Mrs. Reinhardt describes the sights and sounds of country life during World War II.
Cover Image: Masthead of Ka Hoku o Hawaii published on February 25, 1942.
Aloha Nūhou Monday!
Hattie Linohaupuaokekoolau Saffery Reinhardt was a school teacher and a correspondent for Ka Hoku o Hawaii from Hāmākua. In this installment, not only does she share local news, but she speaks of what drives her to regularly write her column. She also records a lively “English” conversation between a grandmother and her grandchild.
Image: “Meahou o na Kohala ame Hamakua,” Hoku o Hawaii, February 25, 1942, p. 1.
News of the Kohala Districts and Hāmākua
KAPULENA—3:00 at dawn: That is what my clock shows. “E Ala nā Paʻahana,” [Awake, O Laborers.] This is a familiar song amongst our oldsters, when they would wake from their slumber—I can hear my grandfather, Kelii Makekau of Nuʻuanu singing, “E Ala Nā Paʻahana.”
A friend of mine asked, “How do you have time to write your news for Ka Hoku?”
Answer. “The spirit within me tells me to wake up and pray, then write my school lessons, the news, letters, and so forth. I think first of God who blesses me with restful sleep, and I ask of Him to wake me up on time so that I have time to write my lessons for school as well as the news for the newspaper, Ka Hoku.
God answers: “Keep active,” finding me writing my news. So too when I am reading the news and the laws in Ka Hoku, and also the haole newspapers that are being published, and books in the school library. Reading everything in the English newspapers being published, and educational books, without forgetting to read the words of the Bible; but should the Bible be left quietly aside until mildewed, a woman can no way gain enlightenment.
Some say that it is because I went to school that I obtained knowledge and learning. Indeed that is the truth. Some people actually go to school and yet have no great desire to read.
And this: When they do want to read good works, the Bible is full and overflowing with the enlightened words of David and by Solomon, and so much more. The reader will gain the light of knowledge from God. And this knowledge will surpass what I know and will lead new ideas across the extent of your mind, and it will also be clear to you what should write. Isn’t that the truth? What is your response?
Lest I forgot, this is something instructive for everyone who reads Ka Hoku—take care of your newspaper Ka Hoku; do not dispose of it in the toilet, or in your wastebaskets. Today I keep all my Ka Hoku newspapers as well as the old newspapers of the Kuokoa. There is much learned matter within: proverbs of the old progenitors, the history of Hawaiʻi nei in the newspapers. When rereading them, my spirit is gladdened; when it is raining outside, you cannot do outside work; that is when I search within them, that being the newspapers, and read the old stories, and I find wise ideas anew. These things help and support me when I write my news. I do not get criticism.—Oh, her news is dry—there is nothing inspirational about it. How about it, am I right, or are you right?
I heard the English of a Hawaiian old lady (Tūtū), “E moʻopuna, I sapika you go halekūʻai, kūʻai hoʻi i palena for us, but, you make me sheek, for what you no like go.
Moʻopuna’s answer, “You no been give me 5 cents. How me can buy crack’em? Tūtū, you give me hapalua, I go queek.” “Moʻopuna, she catch’em habadala, she queek go. She see ice cream—she let go 25¢ for ice cream, piha kēlā ʻōpū iā ia me ka ice cream—then moʻopuna buy 5¢ crack’em and 10¢ for crack seeds. Moʻopuna go home. She tell Tūtū—only li-li beet crack’em at the store—so I buy 5¢ crack’em. Tūtū say, “This no pololei,” and she crack’em back moʻopuna. Moʻopuna only laugh and mīnoinoi mālie i ka crack seed—ʻaʻole loa e hāʻawi i ke Tūtū i kekahi crack seeds. Kūpainaha nō lāua nei.
The good thing for those who subscribe to Ka Hoku newspaper is to hold on to the newspapers. We are being ordered to keep newspapers, paper, rags, paper wrapping from loaves of bread, paper wrapping from cigarettes of cigarette smokers; give it to the people who come to collect those things. They take it to be used for things being made by the soldiers. Hold on to the newspapers.
