("Giant Powder", The Pacific Commercial Advertiser, August 11, 1877)
On Saturday the 4th inst. a native named Kaleo lost his right hand from an explosion of giant powder1 while fishing in the sea at Kaupo, East Maui. By the Act of 1872, the use of giant powder in fishing is prohibited under a penalty of not less than $25 nor more than $500, and with imprisonment in the discretion of the Court.
("Hoopahu Giana Pauda", Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, July 16, 1887)
June 29, 1887. When I returned from Kipahulu, I heard from my family about the death of many fish from an explosion. And here is the terrible part, as people were diving for the dead fish that had sunk to the bottom, one man became sick and started thrashing on the surface. A wave tossed this man against the base of a cliff, where he laid dazed in the hot sun until he recovered. Disturbingly, the others did not come to the man’s aid since they were intent on gathering the fish. People of Kaupo, cease such dangerous acts! What disregard for the laws of the land.
("Shoots Off Hand and Dies From Loss of Blood", Maui News, January 21, 1916)
HANA, January 19. — A Japanese out at Nahiku while fishing with giant powder had his hand blown off last Saturday about noon, also suffering lacerations over his abdomen and face. Dr. Lichtenfels was called to attend the man next day but the case was a hopeless one. The patient having bled the greater part of the night was very weak when the doctor got there, and succumbed after the operation of removing the hand. It was a case of everybody else knowing of the accident but the doctor who should have been notified first. In this case the man would have received prompt attention and care and would have been alive to tell the tale. Dr. Lichtenfels is a man that jumps at the call of duty first and never for one minute considers “how much you going to pay.” Of late he has been to the end of Kaupo twice and Keanae three times in one week and you have to be some man to beat it.2 The cases in question were all indigents and it is to be seen that the man’s heart is in the right place. Anybody who has been to Hana and over the trails knows this is some feat hard to beat.
("Fish Dynamiter Has Both Hands Blown Off", Maui News, January 19, 1917)
Mon Kee, a Chinese storekeeper at Kaupo, and of the old time residents of Maui, lost both his hands by the premature explosion of a stick of dynamite with which he was attempting to kill fish. The accident occurred near Kaupo last Friday night. It is reported that the injured man will probably recover. The police state that the criminal charge of dynamiting fish will probably not be pressed in view of the terrible punishment the culprit has suffered.
Below is the original text of the the Hawaiian article:
HOOPAHU GIANA PAUDA—Iune 29, 1887. I ko’u hoi ana mai Kipahulu, lohe iho la i ko’u ohana i ka make o na i-a he nui i hoopahuia. A eia ka mea kaumaha, oiai na kanaka e luu ana i ka i-a i make, oiai, ua poholo loa iho la ilalo o ka papaku, ua loaa iho la kekahi kanaka i ka mai a kaanini ana iluna e ka ilikai, a na ka ohu nalu i kaikai aku a kau ana i kae pali, a malaila kahi i waiho a make ai a pohala i ka wela a ka la; a eia ka mea apiki o ka nana maka mai o kahi poe e ae, oiai, o ka i-a aku la ka mea nui E kanaka o Kaupo ! Ua oki ka hana ana i ka mea make o ke kino. He keu no ka maka’u ole i ke kanawai o ka aina.
Footnotes
- A brand of explosives.
- See the obituary for Robert Kalei Momi Piimauna in 1923 for one of Dr. Lichtenfels’ visits to Kaupo.