THE PRINCE AT HONOLULU.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3461, 15 April 1920, Page 5

THE PRINCE AT HONOLULU.

A UNIQUE WELCOME.

LINKING THE PAST WITH THE

PRESENT. Received 11.35.

HONOLULU, April 14.

The Prince of Wales enjoyed a unique experience of an ancient Hawaiian courtesy early this morning, when aeroplanes, flying low, dmpped wreaths of flowers on the deck of the Renown. The custom of placing these wreaths round the necks of visitors on landing at Honolulu is well known to all travc-llers, but this; is the first time aeroplanes have been used for the purpose of the“ most primitive native expression of friendship that was carried out by means of the. latest scientific invention in welcoming the Prince. The American cruiser Birmingham, with fourteen destroyers, escorted the Renown to her anchorage. The Governor of Honolulu, the Hon. C. J. McCarthy, with his staff, also Rear-Admiral Henry Wiley, command—01' Of the .~\merican naval, forces, Major-General C. J. Morton, commanding the mil'rtar_v force, John H. Wilson, llayor, -and M. Furuya, Japa.ncse-Con-;~:ul—Gcneral, boarded the Renown, and were received by the Prince. A specHll messenger brought wreaths for the Prince from Princess Kalanianaole, wife of Prince Kuhij, who represents Hawaii in the Congress at Wash. ington, and Princess Kawananakoa. These two princesses are both men» bers of the old Royal Dynasty of Hawaii. The Prince has experienced many warm receptions since leaving Portsmouth, but none so steeped in quaint local colour and the old~t:in'le charm of polite'ne.ss with Amr~:rican civilisation sup'erim;Torted since 1898 on the original I-lawaiiaii culture. This has produced many strange contrasts, of which this moi-11ing’s experience of s‘eein'g wreaths dropped frffm aeroplanes is only one instance.-Landing by launch at the jetty, the Prince, accompanied by his staff, inspected the British and American war veterans, including anumber of military ynurses weari‘nTg their war ribbons. The iPrince also inspected the American lGuard of Honour, composed of the ‘National Guards. He received a welcome from the British Club. The ‘ceremony entitled Hookopu, or the [gift bringing, was performed on the wharf, when two leading Hawaii-ins, Senator Charles Chillingworth and John C. Lane, formerly Mayor, welg coined the -Prince, placing round his neck three magnificent "Leis," or wreaths of Irlima, thel-lawaiian royal flowers, also carnationg and stepham otis. They also presented him with a. gold mounted “Koa.” walking stick, with a Calabash one ‘hundred years old, containing native fruits. These gifts were borne by two Hawaiian youths, wearing gorgeous capes. made from the feathers of Hawaiian birds now extinct, which formerly were the exclusive prerogative -of the Haiwaiian King to Wear. There was 3. ‘ertain pathos in this spectacle, as these two graceful Hawaiians, both men of ~.,_commen.ding physique and exquisite fmanners, invested the floral insignia of affection round the Prince from distant Britain, which has so many ties of historic friendship with Hawaii. Institutions of monarchy are held in affectionate remembrancehtv’ Hawaii, though now lost to them, while they themselves as a race Seen‘destined not for long to survive their departed ruling dynasty. The Prince, smiling and flushing, allowed himself to be wreathed in fiowvers, which Were

as speedily as possible transferred to aides to can-y. The population of .Honolulu turned out in strong force to cheer the Prince as he drove to the lolani Palace: and return calls were nludc on the G.ovc:rnol', adlniral, and the general commanding the troops. The Prince expressed surprise at the beauty of the Throne ‘Room in the lolaui Palace, formerly the homes of Hawaiian monarchs. H 0 inspected numerous portraits of the Kemeha.mehamea dynasty hanging on the walls. A great concourse of people arsscrnbled outside the palace acclaimed the Prince, while a battery in the grounds fired a. salute of twenty-one

guns. The Prince is the firs’: member Of the British Royal Family 10 Visit Hmvaii since the Duke of Edinburgh in 1858. The islands have made great strides in recent years, yet they are not free _frol]l\iindllStrial troubles which plague the whole world/A large strike of Japanese labour 'ln_the sugar plantations first begun .-by the Japanese demanding‘ one dollar twenty-five eenfs daily, instead of seventy-five cents. Eight. thousand are strifing on Oahu Island, being suppofted by their compatriots remaining at work in the other islands of the group. The Prince enjoyed a short motor drive throligh, ‘the beautiful island scenery.‘ He entertained ofiiaials at lunchean on thE Renown, afterwards visiting themission pageant in cele~ bration of the centenaiy of American :mission work in the islands.‘