Hawaiian Names for Political Candidates.
Cover Image: Masthead of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa printed on May 16, 1919.
Aloha Nūhou Monday!
Dear Reader:
The candidate filling period began this month ahead of Hawaiʻi’s primary election. Have you noticed an increase in political advertisements? In the Hawaiian-language newspapers, most political candidates had a Hawaiian name in their advertisements, whether their given name was in Hawaiian or another language. Candidates with given names in English, Japanese, Portuguese, Chinese and other languages typically had a Hawaiian moniker or pseudonym to appeal to Hawaiian-speaking voters, as ballots were printed in both Hawaiian and English.
Those who had Hawaiian given names used their own names, but if the candidate had a non-Hawaiian name, he would be referred to by Hawaiian speakers one of the following ways:
- A transliteration of their given name—Holo for Holt.
- A translation of their given name—Pāpaʻi for Crabbe. Pili hale for Shingle.
- A nickname relating to their appearance or profession—Kamika Kelepona (“Telephone Smith”), Hale Kaukau (“Kaukau Harry”), and Hele Wāwae (“To Walk”).
- A nickname relating to an associated place—Keiki o Kahului (“Son of Kahului”).
There are also more peculiar names, the origins of which are not known. Some candidates even had multiple pseudonyms. These monikers did not apply only to political candidates. If you are researching a person who lived in Hawaiʻi, knowing the different ways in which they were referred to will only add to what you may find, especially if they appear in the Hawaiian-language newspapers.
How many other translated names of this type do you know?
Image: “Koho Pololei Ia James L. Holt (Kimo Holo Opio).” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, May 16, 1919, p. 8.
UA MAU KE EA O KA ʻĀINA I KA PONO
BE Strong, be loyal, and work together
For the candidate who searches out, works toward, and fights for
EQUAL RIGHTS for the PEOPLE,
Tomorrow.
Correctly vote for
JAMES L. HOLT
(KIMO HOLO ʻŌPIO)
Candidate for Supervisor
Republican
Image: “E Koho Ia Clarence L. Crabbe (Papa’i).” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, May 30, 1919, p. 2.
Vote for
Clarence L. Crabbe [Clarence Linden Crabbe]
(Pāpaʻi)
For Mayor of Honolulu
Give him your support for a good and progressive government.
When the 3rd of June arrives, vote for
him for our Mayor of my dear husband. Therefore, I shall not listen to what you say. For our marriage bond has not been undone.
Mrs. Puakailima,
Wanini, Hanalei, Sept. 12, 1882.
Image: “Robert W. Shingle (Pilihale).” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, September 29, 1916, p. 3.
ROBERT W. SHINGLE [Robert Witt Shingle]
(Pili Hale)*
He is a Candidate Running for the Senator Position in the Republican Party for the Island of Oʻahu.
6209–Sept. 22, 29; Oct. 6.
* Shingles were the modern form of pili grass.
Image: “Hoolaha Holo Moho. E. J. Smith (Kamika Kelepona). ” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, September 23, 1920, p. 3.
Candidacy Announcement
E. J. Smith
(Kamika Kelepona)*
Candidate for the people.
Senatorial Candidate on the Republican ticket.
I am a candidate who will work for the good of all.
A supporter of Kūhiō.
* for E. J. Smith, because he was superintendent for the Hawaii Telephone Company.
Image: “Harry Whitcomb.” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, May 16, 1919, p. 8.
Harry Whitcomb
“Hale Kaukau”* is the one whose photo is placed above.
He is a republican candidate for Supervisor, and is a man who is prepared to do the sort of work he is seeking.
He prizes the rights of laborers, and is ready to oppose everything that is detrimental to those who voted for him.
*Kaukau is a slang for food. So Hale Kaukau can mean restaurant or simply kaukau Harry.
Image: “E Koho A Puka Ia H. M. Ayres (Hele Wawae) I Lunakiai.” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, May 11, 1917, p. 2.
The Man for the Job of Supervisor
(Democrat)
Whereas:
He is respectable, genuine, and honest.
He is not easily swayed, if brownnosed, or bribed by other businesses.
He is a kamaʻāina and as a result of living here a long time, he knows the problems of the city and county.
VOTE FOR AND ELECT
H. M. AYRE
(Hele Wāwae)*
As Supervisor.
*Ayres participated in the sport called pedestrianism. His nickname “Hele Wāwae” means to walk.
Image: “E. R. Bevins (Keiki o Kahului).” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, May 16, 1919, p. 2.
E. R. Bevins [Elmer R. Bevins].
(Child of Kahului)
CANDIDATE FOR CITY AND COUNTY ATTORNEY
FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY OF MAUI
Your support for him is being requested on the upcoming 17th of May.
Onward to victory at the ballot box!
Image: “Ka Baloka No Ke Koho Baloka Wae Moho, Poaono, Mei 17, 1919, Na Apana Koho Lunamakaainana Eha Me Elima.” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, May 16, 1919, p. 8.
