Printing in the Newspapers.
Cover Image: Masthead of Ko Hawaii Pae Aina published on February 8, 1879.
Aloha Nūhou Monday!
Dear Reader,
Today, Hawaiian language newspapers preserve hundreds of mele and kanikau — some still known over a century later and others waiting to be rediscovered.
This week, we share articles that depict the costs of printing mele and kanikau. Some costs were based on the amount of stationery submitted, while others were based on the number of lines printed in the newspaper.
On July 5, 1862, an article in Ka Nupepa Kuokoa encouraged contributors to submit their compositions with payment: “You must understand that payment is what makes your Kanikau get quickly included. It is but a tiresome waste of time for you to write Kanikau without including the payment.”
A Kalākaua one-dollar coin could get your mele printed and read across the pae ‘āina and around the world. One wonders, what became of the original, handwritten submissions received by the editors?
He Aupuni Palapala project aims to make all nūpepa freely accessible and word-searchable online. Today’s blog offers examples of the 1970s microfilm scans currently on Papakilo Database, and our new, clear scans that will eventually replace them. Our team works diligently to digitize new scans of nūpepa so that readers can enjoy and rediscover its contents for generations to come.
Image: Kalākaua one-dollar coin, minted 1883. Bishop Museum Archives, SP 50430.
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org.
Image: “Na Mea Hou o Hawaii Nei.” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, July 5, 1862, p. 2.
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org.
Image: “Ka Nupepa Kuokoa me ke Au Okoa i Huiia,” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, April 10, 1880, p. 1.
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org.
Ka Nupepa Kuokoa me ke Au Okoa i Huiia.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:–Announcements of 10 handwritten lines, One Dollar for the first printing; two printings, $1.50; for one month, $2.00.
KANIKAU AND MELE:–4 Cents for a single line, this is like $1.00 for 25 lines.
COUNTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS:–Remember O Friends, submit announcements before Saturday midday, lest it wait for the following week.
Remember, O People, no Announcement, Kanikau, or Mele will be printed should the payment not be made in advance.
Send it directly to the Kuokoa Newspaper.
Image: “KO HAWAII PAE AINA,” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, February 8, 1879, p. 1.
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org.
KO HAWAII PAE AINA.
ADVERTISING RATES.—For Announcements, 10 handwritten lines on stationery, for the first printing, One Dollar; second printing, 50 cents; and for the month, $2.00. For larger announcements, per agreement.
RATES FOR KANIKAU AND MELE.—4 cents for each line, that being $1.00 for 25 lines, $2.00 for 50 lines, and so forth.
Send in News, Essays, Announcements, Kanikau, Mele Inoa, and money-related matters to the Publisher and Editor.
Announcements and Kanikau will not be printed without fees being paid in advance.
Image: “UKU O KA NUPENA [NUPEPA],” Nupepa Ka Oiaio, March 13, 1896, p. 2, as found online on papakilodatabase.com. Bishop Museum does not hold this issue in its Hawaiian language newspaper collection. An original copy has been inventoried at the Hawaiian Historical Society where it awaits rescanning.
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org.
NEWSPAPER CHARGES
For One Copy – – – $ .10
For One Month – – – .25
For Three Months – – – .50
For Six Months – – – 1.25
For One Year – – – 2.00
Each and every person who wants a newspaper for themselves can place their order at this Office, and it will be sent to each, as long as payment is made in advance.
Cost for Kanikau and Mele Inoa, four cents per line.
Announcements of two inches, for The first printing, $1.50
Second printing, .75
Third printing, .50
J. E. BUSH, Editor and Treasurer.
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.
