My Beloved Daughter Has Passed Away
("Kuu Kaikamahine Aloha Ua Hala", Nupepa Kuokoa, August 16, 1918)
Mr. Solomon Hanohano, editor of the Nupepa Kuokoa; greetings:—If there is room, please consent to publish my tearful message of love within the columns of our precious one1 so that it may be borne swiftly over the swells of the open ocean.
Tragically, my daughter, Mrs. Mary Wong Ah Chin, my precious, unforgettable lei, ceased breathing the air of this world at 4 in the afternoon on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 1918, leaving behind the two of us, being her parents, along with her husband, three children, one older sister, three younger sisters and two brothers to shoulder the burden of grief and sorrow.
My daughter was my companion in the resplendence of Honolulu town, which will no longer glimpse her features since she has departed down the road of no return.
My beloved lei of a daughter was born in Kaupo, Maui in 1899, on the 22nd day of the month of April, from the loins of Annie Keolaa and James Kawai,2 her father. For four months, she suffered from a sickness that began innocuously and then grew serious until she passed away. A cure was sought from the most knowledgeable doctors here in Honolulu, but to no avail. The finest of these, the last doctor, was Dr. I. Katsuki,3 who moved her to Leahi Home due to tuberculosis. She remained there for over four weeks, at which point I went before the Board of Health to request her release. This was granted. When she was discharged she could not walk, and after staying with us for eight more days she passed away.
Upon her death, her body was immediately taken to the funeral parlor of Mr. M. E. Silva. At 8 o’clock the next day, her family was able to come see her features for the last time. At 4 in the afternoon, her body was conveyed to Kawaiahao Cemetery.
Our daughter had a large family on her father’s side. She was an open-hearted woman, generous and welcoming. Her house was constantly being visited by her father’s family. However, in her time of illness, the only ones with her were her papa, her mama and her aunties on her mom’s side.
With great love for my daughter, I asked her mom’s family to fill M. E. Silva’s mortuary, and I saw only two on my side.
She joined Wong Ah Chin in the holy covenant of marriage on August 30, 1914. Therefore, they resided in the sacred bond of matrimony for 3 years and 11 months until she departed.
From their loins came three children: two sons and one daughter. One more, a fourth, departed with her.4 Before her breath completely departed, she instructed her husband how to assign the children. Her husband would take the firstborn, while the second and third children would go to the two of us, her parents.
What profound sorrow consumes me as I dwell on memories of my daughter who was so young. My daughter was well-acquainted with the Koolau region, from Kahuku to Kaneohe, these being the places her father toured around seeking the basic necessities of life.
Of 12 siblings born, she was the third. Six have now gone on to the other world, and six remain with us, their parents. What love I have for you! How heart-wrenching to recall your voice calling out, “Papa, where are you? Papa, don’t leave me or I will die! Oh, what anguish I feel! Because of this, her father remained by her side night and day, carrying out the instructions of the doctors and the Board of Health, hoping for success. However, this hope was in vain. The merciless hands reached out and took her away.
Therefore, her mother will no longer hear her calling, “Mama, where are you?” We, the family, would like to extend our great appreciation to her husband’s friends, those Chinese folks who came with bouquets and attended the procession. Moreover, I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to the aunties on her mom’s side, those named below. I ask the Almighty in heaven to bless them with all that will benefit their life in this world.
These are their names: Mrs. J. C. Corney, Mrs. C. Apo, Mrs. J. Ahuna Hoopale, Mrs. Kukuna Amau and all the other family members. I would like to give my deepest thanks to all those who placed bouquets on my daughter. The suffering of this world is over. The words of the Good Book have come to pass, that the life of a person is but vapor that emerges and then dissipates,5 and that dust shall return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.6 Therefore, let there be glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace and goodwill toward mankind.7 On top of all this, we, the family, would like to offer our gratitude to the editor of the Kuokoa and the youths who set the metal type in the printing press.
We the undersigned being the family in mourning,
WONG AH CHIN,
MISS JIMMIE KAWAI,
MISS JULY KAWAI,
PUUKOA KAWAI,
ALION KAWAI,
JOHN KAWAI,
MRS. JAMES KAWAI,
MRS. R. C. GARVICK,
JAMES KAWAI.
Kamanuwai Lane,8 Honolulu, Aug. 6, 1918.
- “Ka kaua hiwahiwa”, a common nickname for Nupepa Kuokoa.
- As described elsewhere on this site, Kawai was recorded as a great-great-grandson of a shark goddess from Tahiti named Kanewahine.
- Dr. Katsuki arrived in Hawaii in February 1900 as a “special correspondent of the Board of Health San Francisco.”
- Likely indicating that she was pregnant when she died.
- James 4:14.
- Ecclesiastes 12:7.
- Luke 2:14.
- A former street located in the area that is now Chinatown Cultural Plaza.