A Visit to the Home of Hawaii’s Leper Patients

A VISIT TO THE HOME OF HAWAII'S LEPER PATIENTS Beautiful Kalaupapa By William M. Waddoups, President of the Hawaiian Temple On the evening of October 2, 1925, President Eugene J. Neff of the Hawaiian mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, James Kaulia, a local elder of the Church, residing in Honolulu, and I, embarked on the little inter-island steamer Likelike for a week's visit among the branches of the Church on the island of Molokai. Early on the morning of the 3rd, we were awakened from our struggling nightmare on board the little old pitching, bucking Like- tike, by the full-voiced clarion call of a dozen chanticleers in the dis- tance. After hurriedly dressing we discovered that our boat had sud- denly ceased its broncho-like antics, and that we were peacefully rest- ing in the little rockbound harbor of Kalaupapa. We did not wait for breakfast (meals, by the way, on the inter- island steamers are plentiful, and the food high class) but took the first row boat to shore. (The water near the landing is not suffi- ciently deep to permit the steamer to land alongside the wharf.) We were met at the landing by the genial young superintendent of Kalau- papa, R. L. Cooke, who, after1 examining our board of health per- mits, personally conducted us to the pleasant, comfortable quarters main- tained for the convenience of those whose business admits them to visit the colony. After a bounteous breakfast, Superintendent Cooke turned the community keys over to us and graciously permitted us to visit where and when we pleased. I shall attempt to tell in this article what we found and the impression it made upon us. Kalaupapa is a little jutting promontory on the windward side of the island of Molokai, and on clear days is in plain view from the island of Oahu, only six or seven hours sailing from the city of Hono- lulu. This promontory is completely protected from encroachment or association with the rest of the world, being washed by the waters of the Pacific on three sides, and shut in on the fourth by a thousand foot perpendicular mountain, with only one small foot trail leading dizzily to its fern-covered top. On the promontory, consisting of about 5,000 acres, is located one of the most unique villages in the world. Here live the unfortu- nate leper patients collected and segregated from the population of the entire Hawaiian Island Territory. At the last report of the Board of Health there were 485 patients in this leper settlement of the follow- ing nationalities: American 1, Belgian 1, Chinese 11, Cuban 1, Filipino 25, German 4, Hawaiian 270, Japanese 32, Korean 13, part

250 IMPROVEMENT ERA Hawaiian 96, Porto Rican 4, and Portugese 27. Of these, 324 are males and 161 females, the males very greatly predominating. Living conditions here are pleasant and agreeable. Separate in- dividual homes are furnished for those who desire to continue the family circle relation. In many cases husband and wife are both resi- dents of the settlement. These homes are comfortable and sanitary, ample domestic water being provided. Those who prefer to live in community homes are given suitable housing in Unit Homes built and properly equipped for the purpose by the funds of the Territory. The Baldwin Home is an institution for boys and single men. Women and girls are cared for in the Bishop Home. Bay View Home is main- tained for advanced cases. All small children under one year are cared for in the Nursery. The settlement is* equipped with a hospital for bed-ridden patients, a dispensary, a dental parlor, an injection room, and facilities for hot medicinal baths for those who desire them. The Board of Health is attempting as much as possible to keep hospital accommodations and equipment commensurate with the needs of the patients. The spiritual needs of the people are amply and liberally cared for. The Catholic, the Calvin, and the "Mormon" organizations all have suitable meeting houses', and each are given the support of the administration in conducting the affairs of their congregations. There are few villages in any community which are better cared for socially than the Kalaupapa settlement. Several musical organ- izations keep the community enlivened with good music and song. Free weekly motion picture shows' are given, in a hall amply provided with seating accommodations, that would be the pride of any small city in America. Dances are given on a good floor with good music, at frequent intervals. There is in the town amusement hall a municipal radio receiver, giving free radio concerts three times per week. These con- certs are distributed by extension loud-speaker equipment to the vari- ous Unit Homes, so that the bed-ridden, the blind, the lame and the sick may enjoy a little invisible association with the outside world. This community prefers to tune in with Honolulu and enjoy the radio concerts given by their own people, but several of the more powerful mainland stations are well received. The present superin- tendent (he has been in office only a few months) personally installed the radio equipment two years ago, which incidentally brought him in touch with the colony and the administration, and resulted directly in his selection as superintendent. It will be interesting to the reader to know that the municipal affairs of the settlement are conducted entirely by the residents them- selves. A police officer and a district magistrate, selected from their number, interpret and enforce the law. The administration stands solidly behind them in maintaining the peace, and punishing the offender. Not only is this a distinct municipality, but it makes, exe-

