Hawaii by Robert J. McKeague

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jan 28, 1915

Hawaii

By Robert J. McKeague

HILO.—Elder Daniells reported the opening of our new mission here, and I am glad to tell you that there is a splendid outlook for the work that we have undertaken, though we have been here only since the last of September.

Hawaii is the largest island of the group, having an area of over four thousand square miles. Mauna Kea (the snow mountain), rising about fourteen thousand feet above the level of the island, is known as the highest mountain in Oceanica. Hawaii boasts the largest active volcano in the world, Kilauea, which attracts thousands of tourists, who brave every danger to see its bed of red-hot lava boiling at a depth of six hundred feet. The top of the pit is a mile in circumference. There are many other reminders of the wonderful handiwork of God on the island. The chief industries are the cultivation of sugar cane and coffee. The population numbers at the present time 55,382, but the Hawaiian race comprises a very small percentage of this number, for they are rapidly falling prey to diseases, caused principally by intermarriage.

Our work here was started by Brother Brand. A Chinese school was opened, and carried on with small results. The Hawaiian people have been sadly neglected, and that is the reason the message has made so little headway in this territory. Everywhere we find honest hearts eager for the truth of God, and I am thankful to be able to speak to them in their own language, for we have but one small booklet to offer them in the way of literature.

In harmony with the plans laid when Elder Daniells was here, we have settled in Hilo, and equipped a part of our house for treatment rooms. From the first, God guided us and opened the way before us. We have every evidence that he is ready to do a quick work here if we are ready to cooperate with him. Our medical work breaks down prejudice and helps us to come in touch with an influential class of people. The treatment rooms are well equipped, and as we work to help our patrons physically we also try to meet their spiritual needs by giving talks on health and temperance, pointing them to the Great Physician, who can heal every ill. Gradually the way is opening to lend books and distribute papers.

Every Sabbath a little company of from four to eight persons meets in our home for Sabbath school and church services. There are five believers in Hilo, and three others who live about fifteen miles out in the country. I try to visit the country on Sunday and hold two cottage meetings with those whom our brethren have interested in the truth. The way has opened to hold meetings with the native Hawaiians on Sunday evening at a settlement conducted by the Protestant missionaries, and I could make good use of a stereopticon. We are also conducting regular Bible readings and distributing clubs of Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and English papers. One woman has accepted the truth through our efforts. She is a nurse employed by a neighbor, and in a dream was directed to come to Hilo, where some one would teach her. The verses we read in our Bible studies with her were the same scriptures which the dream impressed upon her mind. She is now anxious to do all she can for the salvation of others, and before she left gave me ten dollars, her first tithe.

We are praying that in a short time we may be able to report the organization of a strong church in Hilo. We ask an interest in your prayers that God may richly bless our efforts in this portion of his great harvest field.

ROBERT J. McKEAGUE.