Economy | Page 163 | Images of Old Hawaiʻi

December 27, 2017 by Peter T Young 5 Comments

Chink Store

It was 15 x 20 foot, at 1523 Alexander Street, just makai of Wilder; it was called Alexander Grocery – most called it the Chink Store – at least for me, without derogatory meaning, without thinking of the connotation of the name. It is simply what we called it. (Even the owner’s obituary also called it the same.)

About 100-youngsters were at its door before school in the mornings and between three to four hundred in the afternoon. It was the favorite of Punahou and Maryknoll students. It also served basic grocery needs of the surrounding neighborhood.

It was built by Ah Chong Liu in 1912; later, Albert and Esther Lau took it over. The Laus previously lived in Wahiawa, where Albert founded Albert’s Cleaners.

Esther, early on, also sold the World Book Encyclopedia door-to-door just to earn a set for her own family, and worked as an employee of the State Legislature when it was located at ʻIolani Palace.

The Laus leased and operated the store for 22-years. “It’s the relationship we’ve had with the children, without them and the store, we couldn’t have brought up our own children as well. We’ve learned as much from them as they’ve learned from us.” (Star-Advertiser Obituary)

“(C)hildren are my weakness,’ says Esther Lau, amazing memories not only for hundreds of names and faces but also for personalities, a real interest in all the youngsters”. (Advertiser, 1963)

The Laus had three children of their own, Linda, Michael and Richard. “Mr. Lau sent all his kids to college on profits from shave ice!” (Piper)

It was “one of my favorite places to walk from school in the 1960s & 70s. The Laus were always so friendly! I never dreamed they and their store wouldn’t be there someday, but I’m happy it afforded the Laus a good life and then some!” (Clark)

“The Laus truly loved that little store and their patrons, remembering numerous by name and countless more by face. A true ‘Mom & Pop store – I trust you, you trust me’ existence, good ol’ face-to-face communication with all, just a ‘plain vanilla’ work ethic which succeeded as they intended.” (Star-Advertiser Obituary)

“When the troops arrive they automatically form two lines … one leading to Mr Lau who presides over the shave ice machine, and another wends its way to Mrs Lau behind the candy, sushi and manapua counter.” (Advertiser, 1963)

“Three ground rules at the store are no smoking, no fighting and no profanity, and the Laus make this all stick by ‘keeping a strong eye on the kids, keeping our ears open,’ and asking offenders to leave.” (Advertiser, 1963)

“I’ve given more lectures in here. Sometimes when I hear the older ones talking about dropping out of school I tell them ‘You’re in a competitive world and it’s not easy.’ I see some of them who left school and I don’t think they are very happy.” (Esther Lau, Advertiser, 1963)

A news article upon the store’s closing in the mid-1970s states, “The Laus are a special kind of people they offered advice, philosophy, encouragement and help where needed, kept athletes on training diets, bucked up potential drop-outs …”

“… clamped down on fighting, profanity, smoking, and corrected sloppy English, a year-round lost and found department, (conveyed) messages between parents and children, made hundreds of small loans for phone calls, bus fares, and food.” (Star-Advertiser Obituary)

“‘If they yell “Hey!” we tell them we don’t ‘Hey!’ then either, and we never use pidgin English. If they say ‘da kine’ I say ‘Da kine! What are your getting in English, C?’” (Esther Lau, Advertiser, 1963)

“During the hours the store is bulging with the young and very young, out front there’s a collection of bicycles, book bags, violin cases, school folders and flight bags bulging with athletic equipment or ballet togs.”

“Then, when they’ve all gone home, the Laus pick up what’s been left behind … rain coats, bands for teeth, glasses, bathing suits, umbrellas, bags and books”. (Advertiser, 1963)

“But no spot would have been so anticipated to visit if it had not been manned by Mr and Mrs Lau. Not only were they both kind and friendly to me, I often thought how pretty Mrs Lau was and wondered why she wasn’t a model or something!” (Denison)

“We’ve learned as much from them as they’ve learned from us. We’re really going to miss this.” (Esther Lau speaking of the store’s closing; Star-Advertiser Obituary) There are a lot of former Punahou and Marynoll students that miss them, too.

Albert died in 1997; Esther died in 2014. They had multiple grandchildren, great grandchildren – and a whole lot of others who became better people due to their attention to and care for others. (Esther Lau’s obituary noted ‘Alexander Grocery’ the way we did, ‘The Chink Store.’)

