Kalaupapa Ohana Lives On

By Sister Alicia Damien Lau

That was the headline of a two-page newspaper ad penned by Queen Lili’uokalani and Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole in 1917.

Hawaii may have been remote from the beginning of World War I in June 1914, but residents felt compassion for all victims of the war. The Territory contributed generously to war relief efforts.

In a broadcast of the Hawaii Public Radio, Ryan Finnerty said: “Despite being annexed by the United States only 19 years earlier, people in Hawaii embraced the war effort. Thousands volunteered for service in the military and on the home front. Queen Lili’uokalani led a territorywide drive to knit wool socks and bandages. The largest mobilization of the Hawaii National Guard in history was called. By the end of fighting in 1918, more than 100 people from Hawaii had been killed in The Great War.”

Walking through the Papaloa Cemetery in Kalaupapa, Michael Hobbs, NPS, found a number of Veteran gravestones who were patients. On November 11, 2014, the Kalaupapa National Historical Park Facebook listed 25 names of those patients who had served in the armed forces, dating to World War I, and one kokua (helper), Ira Barnes (Joseph) Dutton from the Civil War. Of the 26 names and pictures on the gravestones, one in particular called to me. Harold S. Weight. He was born in Papaikou on September 28, 1890, enlisted on March 29, 1915, and was stationed on the USS Maryland. According to the records his granddaughter-nurse Debbie Collard here in Kalaupapa shared, he belonged to the US Marine Corps, unit 4th REG, Company 26th. On March 31, 1919, he was discharged and returned after the war on May 18, 1919, on the ship Niagara at the age of 29. Six years later, on June 19, 1925, a picture of him was taken at the Kalihi Hospital and he was sent to Kalaupapa.

This summer, Debbie spent three weeks on the Island of Hawaii with her family. She met for the first time her cousin Michael Weight. Michael’s father was Harold’s brother. The family never knew Harold was sent to Kalaupapa. Three of Harold Weight’s great, great grandchildren (Makenna, Markus and Marciam Watt) spent several days in Kalaupapa with their grandmother, learning about their ohana. Their great grandmother was born in Kalaupapa as were some of their aunts and uncles

Harold S. Weight will be remembered for years to come. This moment in time will be in their minds as an awareness of their time with their grandmother, experiencing Kalaupapa, and learning about the past and present..