The Patriot Women
Give It Their All

The Patriot Women
Give It Their All

The fire blazes, The Firebrands Stream
At the Benefit Feast of The Lāhui
Hilo Becomes a Leader in The Celebrations

Love, that is the firm steering blade of success.

Some days ago this rather large endeavor of putting on a public feast to seek assistance that would allow our Delegates to continue staying in America’s capital city, Washington, began to take shape in the courageous heart of the female President of the Central Patriotic Association of the islands, and her Executive Board leaders, the women who have formed a united front in the spirit of these words, with which we decorate their shoulders: The Mighty Rousers of Progress.

When this news broke out all over town here, it also spread throughout the islands, requesting that the descendants and the cultivated flowers of the native sands join in and support this incredibly important effort in order to truly obtain help and success. We immediately began to advertise it widely, as per the directive we received from the President of the women, indicating that this feast would be opened on Saturday, December 11, at high noon, on the grounds of Dr. Makipine’s residence, just Waikīkī side of the grounds of Washington Place.

Judgement surfaced in some people along with words that cut deep into the hearts of the people taking up this woman's effort, with the hope that these destructive words would diminish the determination of these brave ladies, whose hearts are illuminated by patriotism and the perpetual independence of their beloved Hawaiian flag.

They knocked on the doors of Hawaiian residences, urging them, their families, and the many people living under their care to join in, so we could enjoy as one at Waialoha. That was not all, as non-Hawaiian friends living everywhere also reached out to them.

The set up and preparations of all things needed for the effort to be a success were the main task of the executive heads of the women in the following days, and because they so loved their work, they printed tickets for this feast and gave them to their committee members to ask others to give their support [by purchasing them] irregardless of the various political positions there might be in our land. That was not all. When their own exuberant efforts towards the success of this project were done, they did their best to ask that their friends and those close to them, living all over the place, to graciously volunteer their help for this big event.

Above all else, we reached the place where the glass of our efforts mentioned was completely full; it was incomparably beautiful and went off without a hitch at 12 noon on this past Saturday, December 11.

Just before the opening of the public party for all, a fine heavenly mist was seen coming down from Kūlanihākoʻi springs above, showing they would push down any dust of the earth that had been kicked up, a heavenly shower to begin the activities of the day.

The Feast Tent

The appearance and style of the feast tent: it was covered in canvas, bordered in coconut fronds and decorated with greenery from the mountains, infusing the air with a fragrance inhaled by all the guests who experience the days events, and it can truly be said that all of them admired what they saw.

The tables at the tent's entrance

The first table was for placing lei; lei of scarlet lehua from Mokaulele, strongly fragrant maile from Panaʻewa, buds still fresh, and also the beloved hala of Upeloa, that seemed to have been strung by the needles of lei makers with the assistance of some others from outside their group. This table, laden down with all sorts of flowers, was attended by Miss Helen Parker and Miss Davis.

The second table had handmade items for sale that had all been brought in from Hilo, filling the eyes of all who came to look at the beauty that spread out before them like a fine pāwehe mat from Mokulēʻia; such things as hat bands, fans, and all sorts of valuable items, all of which came only from Hilo and were curated by Mrs. Kaʻili Freeth, Mrs. Māʻili Smithies, Mrs. Sharrat [sp?] and Miss Kalei Nāwahī.

The third thing was a set of 7 tables of Hawaiian food. The first of them had been named Hilo because all the foods weighing this table down were from Hilo only, from fresh ocean fish to the foods of the higher lands, from red lehua poi of Haili to deep calabashes of [poi] ʻulu of Kahiwa. This table was headed by Mrs. Aima Nāwahī.

The second [of the seven] was the table headed by Mrs. Kuaihelani Campbell, and tended to by Mrs. Pehikulani Auld. It was filled with all sorts of delicacies and just as fine as the table of the Kanilehua rain [the Hilo table]. The third was Miss Lucy Peabody’s table, filled with all sorts of tasty, standard dishes. The fourth was Mrs. Keōmailani Cocket’s table, which was beautiful, like Halemano bedecked in a bevy of lehua blossoms, just like the tables before it. It was at this table that the young Princess Kaʻiulani ate. The fifth was the table of Mrs. Lala Mahelona and it was brimming with sumptuous foods. This young woman was attentive as always, this being part of her quick and lively nature. The sixth was Mrs. Lahela Alo’s table. With gifts of food similar to those of the ones before it, this table also offered [guests] all manner of delicious dishes. The seventh was the last of the Hawaiian food tables, headed by Mrs. Mary Alapaʻi and it was just as beautiful as the others. These food tables were laid out as a single one, and no one could find fault with all that had been made for the benefit of the multitudes.

The fourth of the tables was that of the foreign foods, all of the fine foods heaped upon it were from other traditions, that the hearts of all races could not fault, for there was a tremendous abundance of food. This table was headed by Kulamanu Allen and Mrs. Mary Carter.

The fifth was the coffee table; hot water and coffee from Kona that held back the chill of the prickling cold of the Waikoloa wind. This table was tended to by Mrs. Allen Herbert.

The sixth was the ice-cream table to cool the heat of the coffee. When the coffee came on strong with its heat, then you touched the pinching cold of the ice and and relief came quickly.

The seventh table was the soda table, and this was the last of the tables, which was headed by Mrs. Hattie Hairama and her partner Mrs. Jennie Miles. This table and the service of these ladies was excellent and prompt, such that it fully invited everyone to come for soda to wet and cool the belly, for these young ladies could supply enough to quench the thirst. This table was the most elaborately decorated of all.

When all was seen and observed, and the people who actually came and witnessed firsthand the efforts of the day reflected on it, they expressed their appreciation to Hilo’s men and women, acknowledging them for their foremost efforts in supplying food, lei and the items made by hand, and that in addition to those luxuriant gifts, the ladies of Hilo also made an actual cash donation of $10.

This recent feast truly showed Hilo becoming a leading district in patriotic support efforts, and they were aided by the young women of Honolulu here who gave of themselves for this good cause. It was not us who supplied these testimonies on this event, but all the attendees themselves, who came and saw clearly how many people there were seated at the tables, prompting their decision to say that “Hilo is the best.”

Waiʻanae is another [district] that is included in our highest appreciation, along with the Women’s Leagues of Molokaʻi and Lahaina, who joined in the volunteer efforts. We also extend a big thank you to the President of the ladies, her executive committee members, and all the people that joined in helping with the tasks that allowed the party to go forward, as well as the workers who completed the jobs on the day without complaint all the way till duties were finished at 11 at night.

We do not only thank these people, but all our non-Hawaiian friends as well who gave their support for this endeavor with aloha, and the open hearts of the Hawaiian children…[much of this paragraph is obscured; Samuel K. Kamakaia is mentioned].

Because we have not yet received the correct sum for all the profits from the feast and all the tickets that were sold, we will hold back until we have gotten them all, then report the final sum with no outstanding monies. However, the total profits that have been reported to us that are currently in the account is $1600, $200 having gone on expenditures, leaving $1400, but we have not gotten in all the money from tickets.

It is worth noting that at the very time the ladies are putting on this feast, the Hawaiian Delegates are in Washington preparing to deliver the anti-annexation petitions. The women of the various chapters of the Patriotic League helped to collect many of the more than 38,000 signatures (as a combined effort with the Hui Kālaiʻāina) that were presented.

To access the original in Hawaiian, click here.