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Alexander Grocery-Chink Store-Chuck Weldon

December 23, 2017 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Articles of Arrangement

On December 23, 1826, the US signed a treaty with the Kingdom of Hawaii thus indirectly recognizing Hawaiian independence. (State Department Historian)

It was negotiated by Thomas Ap Catesby Jones; he called it ‘Articles of Arrangement’ (he felt he didn’t have authority to negotiate treaties, however, it is generally referred to as the Treaty of 1826) and it was Hawaiʻi’s first treaty with the US.

It “received the signatures of the Ruling Princes and Chiefs, in testimony of their approbation of them, and as a pledge of their sincere friendship and confidence in the American Nation, and their earnest desire to remain neutral and take no part in any foreign wars.” (Jones Report to Navy Department, 1827)

It effectively was a trade agreement between the US and the Hawaiian Kingdom, which was accepted and signed by Thomas ap Catesby Jones, and Kaʻahumanu as Queen Regent, Kalanimōku as Prime Minister, and the principal chiefs Boki, Hoapili, and Nāmāhāna. (Gapp)

“(A)n ornate ratification and promulgation ceremony occurred on December 23 when all the necessary high chiefs could be assembled.” Terms of the agreement were:

Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation, between The United States and the Sandwich Islands, signed at Honolulu, December 23, 1826.

“Articles of agreement made and concluded at Oahu, between Thomas ap Catesby Jones, appointed by the United States, of the one part, and Kauikeaouli, King of the Sandwich Islands and his guardians, on the other part.”

“Article I. The peace and friendship subsisting between the United States and their Majesties, the Queen Regent and Kauikeaouli, King of the Sandwich- Islands, and their subjects and people, are hereby confirmed and declared to be perpetual.”

“II. The ships and vessels of the United States (as well as their consuls and all other citizens), within the territorial jurisdiction of the Sandwich Islands, together with all their property, shall be inviolably protected against all enemies of the United States in time of war.”

“III. The contracting parties, being desirous to avail themselves of the bounties of Divine Providence, by promoting the commercial intercourse and friendship subsisting between the respective nations …”

“… for the better security of these desirable objects, their Majesties bind themselves to receive into their ports and harbours, all ships and vessels of the United States …”

“… and to protect to the utmost of their capacity all such ships and vessels, their cargoes, officers, and crews, so long as they shall behave themselves peacefully, and not infringe the established laws of the land; the citizens of the United States being permitted to trade freely with the people of the Sandwich Islands.”

“IV. Their Majesties do further agree to extend the fullest protection within their control to all ships and vessels of the United States which may be wrecked on their shores, and to render every assistance in their power to save the wreck and her apparel and cargo …”

“… and, as a reward for the assistance and protection which the people of the Sandwich Islands shall afford to all such distressed vessels of the United States, they shall be entitled to a salvage or a portion of the property so saved …”

“… but such salvage shall in no case exceed one-third of the vessel saved, which valuation is to be fixed by a commission of disinterested persons, who shall be chosen equally by the parties.”

“V. Citizens of the United States, whether resident or transit, engaged in commerce or trading to the Sandwich Islands, shall be inviolably protected in their lawful pursuits, and shall be allowed to sue for and recover by judgment all claims against the subjects of His Majesty the King according to strict principles of equity and the acknowledged practice of civilized nations.”

“VI. Their Majesties do further agree and bind themselves to discountenance and use all practicable means to prevent desertion from all American ships which visit the Sandwich Islands …”

“… and to that end it shall be made the duty of all governors, magistrates, chiefs of districts, and all others in authority, to apprehend all deserters and to deliver them over to the master of the vessel from which they have deserted …”

“… and for the apprehension of every such deserter who shall be delivered over as aforesaid, the master, owner, or agent shall pay to the person or persons apprehending such deserter the sum of 6 dollars, if taken on the side of the island near which the vessel is anchored …”

“… but if taken on the opposite side of the island the sum shall be 12 dollars, and if taken on any other island the reward shall be 24 dollars, and shall be a just charge against the wages of every such deserter.”

“VII. No tonnage dues or impost shall be exacted of any citizen of the United States which is not paid by the citizens or subjects of the nation most favored in commerce with the Sandwich Islands; and the citizens or subjects of the Sandwich Islands shall be allowed to trade with the United States and her territories upon principles of equal advantage with the most favored nation.”

“Done in council at Honolulu, Island of Oahu, this 23rd day of December, in the year of our Lord 1826.” Signed by: Thos. Ap Catesby Jones, Ka‘ahumanu, Kalanimōku, Boki, Hoapili and Nāmāhāna.