BALLOT FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION, SATURDAY, MAY 17, 1919, REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS FOUR AND FIVE
To vote for a person make a x with a black lead pencil in the space opposite his name to the right of the black line.
No ke koho ana i kekahi mea, e kaha i x (kaha pea) me ka penikala eleele ma ke kowa ma-o aku o kona inoa ma ka aoao akau o ka laina eleele.
CITY AND COUNTY OFFICERS
CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU
| NATIONAL REPUBLICAN | NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC |
|---|
MAYOR
FOR THE TERM OF FOUR AND ONE HALF YEARS BEGINNING JULY 1, 1919.
Vote For One Only—Koho No Hookahi
| AHIA, WILLIAM | FERN, JOSEPH J. (KEO PANA) |
| COHEN, JOEL C. (KOENE) | |
| CRABBE, CLARENCE L. (PAPAI) | |
| DUNCAN, RUDOLPH M. (LULOPA M. TASANA) | |
| LANE, JOHN C. (KEONI (I) LEINA) |
SUPERVISORS
FOR THE TERM OF FOUR AND ONE-HALF YEARS BEGINNING JULY 1, 1919.
Vote For Seven Only—Koho No Ehiku
ACHI, WILLIAM C. ARNOLD, CHARLES N. CLARK, ALBION F. COLBURN III, JOHN F. ENOS, J. B. FERNANDEZ, NAGARAN FOGARTY, EDWARD P. HENRY, WILLIAM HOCKING, A. HOLLINGER, BEN HOLT, JAMES L. HORNER, ROBERT KAHANAMOKU, DUKE P. KA-NE, LOUIS K. KRUGER, FRANK J. LAKE, CHAS. LOGAN, DANIEL LONG, CARLOS A. LOW, EBEN P. LUIZ, JOSEPH MACY, GEORGE W. MAGOON, ALFRED K. MAKEKAU, MANASE K. MANU, SAM McGREGOR, DANIEL PA PAIKULI, WILLIAM E. RICHARDS, MANUEL K. SCHWARZBERG, E. L. SETO, ANTHONY Y. SOARES, O. P. WHITCOMB, HARRY WOOLLEY, FRANK WRIGHT, BENJAMIN J. | AHUNA, ROBERT BENEVEDES, FRANK C. GAY, E. J. (SONNY) KALANA, JOSEPH KEAWEHAKU, G. K. KUMALAE, JONAH MACFARLANE, CLARENCE W. MAKIA, JOHN McCLELLAN, WILLIAM H. PACHECO, M. C. PETRIE, LESTER ROBERTSON, ARCHIE SHELDON, WM. JARRETT ULUIHI, JESSE WOLTER, EDWARD H. F. |
SHERIFF
FOR THE TERM OF FOUR AND ONE-HALF YEARS BEGINNING JULY 1, 1919.
Vote For One Only—Koho No Hookahi
| COX, OSCAR P. (PIHANUI) | OLSEN, MANUEL (MANUWELA OLEKINI) ROSE, CHARLES H. |
CITY AND COUNTY CLERK
FOR THE TERM OF FOUR AND ONE-HALF YEARS BEGINNING JULY 1, 1919.
Vote For One Only—Koho No Hookahi
| CUNHA, ALBERT R. “SONNY” (PUʻIPUʻI) KALAUOKALANI, DAVID VAN GIESON, HENRY WOODWARD, EDWARD | HOLT, CHRISTOPHER K. (KALIKO HOLO) ROBERTS, CLAUS L. |
AUDITOR
FOR THE TERM OF FOUR AND ONE-HALF YEARS BEGINNING JULY 1, 1919.
Vote For One Only—Koho No Hookahi
| BICKNELL, JAMES (KIMO PIKANELE) | BLOM, A. (A. BLAMA) |
TREASURER
FOR THE TERM OF FOUR AND ONE-HALF YEARS BEGINNING JULY 1, 1919.
Vote For One Only—Koho No Hookahi
| CONKLING, DAVID LLOYD (HAOLE POUPOU) | MILTON, JACK (MILIMILI) PAHU, DANIEL S. K. |
CITY AND COUNTY ATTORNEY
FOR THE TERM OF FOUR AND ONE-HALF YEARS BEGINNING JULY 1, 1919.
Vote For One Only—Koho No Hookahi
| BROWN, ARTHUR M. (BALAUNU) | ASHFORD, CLARENCE W. (AKEPOKA) HEEN, WILLIAM H. |
The copy of the ballot above is posted for the prior notification of the voters voting for the candidates in the Primary Election, this Saturday, May 17, 1919, courtesy of D. L. Conkling, the Republican candidate for the City and County Treasurer position.
Image: Ballot for election of Hawaiian government officials; Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. Photo taken circa 1872. Bishop Museum Archives, SP 221183.
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org.
This post is part of He Aupuni Palapala: Preserving and Digitizing the Hawaiian Language Newspapers, a partnership between Bishop Museum and Awaiaulu with assistance from Kamehameha Schools. Mahalo nui loa to Hawaii Tourism Authority for their support. Learn more about this project here.
