("Na Anoai o ka La Koho Baloka ma Kaupo", Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, November 19, 1920)
Mr. Editor of the Prize of the Nation, greetings:—If you have room in the treasure of the nation, I ask that you entertain the topic above to inform all who live from where the sun rises at Kumukahi to where it sets at the base of Lehua.
On November 2, the League of Women Voters of Kaupo held a great luau, the likes of which the writer has not seen in 16 years of living here.
This feast was supplied with all kinds of Hawaiian dishes: Beef and pork laulau, sweet potato and coconut pudding, slippery black seaweed from the rocks of Punahoa and Waiokume, giant, dark opihi from the bluffs of the “crooked hau of Maalo”1, kukui nut relish, and cold soda that tickled the throat.
Under a lanai roof expertly woven with leaves by men skilled in such work, the entire population of Kaupo gathered to eat the food prepared by the kind-hearted members of the luau committee.
The feast began at 7 a.m. and lasted until the ballots were done being counted at 5 p.m. Everyone was able to eat and drink their fill, and there was nothing with which to find fault.
So that readers may understand how this women’s association was able to organize this great event, the writer will explain the process:
The association decided to create a committee from its members to approach various friends from the Hawaiian nation and other nationalities, asking them to provide whatever they could to support the event. Indeed, this raised nearly $130, which was used to purchase the supplies for the luau.
Sixteen bushels of poi were ordered from Keanae. A woman on the committee went by automobile to Kopihula on Sunday night to wait for the arrival of the poi from Keanae, which the caring, patient and gracious deputy tax collector had transported in order to help.
On that unforgettable day mentioned above, heavy drops of rain fell from Kulanihakoi, signifying the cleansing waters washing away the filth of the earth, and the rallying cry rang true that, “Victory went to the Republican Party of American and Hawaii”.
In closing this report, the writer would like to offer a heartfelt thanks individually and collectively to the officers, the members and the committee of the League of Women Voters for the preparation and execution to provide beautifully laden tables, a pleasant atmosphere and wonderful decorations admired by all.
I extend an ardent thanks as well to the serving women for your swiftness and attention in tending to the various duties assigned by your supervisors. Therefore, march forward, fine women and become fearless warriors on the battlefield. I offer my prayers to our Almighty Father, the holy trinity, that He bestow on all of us the strength to continue and provide us with blessings of the earth.
With thanks to you, Mr. Editor, and with regards to the young typesetters of your printing press.
Signed,
L. A. KANAE2
Kaupo, Maui, Nov. 7, 1920.
Below is the text of the original article:
NA ANOAI O KA LA KOHO BALOKA MA KAUPO.
Mr. Lunahooponopono o ke Kilohana a ka Lahui, Aloha oe:—Ke noi aku nei i kou oluolu ina he wahi rumi kaawale kekahi o ka hiwahiwa a ka lahui, alaila e hookipa aku oe i kela wahi poo manao e kau ae la maluna, i ike mai ai na kini, ka mano ame ka lehulehu mai ka la hiki ma Kumukahi a hoea loa aku i ka welona a ka la i ka mole olu o Lehua.
Ma ka la 2 o Novemaba i hala aku la ua haawi ae ka Ahahui o na Wahine Koho Baloka o Kaupo i kekahi paina luau nui, i ike ole ia e kou meakakau no umi-kumamaono makahiki, oiai o ka loihi iho la no ia o na makahiki o ka mea e kakau nei i keia meahou e noho nei i keia wahi.
He paina luau keia i hoolako pono ia me na meaai Hawaii, bipi ame puaa laulau, kulolo ame piepiele, uala ame ka niu, na limu eleele pahee o na pa ala o Punahoa ame Waiokume, na opihipihi koele ame maku’eku’e o na olaelae o ke kekeehauomaalo, na kukui inamona i lawaluia ame na waimomona hu’ihu’i kaomipuu.
Malalo o kekahi lanai lau lino, i hana a i kukulu maiauia e kekahi mau makuakane i ike ia hana, i hookipaia aku ai ka lehulehu holookoa o Kaupo, e ai i na mea i hoomakaukauia e na komite puuwai hamama i kohoia no ua paina luau la.