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Na Mokupuni O Hawaii Nei-Kalama 1837

December 12, 2017 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Samurai

A shortage of laborers to work in the growing (in size and number) sugar plantations became a challenge. The only answer was imported labor.

Starting in the 1850s, when the Hawaiian Legislature passed “An Act for the Governance of Masters and Servants,” a section of which provided the legal basis for contract-labor system, labor shortages were eased by bringing in contract workers from Asia, Europe and North America.

The first to arrive were the Chinese (1852.) The sugar industry grew, so did the Chinese population in Hawaiʻi. Concerned that the Chinese were taking too strong a representation in the labor market the government passed laws reducing Chinese immigration. Further government regulations, introduced 1886-1892, virtually ended Chinese contract labor immigration.

In 1868, an American businessman, Eugene M Van Reed, sent a group of approximately 150-Japanese to Hawaiʻi to work on sugar plantations and another 40 to Guam.

This unauthorized recruitment and shipment of laborers, known as the gannenmono (‘first year men’,) marked the beginning of Japanese labor migration overseas. (JANM)

One early arrival was Sentaro Ishii. “He had been a samurai warrior in the service of a lord opposing the emperor. Unemployed, he was approached by a young man in Tokyo who told him there was a chance to go to Hawaii and ‘earn some money.’”

“Obtaining traveling money from his highly placed sister he walked to Yokohama. In order to enter Yokohama, he had to discard his samurai sword to avoid arrest, a highly symbolic act which, in effect, cut him from his past.”

“At Yokohama we went on board a sailing vessel in the evening, as we had not passports from the government.” (Beechert)

“He left Tokio in a Spanish sailing vessel, commanded, he says, by an American captain, but he had no idea where he was bound for. When the vessel reached port he got shore leave, and he overstayed leave.”

“He forgot the way back to the ship, and as he couldn’t find anyone to talk his language was not able to ask the way and was left behind.”

“He finally found the landing from which he was supposed to reach his ship but the ship was gone. He was stranded in a country he did not know and where there were practically no persons who knew his language. The port was Lahaina, Maui.” (Maui News, July 21, 1916)

“He was assigned to the McKee Ulupalakua Plantation. After the initial contract pay of four dollars per month, they received nine dollars per month on re-signing.” (Beechert)

Later, when his contract expired, Ishii declined to return to Japan, “as I did wrong while in Japan. I left my lord, my wife, and a child who was two years old at the time.” (Beechert)

“In 1880 he went to Kipahulu. He married a Hawaiian woman (Philomena (born Kahele)), by whom he had four children.” (Maui News, December 3, 1915)

In 1916 Ishii was determined to be the oldest Japanese living in the Territory and therefore entitled to the gift of the Mikado’s coronation cup, a medal from Emperor Yoshihito in commemoration of his coronation.

“One Japanese in all Hawaii was found who was eighty years old and qualified, therefore to receive a medal from Emperor Yoshihito in commemoration of his coronation. He is Sentaro Ishii of Kipahulu, Maui, eighty-two years old.”

“He announced himself when he arrived from Maui yesterday morning, and Acting Consul-General Arita forwarded his name to Tokio in the Shinyo Maru’s mail yesterday afternoon.”

“Ishii was the only one who reached, eighty years, but there was a seventy-eight-year-old woman here, a seventy-nine-year-old man at Moiliili, and another seventy-seven years old at Ola‘a, Hawai‘i.” (Maui News, December 3, 1915)

“In 1935, Ishii Sentaro, the last surviving member of the gannenmono, told an interviewer that he joined the group because working for four dollars per month was a ‘splendid offer,’ though he did not know what sugar cane was or where Hawaii was located.” (Van Sant)

“The last of the original group, Sentaro Ishii, died on September 18, 1936, at the age of one hundred two.” (Okihiro)

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Japanese – Groups – Early-PP-46-4-005-00001

December 7, 2017 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Charles Hall

In 1825 an English agriculturist named John Wilkinson arrived in Hawai‘i on the frigate Blonde; on the way from England, they stopped in Brazil where he obtained coffee seedlings.

They first landed in Hilo and left some coffee there. Wilkinson went on Oahu and is noted for starting the first commercial coffee in the Islands in Mānoa.

Coffee was planted in Mānoa Valley in the vicinity of the present UH-Mānoa campus; from a small field, trees were introduced to other areas of O‘ahu and neighbor islands.

