Tahiti Has Kind

Words For Hawaii

“Just Let Oscar Know”

Letter to the Editor THE article in December PIM, “Hawaii Sneers at Tahiti’s Fussiness” (American yachtsmen expressed re sentment at restrictions imposed upon them by Papeete officials) has disturbed our Tahitians.

I want the people of Hawaii to know that there is one Tahitian who will always have a good word about the Hawaiian Islands in general, and Honolulu es pecially, and who will always love its people. . .

In July, 1907, after cruising among the islands of the South Seas as a member of the crew of the American survey vessel Galilee, I signed off this ship to live in Honolulu. By happy chance, I made the acquaintance of a man from Tahiti, Mr.

John Hills, of the Police Department.

I was taken into the household of Mr.

Hills’ family, and I met his mother, known as “Nuu,” wife of Colonel Hills, and his two brothers. Willie and Alfred.

They owned the Hawaiian Soda Works.

I had a letter of introduction to HRH Queen Liliuokalani. At her residence I met Mr. Paea Salmon, who had come all the way from Tahiti to marry the queen; but owing to his being afflicted with elephantiasis, the Hawaiians refused to let the queen marry him.

Through the kindness of Queen Liliuokalani, I was introduced to Kaqel meister (band master) Henri Berger, of the Royal Hawaiian Band, and through him I joined the said band, and earned my first good living ashore.

We provided music at all the arrivals and departures of ships; and I will always remember the first time I played at the departure of a vessel. It was the de parture of the Oceanic liner Alameda, for San Francisco. Everything went well; but, when the band struck up “Aloha Oe,”

I couldn’t resist any longer—l laid down my cornet and began to cry. Presently, the Bandmaster came to me and asked why I had cried. Who wouldn’t cry, when he hears “Aloha Oe,” played so well—that immortal song known the world over!

At nearly all departures of ships, one would notice the notables of Honolulu.

Thus I met the Shingles, Macfarlanes, Parkers, the beautiful Princess Kawan

anakoa, Prince Kuhio, and Mr. Wilson (now Mayor of Honolulu).

In 1913, when we left San Francisco, in SS Sonoma, there was my old Bandmaster Henri Berger, as a passenger going back to Honolulu after a visit to his homeland, Germany; and, on his coat, a display of several decorations, pinned there by the Kaiser, for good service rendered the Hawaiians in teaching them music. It is not generally known that the Kaiser sent Henri Berger to Hawaii, for that purpose.

Then, in 1929, Tahiti was honoured by the visit of HRH Princess Kawananakoa, and her three nieces, the Shingles and Macfarlanes, and I was happy to renew our acquaintances. Sometime later, Miss Armine von Tempski also paid Tahiti a visit, and all of them were my guests.

Now, about that little article, I must say to anyone who wistes to come to Tahiti: “Please come, and ignore all this write-up about Tahiti. Our slogan is,

Come to Tahiti.’ 1 If anyone from Hawaii has any difficulty in coming to Tahiti, please let Oscar know.

We must have a closer relationship between Hawaii and Tahiti.

I am, etc.

Ocsar Nordman

Tahiti, 1/2/51.

This photograph of the Hawaiian Princess Kawananakoa was taken just after she landed in Papeete, in 1929.