Ua hoomaka ka ai ana o keia paina mai ka hora 7 a. m. ahiki wale aku no i ka pau ana o ka helu ana i ka baloka i ka hora 5 p. m., a ua ai ka lehulehu, ua inu a lawa, aohe mea e hoohalahala ai.
I mea e hiki ai i loaa aku ka ike i na makamaka heluhelu, no kahi i hiki ai i keia ahahui o na wahine ke hooulu ae i keia hana nui, he mea pono no i ka meakakau e hoakaka iki aku i ke kumu kahi i hiki ai, penei no ia:
Ua hooholo keia ahahui e koho i mau komite mailoko mai o ka ahahui e hele imua o na hoaloha like ole, mai na lahui Hawaii ame na lahui e, e haawi i na kokua no keia hana a lakou i hooholo ai, ma ka haawi ana mai o na hoaloha i ka mea hiki ke haawi; he mea oiaio, ua loaa i’o, aneane ma kahi o ka $130. Me keia huina iho la i hiki ai ke hoolakoia na mea e pono ai keia paina luau.
Ua kauohaia aku he 16 pukela poi mai Keanae mai, a ua hiki aku kekahi o keia mau komite wahine i kohoia ma Kopihula, i na hora o ka po Lapule maluna o ka otomobile, no ke kali ana o ka hiki mai o ka poi mai kai mai o Keanae, e halihaliia mai ana e ka hope luna auhau o ka apana o Hana, i piha i ke aloha, hoomanawanui ame ka waipahe, e kokua wale ana.
Ma kela la poina ole i hoikeia ae la, he la ia i hanini iho ai na kulu pa kaua o Kulanihakoi, e hoike mai ana ia, e wai hoomaemae e holoi ana i na paumaele o ko ka honua, a o ka puana oiaio, “ua kaa ka lanakila nui i ka aoao Repubalika, mai Amerika a Hawaii nei.”
I ka hooki ana ae i keia mau anoai, ke haawi aku nei ka meakakau i na hoomaikai he nui ia oukou pakahi, a ia oukou huiia, na luna nui, na lala ame na komite o ka ahahui o na wahine koho balota, no na makaukau a oukou i imi ai, a i hoolako ai me ka piha pono, ohuohu o na pakaukau, ka maluhia o ka la ame na maikai he nui i ikemaka ia e ka lehulehu.
Haawi pu aku i na hoomaikai he nui i na makuahine kuene, no ko oukou piha eleu a makaala pu, oiai oukou e ku kiai ana maluna o ka oukou mau mahele hana like ole i kauohaia e ko oukou alakai; nolaila, imua e na makuahine maikai, e lilo oukou i mau koa wiwo ole no na kahua kaua o keia ana ke noi nei ka’u leo pule i ko kakou makua mana loa, ke kahikolu hemolele mai Iaia mai ka ikaika hooneemua oi aku, a mai Iaia pu mai na pomaikai honua e haawiia mai ai ia kakou apau.
Me oe e Mr. Lunahooponopono ka mahalo a nui, a i kou mau keiki kikohua o kou papapa’i ke aloha.
Owau iho no,
L. A KANAE
Kaupo, Maui, Nov. 7, 1920.
Footnotes
Mahalo nui! This is my kupuna, Luther Aalona Kanae. His father was Ernest Kaluhikula Kanae, who married Rebecca Kamaeliilii Kuhihewa Manu, whose last name changed to Kahunaaiole. Her father was Manu Kahunaaiole.
Looking for any ohana out in Kaupo with stories to share 🙂
Luther Aalona Kanae wrote a number of articles in the early 1900s, mostly about church activities. Here are a few of the stories: 8/31/1906, 6/21/1907, 12/10/1909, 9/1/1911, 9/13/1918, 7/11/1919, and 8/27/1920.
Oops, sorry… Luther Aalona Kanae was married to Rebecca. His SON was Ernest Kanae.