Molokai History:
(taken from “Father Damien’s Letters”, Congregation of the Sacred Hearts SS.CC., Rome, 2017)
(taken from a letter from Fr. Damien to his Superior, Fr. Modeste Favens, ss.cc., from Kaluaaha, April 19, 1874)
(continued from June 26th)
We have just received your letter of the 8th of this month, addressed to Father Andre in which you mention the arrival of lumber. Since God’s will is clearly expressed in this letter, I will try to execute this big job as best I can. Father Andre will take charge of the leprosarium while I work in this district.
[The materials for building the new church at Kalua’aha can be divided between the “Warwick” (a ship) and the “Mile Morris” (another ship) for its delivery to both Kalua’aha and Puko’o]
I have to make an observation. The captain of the small boat, “Warwick”, who took good care of all our small belongings that were put on his ship, is not happy. Where the church is concerned, we have not given him at least a part of the materials. His ship owner has told him not to take on any of our small trinkets any longer. The Portuguese man [a Mr. Lima?] does not even have the right to go to Kalawao, so this would perhaps lead to serious consequences. Since it is going to cost probably the same, I am taking the liberty of asking you to give him at least half of the freight. He has promised to unload it here at Kaluaaha where there is a small port, which the Portuguese, who probably doesn’t know the land too well, will not dare enter. He would unload the whole cargo at Pukoo, a half-league from here. I beg of you, then, to take these various reasons into consideration, especially the small favors the Hawaiian Captain has often done for me.
(to be continued)
Blessings! Pono! Pule!
Fr. Brian Guerrini, ss.cc.
Priest
Molokai