Makawao, Maui: 1856

The Fourth of July: Makawao, July 4^th, 1856

Source: The Friend: Honolulu. August, 1856

Published by Rev. Samuel C. Damon.

Mr. EDITOR: For the first time, the 4^th of July instant, being the Eightieth Anniversary of our Country’s Independence, was formally celebrated at Punalu in a beautiful kukui grove on the farm of Judge Hardy. Some seventy foreigners mostly from the U.S. among whom there were ten or twelve ladies’ assembled at 1 o’clock P.M., the day being fine when the following exercises were performed.

1^st. Singing, “My country ‘tis of thee.” 2^nd. Prayer. 3^rd. Reading the Declaration of Independence. 4^th. Oration, “Duties of American Citizens, Residents of Foreign Lands.” 5^th. Addresses. 6^th. Singing.

We then adjourned to the unoccupied house of Judge Hardy, where a bountiful repast picnic had been prepared of which all freely partook, after which some fine singing closed the exercises.

Thus we back-woodsmen celebrated the Anniversary of our Country’s birth as an independent republic; and thus without the aid of powder, or wine, or the frivolous exercise of dancing, we gave as we were able, an example to the Hawaiians of the best method of observing such a season.

The 31^st of this month is a day as long to be remembered by this people, as the 4^th of the month is to be remembered by us. In my opinion the example which we give the King, Chiefs and people will influence them in celebrating the day of their deliverance from distress. While I fully agree with an opinion which I see in one of the late papers of the metropolis, of the shameful doings of the natives on the 2^nd of July at their feast at which they introduced the Hula, I think a portion of the wrath editorial had better been delivered to other parties who it seems have spent night after night in hulaing after their fashion, while men and women from Christian lands consume the night in dancing, they need not wonder that Hawaiians hula. And who I pray, will have to account for this misleading this people if not those born, educated in Christian lands. See Luke XVII.1.

Yours truly,

J.S. GREEN

P.S. Please correct the notice of the late Mr. Crowningburgh’s arrival at the islands, you make we say 1747 or ’48, I said 1827 or ’28. I arrived at in 1828 and found him at Honolulu.