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

table in as much order as so many white men and women would. I was very much
pleased with their behavior.
Sunday 3 rd Sept/54.
This morning Bro. Hammond held a meeting with the natives to instruct them their duty
as pioneers to prepare a gathering for this people for as yet I am not able to teach them
principle. In the afternoon we took the sacrament. There was present 75, and I think I
never saw a more humble people in my life. We had a happy time and the Lord was with
us.
Monday 4 th Sept/54.
This morning Bro. Hammond and myself appointed a meeting. I then appointed two
Captains to take charge in my [page 134] absence the first James Pelio over the Wailuku
pioneers the second Keolanui over the Kula pioneers, then the men that belong on this
Island wished to be counted as pioneers also and given a portion of their time for the
same purpose, and to assist in building houses for those that would gather this fall. We
then appointed one Captain more. This swelled the number to 30 pioneers. Then Bro.
Hammond made a dedication prayer to dedicate ourselves and all that we should do to
the Lord. He and Bro. Baker then left for Lahaina and I took the pioneers and went to
work. We hadn’t more than got fairly to work till it commenced to rain and in five minutes
there was not a dry thread in my clothes but it was soon over & we went to work again,
and worked till three o clock. Then I went to the house and changed my clothes and the
natives went to the sea to bring up some provisions so ended this day.
Tuesday 5 th Sept/54.
This morning I sent ten men to pick some potatoes to plant on the morrow, and then took
the rest of the men and prepared a place to plant some corn. Then planted one acre of
melons and a few Irish potatoes.
Wednesday 6 th Sept/54.
This morning the men went to planting potatoes. The ground is in fine order. I set two of
the men to digging a well but they make a poor go of it.
Thursday 7 th Sept/54.
This day we have set apart as a day of fasting and prayer. We have had meetings all day
and the spirit of the Lord was in our midst and that to bless.
Friday 8 th Sept/54.
This morning I set the men to planting. They got through at three o clock, and all hands
went to the sea a fishing. [page 135]
Saturday 9 th Sept/54.
This morning after I had got my breakfast, being some what lonesome, I concluded to
take a walk down to the sea where the natives were a fishing. When I got there they were
eating their dinner. I sat down to a fine broiled fish and some roasted potatoes. This was
quite a luxury to me, I assure you, for I am very fond of fresh fish. The natives had got a
large bundle of weeds [‘auhuhu] pounded it up to poison the fish as large as a large
pumpkin, and done up in leaves. One of these bundles a piece. They then prepared to
Läna‘i (1853-1864) – A History of the Mormon Mission at Päläwai
Working Manuscript of the Läna‘i Culture & Heritage Center (November 2009) 8