("Na Hana Aloha Ole a na Makai Hou o Hana", Ka Elele Poakolu, August 31, 1881)
On Saturday, Aug. 20, the Hana sheriff sought the arrest of Keeia, a person suffering from the "disease that separates families"1.
On that day, officers came with false words meant to placate the afflicted one.
On their return, the officers retrieved Keeia’s horse at Nuanualoa and forced him to mount.
From that point on, there were many cruel acts by these officers. Keeia was forced to ride without a saddle. Surprisingly, they tied this ill person with a rope like they were cowboys from Lihue on a cattle roundup.
One officer was in front pulling him. The sick one was bound tight. The officers, Kekookalani and Kamohai, continually whipped the horse. The sick one was terrified to descend the cliffs at Kalepa and Lelekea, saying, "Be careful with me or I’ll fall". The two officers paid no heed, as if they had no compassion in their hearts.
When they arrived at the jail, the jailer treated him with great cruelty. Is there no compassion in Hawaii?
The ill one was kept there for two days without food and had no blanket at night. Thus, these lines were chanted:
“My cold nights are restless,
Filled with discomfort.”
In addition, on the day this sick person was taken away, none of his personal belongings were brought along. A palaka shirt and a pair of pants. Nothing else.
Perhaps it will be a lesson for those who committed these heartless acts, as well as for officers elsewhere, to see their cruel deeds published in your delicate figure2.
There are a great many cruel acts by officers here against the sick.
P. K. OF ALAU.
Below is the text of the original article:
NA HANA ALOHA OLE A NA MAKAI HOU O HANA.
Ma ka Poaono la 20 o Aug. ua kii aku la ka Luna Makai o Hana ia Keeia, he kanaka i loaa i ka mai hookaawale ohana.
A ma ka la i hoike ia maluna ua hiki kino aku la lakou me na olelo hoopunipuni i mea e ae oluolu mai ai ke kanaka mai.
I ko lakou nei hoomaka ana mai e hoi a Nuanualoa, loaa iho la ka lio o ua Keeia nei, hookikina ia keia e kau e na makai.
Ma keia wahi aku, he keu na hana aloha ole a keia mau makai. Ua hookau ia keia iluna o ka lio me ka noho ole. Eia ka mea hilu, hoopaa ia keia kanaka mai, me ke kaula me he paniolo ala no Lihue e hele ana i ka hoohei pipi. Ke huki la kekahi makai mamua ua : likini ia keia a paa. O Kekookalani a me Kamohai na makai, e noke ana i ka hili i ka lio. He keu ka weliweli o ka mea mai i ka iho ana o na pali o Kalepa a me Lelekea, me ka olelo aku o ka mea mai, e akahele olua ia’u, mahope au haule i ka pali. Mea ole ko laua ’la maliu mai, me he mea ’la, aole i komohia ke aloha Hawaii oiaio iloko o ko laua mau puuwai.
I ka hiki ana i ka halepaahao hao mai la hoi ka Luna wiliki i kona kuleana, aole o kana mai ua mea he lokoino. Aloha ole ia oe e Hawaii.
O ka noho ana o ka mea mai aole ai, elua po, a elua ao ; moe i ka po me ke kapa ole. Nolaila ia i puana ae ai i keia lalani mele:
“Oni wale kuu po anu,
I ka hoi-loli ai ’la.”
Oiai hoi ma ka la i lawe ia mai ai ka mea mai, aole i lawe pu ia mai me kona mau pono kino. Ua hele he wahi palaka ko luna, a he lole wawae ko lalo, aole mea e ae.
Nolaila ma keia mau hana aloha ole a lakou nei he kumu paha keia e ao mai ai ia lakou, a pela like me na makai o na wahi e ae, ke ike mai lakou maloko nei o kou kino lahilahi i ko lakou mau hana alohe ole.
Nui no na hana aloha ole a na makai onei e pili ana i ka poe mai.
P. K. O ALAU.
Footnotes