Taken Away
Some Japanese of these districts were taken to Hilo then onto Honolulu, and are being taken all the way to America, being that they are not American citizens. Aloha for them. If it were one of us who was being taken away like that—then what, would we be happy?
Prayer Gathering
Honokaʻa—Last Sunday Rev. Abraham Poepoe held a prayer gathering in the Union Church of Honokaʻa. There were many who showed up that Sunday to listen, to have fellowship, and to sing hymns together.
The young boy, Abraham Jr. played the organ, and Miss Tofukuji played the piano. These children attend Honokaʻa School. Our hearts are gladdened by children like these who join in helping in laboring for the Kingdom of God.
The sermon of Rev. Poepoe on this Sunday was wonderful. We meet with the kahu on the second Sundays of every month. It was planned earlier that the Rev. Lloyd Davis of Kohala was asked to speak on this Sunday. As per the rules and ordinances ordered by the officers, gasoline is not wasted. 10 gallons of gasoline is allowed. Kohala is far away, and that is the reason Davis could not come to pray at Honokaʻa Union Church last Sunday.
Rev. Poepoe Appointed
Rev. Poepoe was appointed by the Officers of Hilo to become a member of the board of this district, to carefully examine the preparedness of those living in this district of Honokaʻa, by listening to the laws being taught to everyone. Poepoe explains the way to construct a air raid shelter to each family in this district for when war comes. Some air raid shelters have already been dug.
Poepoe gets on a horse and travels here and there in this district to check on all of the work that was ordered to be done.
Rev. Alfala, the Filipino pastor, is one of those who is helping Poepoe a lot with his work among the Filipinos in the camps of the Honokaʻa and Kukuihaele Sugar Plantations.
The Filipinos are great, they listen. They go to pray, and they are civilized.
Division of Activities
The activities taking place at Honokaʻa School, as per the orders of the Military Officers of Hilo and the Territorial Board of Education—are being divided up like this:
Mrs. McGillivray and her 4th grade class of 28 children, are moved to go study at Honokaʻa Japanese School, with Mr. Kameju Hayakawa and his grade 7B class and Miss Genung’s 12th grade class. To the Mormon Church—Mrs. Clara Godon and her 6th grade class; to the Social Hall of the Honokaʻa Union Church, Mrs. Jean Fraser and her 5th grade class; Mr. Souza at the Social Hall of the Catholic Church with his 5th grade class; Mr. Kobayashi at the Sunday School room of the Honokaʻa Buddhist Church with his 3rd grade class. Mrs. Hattie Reinhardt, Room 3, 4th grade, at the Preschool; Mrs. Montgomery, Room 6, 3rd grade; Mrs. Meyers, Room 8, grade 3; Mrs. Hayakawa, Room 9, 2nd grade; Mrs. Daisy Souza, Room 10, 2nd grade; Mrs. Annie Awong, Room 12, 1st grade; Mrs. Mollison, Cafeteria, Miss Oka, head cook, Cafeteria.
Upon a hillock near Honokaʻa School is where the bell is that gives the signal to everyone here in Honokaʻa. If the bell sounds one long ring, it is the signal to run and hide in the prepared dugouts, and when it sounds three short rings, that is the all clear signal.
Below the grounds upon which the teachers’ residence of Honokaʻa stands, there are caves dug by warriors of long ago to hide in when being warred upon by the chiefs of other districts. The children and teachers are hiding in some of the caves when they are made to practice going outside to hide.
Last Saturday morning, this district was shaken by an earthquake, and the kicking of the feet of Madame Pele was quite powerful, waking us up to be vigilant. Therefore, onward O Hawaiians: always be vigilant, always pray, always labor, plant sweet potato slips and taro tops.
(Hoku o Hawaii, 2/25/1942, p. 1)
Image: Hand-tinted Kohala scene; Kohala, Hawaiʻi Island. ca. 1945. Photo by Ruth Oian Pratt, Bishop Museum Archives. SP 200326
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org , Bishop Museum Archives, 2023.
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.
