The Fabulous Enthusiasm
of The Patriotic League
of Lahaina

The Fabulous Enthusiasm of
The Patriotic League of Lahaina

On Thursday night, March 1, 1894, the Hawaiian Patriotic League of Lahaina was opened. Men and women, parents and children, young and old all gathered and the Halealoha meeting hall was packed. A huge audience stood circling the outside of the hall because there was no place to sit inside. This was evidence that the hearts of Lahaina’s people are ever adorned with patriotism. Yes, their love for their birth land is unwavering.

Right at 7 pm, our president, Matthew Makāula Esq., began presiding over the meeting for the Patriotic League and asked those attending to stand and sing one verse of the song Kuʻu ʻĀina Hānau ē. After the song was done, the president gave a prayer.

There were some accompanying words of opening by the President Makāula and then the Hon. William White introduced President Makāula Esq. to Hon. Joseph Nāwahī (the chosen guest of the evening), the President of the Hawaiian Patriotic League of the entire island chain of Hawaiʻi. It was Mr. Makāula Esq. who then presented that evening’s famous visitor to the audience. He gave his regard to those in attendance, and this closed with a unanimous expression of great welcome.

At this juncture, there were another half as many people in the audience [who had come] to hear him speak, as some of us had only heard of him and were just seeing him in person for the first time, and this was likely the reason the amount of people that night had grown to such a number.

He speech was measured, but his statements were fully clear and the entire audience was deeply delighted to her what he had to say on the subject of patriotism.

He shared, “Patriotism is of great importance and something that cannot be bought with worldly riches.” [Nāwahī continued:]

Your patriotism, o people of Lahaina, that is the reason President Cleveland said no to annexation, because your names are within that tally of voters numbering nearly 8,000, that is now in the hands of President Cleveland. (Great applause)

And you, women patriots of Lahaina, it is you all who supported your husbands who opposed the joining of our land with America [annexation], as your names were among the 14,000 names of female patriots in the entire island chain. (Great applause)

Your elders who have passed, the chiefs who lived here in Lahaina, they loved this land, and now it has passed to you all, and you are fighting now, out of love for your land.

It is sad to me, though, to see that among my own lāhui there are some who are not patriots, who have betrayed our lāhui and our Queen.

I recall the words of a painter regarding beautiful flowers, he said: ‘If a person does not love flowers, he was not born right.’

What he meant was this: One who does not love the beauty of flowers was not born head first, in the usual way, rather he or she was born feet first. It is the same with people who do not love their land [i.e. are not patriots], they were born feet first and not head first. (There was much happiness and applause from the audience at this.)

I am happy to see the [obscured] of your Patriotic League, proof that your patriotism is immovable. Let us wait patiently and with united purpose, until that which we desire is fulfilled.

Like a ship, we are contending with three swells on the raging ocean. The first swell has passed, since President Cleveland has agreed that the wishes of the Hawaiian people should be granted and he has said no to annexation. (Great applause)

The second swell, that was the big wave in America’s house of representatives, but we were safe again, for when the wave began to break, suddenly we were ahead of it, because we had 177 votes against the 75 of those in favor of annexation, and we got one more victory. (Exclamations and applause)

Hui Aloha ʻĀina of Lahaina, we have one swell left to watch, and when that swell passes we will win, and our toil will end, and we can rest with happiness, and both heaven and earth will be ours [all will be right]. This wave, this is the senate, which has a small fraction more democrats than republicans within it, maybe 50 democrats and 39 republicans, so a leading difference of 11.

Maybe their voting on the question of Hawaiʻi is done, then we will hear, shortly, the last news pertaining to us. [Quotes from Nāwahī’s speech end here]

We were so happy for the uplifting and cheerful thoughts imparted by our visitor. After this, a final salutation was given, with a hugely fabulous closing response from the audience. There were some finishing words for President Makāula and then the attendees of the Patriotic League of Lahaina were let go upon singing one stanza of Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī.

The Paʻūpili rain of Lele
Lahaina, Maui, March 1, 1864.

To access the original in Hawaiian, click here.