HAWAII'S LEPER PATIENTS 251 cutes and enforces its own laws, and does not need the help of any outside officers of the law. They efficiently handle the difficult pro- hibition question and all other matters of law enforcement. The rationing of this large settlement is no small matter. A well fed community is usually a well contented community, and judg- ing from the peace and contentment we found here this important feature is well cared for. Poi is the staple and principal food of these people and perhaps the most wholesome and best suited food for the climate. Seventeen pounds of poi is given to each person per week. If they do not desire this amount of poi they may exchange the poi card for any other article of equal value at the settlement store. Enough beef, pork, fish or other meat to meet the needs is supplied each person. Approximately twelve head of beef or the equivalent are slaughtered each week. In addition to this most of the residents have their own flocks of chickens, piga, and vegetable and fruit gardens to supply their tables. All are well provided with boats, nets and fishing tackle to take the fish from the ocean at their doors. An ample allowance of matches, coal oil, soap, salt, etc., is made. In addition to this a weekly grocery allow- ance of $ 1 and a yearly clothing allowance of $ 1 6 is made to each inmate. These items are supplied at the Kalaupapa store. Employment is furnished to all who wish to work, and are able to work. The average monthly payroll is $4,000. This amount is paid to inmates engaged zs carpenters, nurses, cooks, stewards, butchers, blacksmiths, electricians, drivers, road workers and live stock workers. The salaries range from $65 per month downward, the average being about $1.25 per day. These earnings the inmates may use as they wish. You will note that these salaries in addition to thei regular rations, make of these people real independent capitalists. In addi- tion to this a liberal cash allowance is given to the blind and indigent inmates that the little niceties and luxuries of ,life may not be entirely lacking. All inmates of Unit Homes do not share in these rations as their food is all cooked and served to them either in their own rooms, if bed-ridden or indigent, or at the community table of the homes. The laundry and mending of the clothes of the inmates of the various homes are also cared for. The residents here in this village own 25 automobiles for their own private use, purchased with their own private funds. Most of them have their own horses and saddles and all dress fully as well or better than the average person in the other villages and towns of the territory. They have their own base ball teams and other organizations for mutual amusement and recreation. All in all, they are a happy, con- tented, prosperous, peaceable community of people. Sufferers, yes; but happily resigned to an apparently incurable condition. They re- ceive all, in reason, that medical skill, territorial funds, and a whole- some humane interest on the part of the administration can supply.

252 IMPROVEMENT ERA Our work of the Church, under the personal direction of Elder John Bright, has been well and efficiently handled. Our members arc real Latter-day Saints and have won the confidence and trust of the administration. We have a membership of 90 in the settlement. Elder Bright will soon leave the settlement, his wife who was a sufferer with leprosy having recently died. Elder Nahulu Eleakala has been assigned to succeed him as president of Kalaupapa. We have no better Latter- day Saints in the mission than those living in the unfortunate, yet happy, Kalaupapa Leper Settlement. I cannot close this short article without a word of praise and commendation to those actively engaged at Kalaupapa in managing and caring for the needs of those unfortunately forced by sickness" to live there. R. L. Cooke, the efficient superintendent, is a navy man, having worked up from deck sweeper to a commission in U. S. naval forces. He is a farmer, having been raised on a farm. He is a radio expert and served in the late world war in that division of the service. He is not only a successful superintendent but a .sympathetic friend to every inmate, an executive and a wise counselor. To him we owe much for the .success and pleasure of our visit. Dr. Geo. H. Huddy, himself a part Hawaiian, left a large pri- vate dental practice, to devote his whole time to the unfortunate in- mates of Kalaupapa, Kalihi Hospital and the Insane Asylum. Dr. Huddy deserves much praise for his unselfish devotion to the com- fort and good of the sufferers of his people. Dr. Harold K. Marshall, an experienced Leperologist, is in charge of the medical division of the Kalaupapa Leper Settlement. Laie, Oahu, T. H. A Plea Dreams will come, and live, and go. The tears were made for laughter — Throughout the endless years; An evidence of joy, We'll read their meaning later As well as sorrow's portion; 'Mid sorrows, joys or tears. For that, let's them employ. Life is but a little span; Then life will glide the smoother, No one can tell how brief. Cur days can then be free Then banish cares with sunshine, Of petty pouts and frownings Sweet smiles to drown the grief. And lack of sympathy. Life's meaning will be clearer, Our hearts will be at rest, As children of God we then Should strive to do our best. Corvallis, Oregon. CLARK GOLDEN.