Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 8, 1 August 1986 — Remembering First Electric Light 100 Years Ago [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Remembering First Electric Light 100 Years Ago

A very special mahalo was publicly extended to the leaders of the Hawaiian community and Hawaiian societies*"for your invaluable ongoing efforts in the perpetuation of Hawaiian culture." C. Dudley Pratt Jr., chairman of the board of Hawaiian Electric Company, called on the more than 4,000 people in attendance at the centennial of electric light ceremony July 21 to recognize the various Hawaiian organizations for their presence. A brief one hour observance to mark the historical

event attracted families and the pau hana crowd, many of them completely outfitted with blankets, mats, eoolers, pienie kaukau and their trusty cameras. The procession of Hawaiian groups to their seats was a very impressive moment with eaeh one resplendent in their respective uniforms. It was a different story at the end, however, as the groups were not accorded the same respect in exiting. The crowd made a mad dash to leave the palaee grounds, causing many members of the Hawaiian groups to be hemmed in. Pratt recalled that evening of July 21, 1886, when five

arc lamps of 2,000 candle-power eaeh were placed one apieee at the palaee, Aliiolani Hale and Richards St. in front of the palaee gate and two on King St. Shortly after 7 p.m., "The electricity was turned on and as soon as darkness increased, the vicinity of Palaee Square was flooded with a soft but brilHant light, whieh turned the night into day," as was reported in the next day's newspaper. "It must have been a night of marvel and merriment — the festive spirit of whieh we capture this evening. The

Royal Hawaiian Band played, large crowds gathered to behold the spectacle of electric light and there was excitement and a sense of 'newness' and change in the air," Pratt noted. "As we look around us we realize some things have not changed. King Kalakaua himself was coronated right here at Keli'iponi Hale and our beautiful Iolani Palaee stood just as majestically surrounded by a stone wall rather than the fence you see today . The makai side of King St. looked mueh as it does now, distinguished by such buildings as Aliiolani Hale, Kawaiahao Church and the Mission Houses. How fortunate we are that we do not have to close our eyes to envision this portion of our history," Pratt went on. "As we reflect upon the moment, we must reflect

upon the man — Kalakau'a — Hawaii's last king. He lived in a time of transition and change and he faced new ideas, like electricity, with the boldness of enlightened leadership. If ever a symbol of leadership mirrored the character of a man, it was 'Kukui a i Ke Awakea' (the torch that burned at mid-day. And as the music of this evening so joyfully reminds us, Kalakau'a's love for his people was paramount. For all his accomplishments, none was more marked than the revival and preservation of Hawaiian music, hula,

sport, philosophy and lore. A gift to his people, and to all people! Comparable to the electric light, our culture brightens the way ahead and enriches our lives, eaeh of us, all of us together," Pratt concluded. The Rev. William Kaina of Kawaiahao Church gave the blessing and entertainment was provided by the Royal Hawaiian Band under Bandmaster Aaron Mahi, the Hawaiian Electric EmpIoyees Glee Club, Palani Vaughan and The King's Own with the Royal Court Dancers and Frank Kawaikapu Hewett and the Ladies of Kuhaihalau. Harwood D. Williamson, president of Hawaiian Eleetric, extended greetings and served as master of ceremonies.

C. Dudley Pratt Jr., chairman of the board of Hawaiian Electric Company, acknowledges Hawaiian groups and societies in the crowd during centennial of electric light program July 21 at Iolani Palaee grounds.

Palani Vaughan and The King"s Own with the Royal Court Dancers entertain big crowd.