Lanai Mormons - Palawai Experiment - Lanai Culture & Heritage ...

Monday 22 nd Jan/55.
It rained all night last night and I should judge that my cistern ten feet across has caught
ten barrels of water during the last night and today. I have spent this day in writing of my
journal. About sunset it stopped raining and there is a heavy fog all over the valley.
Tuesday 23 rd Jan/55.
This morning the sun rose clear and presents a beautiful aspect. The vegetation has
grown wonderfully, not withstanding the heavy quantity of rain that has fallen for the last
two weeks. My wheat is doing fine and what little crops that the worms has not destroyed
looks beautiful. The pioneers are still planting. I have been out in to the field to see if my
beans would do to hoe. They look rather drenched after the rain though a few days sun
will revive them again. I returned to my house in the afternoon and did up several little
chores round the house. So ended this day. [page 158]
Wednesday 24 th Jan/55.
After living two years on native food, and circumstances having placed me in a situation
that I can live different, I have obtained a bake kettle and a little furnace that I can do my
own cooking with out much trouble. I have set a part this day in order to make me some
bread. I set my items last night. They rise well, and this morning I have mixed up three
loves of bred. I ground my own flour in a coffee mill. I have plenty of good potatoes and
now and then a chicken. I have baked the bread and it is very nice but it is lonesome to
eat it alone. I could enjoy it far better with my wife and family.
Thursday 25 th Jan/55.
The brethren burnt me a fine lot of charcoal today to use in my little furnace. I have been
hard to work this day in drawing of my journal and was not quite able to get it done. I
shall be able to finish in a few hours in the morning.
Friday 26 th Jan/55.
This morning I finished writing my journal, then I have written one letter to Bro. Reddick in
Lahaina. The Oahu men are building their houses and the other pioneers are planting for
themselves. I have given them two days in a week to work for themselves. They are very
busy on them days. I think they plant more them two days. than they do in the other four.
I wish they would plant the valley all over. It matters not to me what days they do the
planting in. Only so it is done and the potatoes are in the ground growing.
Saturday 27 th Jan/55.
This morning the weather is fine. After I had gotten my breakfast I took a walk over to my
new farm in order to see how the crops flourished through the rain. My beans is not doing
very well. The corn looks nice, and the potatoes, but the melons and beans are puny &
small. [page 159]
I returned home in the afternoon, did up a few chores round the house in order to appear
respectfully on the Sabbath. This afternoon the brethren have bought me in provisions
enough to last me all the week. Fresh meat and chickens and potatoes. This is the height
of their ambition if they can get plenty of potatoes and salt & once and a while a mouthful
of meat they are contented and happy as the king on his throne. They live a miserable
life in laziness. They are filthy in their habits and take but little or no pains in order to
appear respectable. Many of them, when they get a new shirt they will put it on and never
Läna‘i (1853-1864) – A History of the Mormon Mission at Päläwai
Working Manuscript of the Läna‘i Culture & Heritage Center (November 2009) 24