("Ahaaina Lealea Nui ma Puuokipahulu", Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, March 21, 1891)
Dear Ko Hawaii Pae Aina.
Greetings.—Please present this to the public so that everyone from Hawaii to Kauai will know.
On March 7, a great party was held at Puuokipahulu. Everyone was invited to come to that place on the day specified above for a gathering in remembrance of the lepers from Kaupo being taken to the Hana jail.
They made many entreaties to Deputy Sheriff M. H.1 Reuter to allow the infirm to return to the jail at Nuu, but their wish was left unfulfilled, and the sick were detained at Hana for a long while. When the Lehua steamer arrived, the deputy sheriff conferred with the ship’s captain. The captain did not know when the ship would dock at Hana again to take the afflicted to Honolulu. Because of this uncertainty, Deputy Sheriff M. H. Reuter honorably released the sick to return to their homeland
Thus, on the aforementioned day, those afflicted held a raucous party with their families. There were three barrels of ti liquor equaling 75 gallons, more or less, along with bottles of sweet potato wine. The guests drank heartily, and there was a great deal of drunkenness and rowdiness.
The sheriff was there as well but could not keep the peace among the quarrelling men and women since he was drunk as well. Because he was intoxicated, the crowd had no fear of him in his capacity as a representative of the government. Is it appropriate for the sheriff to celebrate and get drunk with the public? No! He needs to be a watchman.
On close inspection, this is a breach of the law, but the law has not been enforced. I have observed with my own eyes the deeds done in the house of A. Pio at the place mentioned above. If you were the one celebrating with joy after your mother or spouse was taken to an unknown land, here is what you should do, get on your knees and thank God for taking away the sorrow of you and your family.
I will stop here for now with a final farewell to the young typesetters.
SAM W. C. IKEMAKA.2
Puuokipahulu, Kaupo, Maui
Mar. 19, 1891
Below is the text of the original article:
AHAAINA LEALEA NUI MA PUUOKIPAHULU
E Ko Hawaii Pae Aina.
Aloha oe.—E oluolu oe e hoike aku i ke akea i ike mai ai na kini makamaka o kana mai Hawaii a Kauai.
Ma ka la 7 o Maraki nei, ua pahola ia he ahaaina lealea nui ma Puuokipahulu. Ua kono ia na mea a pau e hele aku ma kahi i hoakakaia maluna O ka la i hoike ia maluna, oia ka hoomanao ala i ahaaina no ka lawe ia o na mai Lepera mai Kaupo aku a hiki ma ka halepaahao o Hana.
Ua nui ko lakou noi i mua o ka Hope Makai Nui M H Reuter e ae mai oia e hoihoi hou na mai ma ka halepaahao o Nuu, aka, aole i hookoia ko lakou iini ua noho loihi lakou ma Hana a ma ke ku ana mai o ka mokuahi Lehua, ua kamailio ka Hope Makai Nui me ke Kapena o ka mokuahi, ua kanalua ke Kapena aole maopopo ka wa e ku hou mai ai no Hana no ka lawe ana aku i na mai no Honolulu. A no ia ano kanalua ua loaa ka hanohano i ka L M M H Reuter ka hookuu ana i na mai e hoi no ko lakou aina hanau, a ma ka la i hoikeia, ua ahaaina lealea na mai me ka ohana, ekolu pahu ki nona ka nui he 75 galani a oi aku a emi iki mai paha, me na umeke uala i hoawaawaia, ua inu na kanaka me ka lealea, ua nui ka ona me ka haunaele pu.
Malaila pu ka Makai kahi ona pu ai aole hiki iaia ke hoomalu, ua nui ka hakaka o na kane a me na wahine, aole no hoi e hiki iaia ke hoomalu ponoi i ka Apana, no ka mea, he ona pu no oia me na kanaka, a no ia ona pu a ka Makai me na kanaka, aohe e hiki lakou ke makau iaia, ma ke ano he kanaka kuokoa oia no ke aupuni. Ua pono anei ka Makai ke lealea pu me na kanaka o ka Apana a e ona pu ai? Aole! e noho oia me ka makaala.
Ma ka nana pono ana a me ka hakilo ana, he mau kue maopopo keia i ke kanawai, aka, aohe i hooko ia ka mana o ke kanawai. Ua ike pono au i na mea i hanaia ma ka hale o A Pio ma kahi i hoakaka ia maluna. I na o kau hana ia o ka ahaaina lealea me ka hauoli no ka lawe ia o kou Mama a hookaawale i ko olua pili ana he kane he wahine a hoi aku paha oia i ka aina malihini i kamaaina mua ole ia kakou mamua, eia wale no ka hana kupono, e kukuli iho ko mau kuli ilalo a hoomaikai aku i ke Akua, e lawe aku i kou mau kaumaha a me kou mau luuluu a pau, a na ke Akua e hoomama mai i kou mau kaumaha a me ka ohana pu kekahi.
Ke hooki ne au maanei no kahi wa aku. Me na keiki ulele hua kepau ko’u welina hope loa.
SAM W C IKEMAKA.
Puuokipahulu, Kaupo Maui
Mar. 19, 1891