My Beloved Wife Has Passed on to the Infinite Path of Kane
("Hala Kuu Wahine Aloha, I Ke Ala Polikua A Kane", Nupepa Kuokoa, March 6, 1924)
Mr. Editor; greetings:—Please be so kind as to publish in available space of our beloved, “The Great Treasure of the Hawaiian Nation”,1 for the words placed above.
Whereas, it please the Heavenly Father to retrieve the life breath of my dear wife at 6 a.m. on Feb. 17, 1924, from our beloved home at Maliko, Maui.2
My dear wife, Mrs. Nakiaha Kalawaia, was born at Nuu, Kaupo, Maui in 1860. Therefore, she was 64 years old when she passed on to the everlasting world.3
We were married in Kipahulu, Maui by the Rev. D.4 Puhi in 1872. Thus, we spent 52 years in matrimony.
Fifteen children sprang from our garden; nine have passed on, and six are still living.
We have 15 grandchildren lamenting their dear grandmother who has passed on to Kane’s infinite path.
My wife was welcoming to those who visited us. She held high regard for her friends, from the prominent to the humble.
Many friends and acquaintances came to view the mortal remains of my beloved wife, offering gifts of bouquets.
We send our immense gratitude to them.
With my best regards to you, Mr. Editor, and a fond farewell from us to the lightning-fast typesetting youths.
Sorrowfully,
L. K. KALAWAIA,
SAM’L K. KALAWAIA
JNO. P. KALAWAIA,
LONO KALAWAIA,
KAHUILA KALAWAIA
HERMAN KALAWAIA,
MRS. SAM SOLOMON,
Maliko Gulch, Maui, Feb. 25, 1924
Note: The Kalawaia family cemetery is located at the top of the cliff on the eastern side of Maliko Bay.
Below is the obituary in the original Hawaiian:
HALA KUU WAHINE ALOHA, I KE ALA POLIKUA A KANE
Mr. Lunahooponopono; Anoai nui kaua:—E oluolu mai kou ahonui e hookomo iho ma kahi kaawale o ka kaua hiwahiwa, “Ke Kilohana Pookela o ka Lahui Hawaii,” no kela mau hua o kau ae la maluna.
Oiai, ua oluolu i ka Makua Lani, kona kikoo ana mai i ka hanu ola o kuu wahine aloha, ma ka hora 6:00 a. m., o ka la 17, o Feb. 1924, ma ko maua home aloha ma Maliko, Maui.
Ua hanauia kuu wahine aloha Mrs. Nakiaha Kalawaia, ma Nuu Kaupo, Maui, i ka A. D. 1860; nolaila, ua piha iaia na makahiki he 64, a hala wale aku la no oia ma ka aoao mau o ka honua.
Ua mareia maua ma Kipahulu, Maui, e ka Rev. P. Puhi, i ka A. D. 1872. Nolaila, ua piha ia maua na makahiki he 52 o ko maua noho mare ana.
Mailoko mai o ko maua mau kihapai, he 15 a maua mau keiki; ua hala aku no mao he 9 mau keiki, a he 6 e ola nei.
He 15 a maua mau moopuna e noho u aku nei, no ko lakou tutu aloha i hala aku i ke ala polikua a Kane.
He wahine heahea kuu wahine i ka poe e kipa mai ana i o maua nei. He mea nui na makamaka iaia e ike ana oia mai ka poe iluna a i ka poe haahaa.
Ua nui no na hoaloha me na makamaka i hele mai e ike i ke kino wailua o kuu wahine aloha; ua makana pu mai no lakou i na bo-ke pua maluna o kuu wahine.
Ke haawi aku nei no hoi makou i na hoomaikai nui ana no lakou.
Me oe e Mr. Lunahooponopono ko’u welina nui loa, a me na keiki hoonohohua uwila ko makou fare well nui.
O makou iho no me ka luuluu,
L. K. KALAWAIA,
SAM’L K. KALAWAIA
JNO. P. KALAWAIA,
LONO KALAWAIA,
KAHUILA KALAWAIA
HERMAN KALAWAIA,
MRS. SAM SOLOMON,
Maliko Gulch, Maui, Feb. 25, 1924
Footnotes
- “Ke Kilohana Pookela o ka Lahui Hawaii”, the motto of Nupepa Kuokoa placed under the masthead.
- The cause of death was listed as bronchopneumonia.
- According the census records, Kalawaia’s birthday was in October 1860, so she would have been 63 when she passed away.
- Corrected from “P.” in the original article.