Hawaii caused its defeat. The
following year an act was passed
however, providing for the licensing
OF the schools, the examination of
teachers and the revision of text.
books used in the language schools
Regulations adopted by the terri
torial department of public instruc-
ton under this act so irked the
japanese residents of the islands
that after period of agitated dis
cussion series of meetings of the
Japanese associations in Honolulu
was held and resolutions in protest
were adopted.
Legal Battle.
An appeal to the courts followed
fruitless petition to the Governor
Of the Territory and December %