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Written by Ray Province
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Sunday, 04 July 2010 16:57 |
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 The Irish, Scottish, and Welsh, or the Celts, have had a long standing place in the history of Hawaii. In all good fact, there were Celts aboard Captain Cook's ships. There were also plenty of Ulster Irish, and other Celtic sub groups on other British vessels which arrived in the early days. As more sailors got to know the friendliness of the Islands, they decided to stay and make Hawaii their home. Sadly, we did not hear the lessons of the Huna in those days, and make more of an attempt to know our ancestory. There were no official records kept of who the first Celts were on the Islands. I do know some of my own clan Campbell came many years ago, but we’ll get to that part of the story later.
If you talk to the old Islanders, they can tell you stories of Irish and Scottish people on the islands. In fact, there is even a recorded hula about an Irish-Hawaiian, named Lola O"Brien. I have always founds that find of interesting.
One of the biggest Celtic names in the Islands were the Lewers. Most people who have ever roamed the streets of Waikiki know the street that bears his name, because it runs down to the hotels on the beach. It used to just be called Lewers Road. It went from Alakaua Ave to the home of Robert Lewers. The very posh Halekolani Hotel now stands there. Lewers and Cooke was a big building supply house for years here. Mr. Lewers also holds other interests in the islands.
All right, I cannot take it any longer. It’s time to talk about the Campbells for a moment. Clan Campbell and Mitchell/Galbraith are my ties to the Celtic Nations. James Campbell first landed in Hawaii in 1849, and went into the sugar cane business. He also started a business for artesian wells. You can imagine the excitement that caused in a land that has always had to conserve fresh water. The Campbell family also owned a lot of land to the east and north of Pearl Harbor, and in other areas of the islands, like Maui. In fact, James Campbell married Maui royalty.
Some of the other prominent Celtic people I know of are George Lucas, who founded Honolulu Planning LTD. Francis Hits Swanzy, who headed Theo H. Davies and Company, was from Dublin, Ireland. John Huges, who managed the Oahu Railway and Land Co. for years is also Irish.
Let me add one Irish American to this list also, ya ya. Let me tell you, that Celtic pride still runs deep in the States. Roy C. Kelley came to Hawaii from Highland, California. He was a graduate of the University of Southern California, where he studied to be an architect. He came in 1929 with his wife Estelle. He built his first apartment complex in Hawaii in 1932, during the start of the Depression. Despite the economic hard times, he parlayed his fortune into a family business that included 15 hotels. But his real genius was provided beautiful hotel rooms to people who could not pay top dollar. By adjusting to the times of the Depression, he started a whole new cost conscious travel industry in Hawaii. Mahalo Roy.
Finally, you need to check out the Sons of Erin that still put on a ball and parade in Honolulu each year. They are called the Society of the Friends of St. Patrick. They are a philanthropic and social group that celebrates the Irish side of the Islands. It’s a bleeding shame that Michener didn’t include this group in his novel.
Let me leave you with this wonderful old set of Irish sayings “Slainte chugat. Sin sin, níl aon scéal eile agam.” It means Good health to you. That’s it. I don’t have any other story! |
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Written by Ray Province
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Wednesday, 30 June 2010 19:13 |
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Well, we are enjoying a little break this next couple of weeks in Honolulu, Hawaii. So, I thought I would share a little bit on the Friends of St. Patrick, an Irish group in Honolulu, Hawaii. The sons of Erin formed the Society on March 17th, 1955, with THE OFFICE OF THE TREASURER OF THE TERRITORY OF HAWAII. This was before Hawaii was even an official state of the Union. That did not happen until 4 years later.
The defined purpose of the group is to:
To be charitable and benevolent in alignment with the founding organization of 1771 in Philadelphia, five years prior to the Declaration of Independence.
For the past forty seven years the members of the Society have conducted well-attended monthly meetings, and gradually defined a "Social/Educational" context which is implemented and expanded as the years go by. The group pretty much focuses their work now on educational programs about the Irish, a yearly Emerald Ball held in Honolulu, and a St. Patrick's Day Parade.
The Society of the Friends of St. Patrick has met its obligations from day one, and never issued any stock. No part of its income, assets or earnings were ever distributed to its members, directors or officers, except for services actually rendered to the corporation.