In 1828, American missionary Samuel Ruggles took cuttings of the same kind of coffee from Hilo and brought them to Kona. Writer Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) later described the region in his Letters from Hawaiʻi …

“The ride through the district of Kona to Kealakekua Bay took us through the famous coffee and orange section. I think the Kona coffee has a richer flavor than any other, be it grown where it may and call it what you please.”

“Mr Hall (was) among the first and oldest coffee growers and (his) brands were considered the best.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, January 13, 1866) Farming in Hokukano, near Kainaliu, Kona in the 1830s, he took a risk and planted fifty acres of coffee. (Teves)

“Some 4 or 5 miles beyond Keauhou I reached Mr Hall’s place where he has an extensive coffee plantation. His thatched house or rather houses is pleasantly located among beautiful shade trees, among them the Pride of India, Kukui, &c &c.”

“He has many thousand coffee trees & after 5 years labor is beginning to find it profitable. He has a native wife & a family of several children.”

“His wife is a daughter of Mr Rice of Kailua. Mr R[ice] was formerly intemperate & his family was left to go to ruin. This daughter was particularly vicious. On his reformation from intemperance he set about the reformation & discipline of his family.”

“This daughter, before he could bring her to submission to his authority he was obliged to keep chained by the ankle in his house for some 3 months; at last she gave up & the effect on her subsequent life was very salutary.” (Lyman)

While he later was a coffee farmer, in 1834, Hall was still practicing his trade of carpentry and was also hunting bullocks, so he was familiar with the mountain. (Greenwell)

Hall “is an American & has spent many years on the Island, has been employed in beef-catching & is familiar with the mountainous regions.”

It was then that naturalist David Douglas (for whom the Douglas fir tree was named), On July 12, 1834, while exploring the Island; “Douglas, a scientific traveller from Scotland, in the service of the London Horticultural Society, lost his life in the mountains of Hawaii, in a pitfall, being gored and trampled to death by a wild bullock captured there. (Bingham)

“When the death of Douglass was known at Hilo (Hall) was sent by the Missionaries to the pit to gather information. There had been a heavy rain the day before he reached the place & all tracks &c were obliterated.” (Lyman)

Some have suggested it was not an accident. “(T)he dead body of the distinguished Scottish naturalist, Douglas, was found under painfully suspicious circumstances, that led many to believe he had been murdered for his money.” (Coan)

“Hall says that he saw Douglass have a large purse of money which he took to be gold. None of any consequence was found after his death.” (Lyman) “Mr. Hall says he has no doubt in his own mind that Douglas was murdered”. (Fullard-Leo)

Hall, a native of Virginia, died at his residence at Kainaliu on March 19, 1880 at the age of 69 year. “He had resided on these lslands for over fifty years, having arrived here in 1829, as a seaman on board an American ship.”

“He was carpenter by trade, and soon got employment with the chiefs. He married the daughter of small chief at Pahoehoe, North Kona, and after her death, he married Hannah, the daughter of the late Samuel Rice, Gov Kuakini’s black-smith, who survives him and by whom he had large family of children, seven of whom are now living.”

“Up to an advanced age and until he was crippled by an accident, Mr Hall was ‘a mighty hunter’ of wild cattle on the mountains of Hawaii, and could outwalk most men of half his years. He was kind and affectionate husband and father and good neighbor. (The Friend, May 1880)

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Coffee

December 4, 2017 by Peter T Young 3 Comments

Pahala Plantation

“Among the gigantic enterprises which had their birth at the consummation of the Treaty of Reciprocity between this Kingdom and the United States of America …”

“… notible mention should be made of a Company which was incorporated in 1877 under the name of the Hawaiian Agricultural Company (limited.) This Company chose for its locality or base of a site, at Pahala, situated on the southeast side of the Island of Hawaii.” (BF Dillingham; Daily Honolulu Press, November 26, 1885)

“Peter C. Jones, Charles R. Bishop, J.D. Brewer, H.A.P. Carter and several others chose to take advantage of the economic situation and incorporate on December 22, 1876 under the name Hawaiian Agricultural Company.” (HSPA)

“In due time the mill and other necessary buildings were erected, five miles from Punaluu Landing, at an elevation 800 (feet above the sea level, commanding a wide range of ocean, and an extensive view of the surrounding country.”

“Twenty-five miles along the shore by fifteen miles inland, reaching into the mountains, form the boundaries of the magnificent extent of territory taken up by this Company.”

“The first acre of virgin soil on this plantation was broken in 1877. A mill second in size to only one ever built in the history of the world, complete with building frame, and cover all of iron, was landed at Punaluu, in 1878.”