Over the years, our Educational fund has grown from $200.00 to $6,000.00 per year.
Our Emerald Ball has become an enjoyable and elegant fun(d) raising evening in the social life of Hawaii which is attended by members and guests.
The Honolulu St. Patrick's Day Parade has become one of the most notable events of the State of Hawaii and has been funded and organized by the Society from 1956.
Following the parade, the Friends of St. Patrick and their Irish-on-that-day friendly friends have also gathered by the poolside of one of the hotels in Waikiki, to celebrate the occasion and raise funds for our Educational Program.
Mahalo from Oahu, Hawaii.
Raymond Province, the Celtic Ozarkian
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Written by Ray Province
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Sunday, 20 June 2010 09:28 |
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I was listening to some hillbilly Ozark music today. I am reminded that we Ozarkians owe a debt of thanks to the Ulster Irish who settled the Ozarks in the 19th Century. Thanks to all. Early settlers of the Ozarks quickly picked up on the fiddle music . The jigs so common in hillbilly dance are also connected to the Celts. The Reels also have a link in Irish music. Add the washboard, jawbone harp, and other Ozark instruments, and you have a genuine Irish Ozark music connection. We did not much with the pipes, or penny whistles though. But you can hear old Celtic rythmns in the music. Thanks to the Celtic folk who came with a fiddle in hand, and a dream in their heart. Raymond C. Province, M.A. Celtic Ozark Solutions |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 22 June 2010 00:27 |
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Written by Ray Province
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Saturday, 19 June 2010 11:57 |
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I wanted to start doing a couple of blogs on the Irish pubs of the Ozarks. The tradition of the pub goes way back. It was a place to gather, argue about the latest political situation, catch up with old friends, and even have a little punch up once in a while. That fine tradition has continued in the Irish pubs of the Ozarks. (except the punch up!)
 Finnegan's Irish Pub is located in downtown Springfield Missouri. It is part of the businesses that have helped to provide new life to the old downtown. The Pub is located at 305 South Avenue. And it is a great place to go for hangin' out Celtic Ozark style.
The Pub features 17 beers on tap, including all the ones you would expect to see in a good Irish Pub in the Ozarks. If you want to try something different, go in and ask for a "half and half." If you ask for a "black and tan", you may get some jeers! (That's what the English call this beer mix.) A half and half will be half Guiness and half Harp's beer. Both come from the same original brewer in Ireland. Traditionally, the men drank the Guiness, and Harps was created to attract a female buyer, during a time when many of the men were off to war. You had to sell to someone.
The better deal is that the Irish Pub also carried 10 different styles of whiskey. My personal favorite is Jameson's Irish Whiskey. It is a blended style whiskey, with lots of nose and smooth taste. If you are more the single malt scotch type, they'll take care of you also. The Glenlivet will be a great drink, that won't break the pocket book.
One of the unique things about this Irish Pub is that they have one of the only shuffleboard games in town. There is nothing like a good game of shuffleboard over a pint. You can also play darts, which is very tradditional. Look out for lads that carry their own darts.
South Avenue Pizza is available til midnight, and makes a great combination, although pizza is not Irish. That's the part we will call Ozarkian.
Go down and see the folks at Finnegan's Irish Pub soon, and leave the Budweiser and Miller behind.
slainte,
Ray Province |
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Written by Ray Province
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Saturday, 12 June 2010 17:11 |
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 I wanted to share a bit about the Royal Flag of Scotland, and strictly speaking should only be used by the king or queen of the United Kingdom, in their capacity as monarch of Scotland. So you usually only see this flag flying once and a while, when the Queen is in town. However, it is seeing more use over time.
It has now taken it's place as the second semi-official flag of Scotland. You can find the flag now flying over the Secretary of State's office also (for Scotland from England.) The flag flies in London and Edinburgh, Scotland. A roudy politician or two has also been known to sport this flag to raise attention to issues.
Lord Lyon, who is kind of the guru of Scottish heraldry, has even made it OK to waive this flag at football matches. However, one must never place it on a flag pole without strict permission. He once, in fact, threatened the city government of Cumbernauld for flying the Royal Flag inappropriately. He touted the Parliamentary Act of 1679, which could have a person, or group, put to death for misue of the Royal Scottish Flag.
slainte,
Ray Province, the Celtic Ozarkian |
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