“Hundreds of acres of land had been plowed and planted with cane at an aggregate cost of an amount sufficient to yield more than a Princely income, when the outlook from long continued drought, seemed so strongly to betoken utter failure, that it was proposed by those who had been most sanguine among the promoters of the enterprise, to abandon the undertaking.”

“Without even erecting the ponderous mill which was now lying in a heap at the landing. A delegation of experts appointed by the Company at Honolulu took passage to the scene of distress, and it is said, their report favored the retrograde movement …”

“… and the delegation was of opinion that the prospective capacity of the whole plantation would not exceed 900 tons of sugar per annum. Fortunately for all interested parties, better counsels prevailed: forward! was the order cultivature progressed; rains came at last; cane fields almost white, put on their mantle of thrifty green, and hope revived.”

“In 1880, the ponderous mill, which had already been condemned under the euphonious name of ‘White Elephant,’ was removed from its quiet resting place and put in active service.”

“The area of cane under cultivation has steadily increased from 1,200 acres in 1880 until now there is a belt of cane fields stretching over a distance of seven miles, lying in a north easterly and south-westerly direction.”

“The lower edge of this belt barely reaches the elevation of the mill, rising thence toward the mountain top to a height of 1800 to 2000 feet. The number of acres under cultivation by the Company is 2000; and 600 acres more are cultivated by private planters”.

“The highest numbers of tons of sugar made, bagged, weighed, and shipped during any one day this 26½ tons. The best weeks work during the year shows an average of 46 clarifiers per day, or 138 tons of sugar for the week.”

“This much abused ‘White Elephant’ I am informed upon indisputable authority, has no superior in this kingdom, if any where else.”

“Its mechanism seems perfect as indeed do all its appointments. Its three little rollers, each of eleven tons weight, revolve with majestic quiet and dignity, performing their work of crushing cane in a manner which force upon one the thought suggested in the adage ‘Tho’ the Mills of the Gods grind slowly yet they grind exceedingly small.’” (BF Dillingham; Daily Honolulu Press, November 26, 1885)

“The original mill was brought from London in 1879 and was the largest in the islands at that time. But by 1914, it was necessary to increase it from a 9 roller mill to a 15 roller mill with a capacity of 45 tons of cane per hour. A new flume system and cane weighing scheme were also installed.”

“The flumes were arranged so that each contractor’s cane could be weighed separately, instead of weighing every tenth bundle in the field and averaging the weight. The cane was flumed into cars and weighed on track scales.”

“The Pahala mill also purchased cane from Wood Valley homesteaders, about 20 Hawaiians and Portuguese, who cultivated about 600 acres of land. This group of homesteaders was one of the most successful in the Territory.” (HSPA)

“While we stand watching the packing process, which is manipulated with mechanical precision and dispatch; a six-mule team is driven to the door, and in just four minutes from the time of arrival, the team is started to the tramway with a load of two and one half tons of sugar.”

“The narrow gauge railroad or tramway referred to was graded and built under the supervision of the present manager. Commencing at the wharf at Punaluu this tramway curves among the ledges of pahoehoe, rising on a grade of four feet in every hundred.”

“By the most rigid economy, the meager water supply afforded in very dry weather, by springs, found in the mountains at a distance of five to six miles, a sufficient amount is stored each night to ‘flume’ the required cane during the following day.”

“In making a tour through the cane fields, one is impressed with the thourough cultivation which was noticeable on every acre of ground. With loose earth and perfect freedom from weeds or grass, the full strength of the soil is given to nourish and foster the growth of the cane.”

“The whole working force on this plantation consists of a manager seven Lunas and 325 mill and field hands.”

“The portion of this great property embracing the Sugar Plantation is a small part of the whole; the bulk of the lands being suitable only for a cattle ranch.”

“Large herds of cattle (the aggregate number of which is said to be six thousand), roam at will over the vast expanse of territory. The cattle ranch is under the management of Mr. Julian Monsarrat who resides at Kapapala at the residence of the late WH Reed, former owner of that property. Under the management of this gentleman an effort is being made to improve the breed of both cattle and horses.”

“The plantation is a financial success, and every department is conducted with a quiet orderly mechanical precission, which is a comfort to both governor and governed.” (BF Dillingham; Daily Honolulu Press, November 26, 1885)

“In 1972, C. Brewer & Co. decided to consolidate the Hawaiian Agricultural Company with Hutchinson Sugar Plantation Company. The new entity was named Kau Sugar Company.” (HSPA) In 1999, Hawai‘i Island’s sugar era ended with the closure of Kau Sugar Mill.

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