Under the "Perquisite System" of the mid-1800s, people the world over came to work in Hawaii's sugar plantations as "servants" under a contract labor system. 'Perquisite System'
The plantations, in turn, were the "masters" who provided food, shelter and medical care, according to "Modern Hawaii History" by Ann Rayson.
A glimpse of the rights and obligations under the Perquisite System is shown in a "Memorandum of Agreement" for Chinese laborers in 1870, written by immigration commissioner Samuel G. Wilder:
"Each Emigrant shall have given him, 1 heavy Jacket, 1 light Jacket, 1 Water-proof Jacket, 2 pair Pants, 1 pair Shoes, 1 pair Stockings, 1 Hat, 1 Mat, 1 Pillow, 1 Blanket.
"A Present of Ten Dollars to be paid the day before the ship sails.
"A free passage to Sandwich Islands, with food, water, and medical care given each Emigrant.
"The Master to pay all Government personal taxes.
"All Children to be taught in the Public Schools, free of any expense to the Parents.
"Each Man to receive $6 for each month labor performed of 26 days.
"Each Woman to receive $5 for each month labor performed of 26 days.
"In all cases, the Master to provide good and sufficient food and comfortable House Room.
"In case of Sickness, Medical attendance and care free.
"No wages during illness.
"Each Emigrant to find his own Bed clothing.
"Each Emigrant, upon arrival in the Sandwich Islands, to sign a contract (to work for such Master as may be chosen for him by the Government Agent) for the term of Five Years from time of entering upon his duties, to work faithfully and cheerfully according to the laws of the Country, which compel both Master and Servant to fulfill their contracts."
The National Cemetery of the Pacific will be celebrating its 50th anniversary Thursday with a ceremony honoring those who helped to maintain and support it. National Cemetery
to mark 50th yearActing Secretary for Memorial Affairs Roger Rapp will present certificates to the individuals and organizations which have supported the cemetery.
The presentation will begin at 9 a.m.
Also on Thursday, the normal $10 fee to tour the USS Missouri will be in effect and will be charged to people attending the special World War II commemoration ceremony that day on Ford Island.
Trolley service from the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park will begin earlier than normal, at 7:30 a.m., to give people time to tour the battleship before the ceremony begins.
The commemoration ceremony marking the end of World War II will begin at 8:45 a.m. on Ford Island's Pier Foxtrot 5.
Special discounts will be offered to all active-duty military, retired military personnel and reservists. They will be charged 50 percent off of the military admission price of $8, or $4. Dependent children will be charged $2.50.
The special discount rates end when the ceremony is completed at 10 a.m.
World War II veterans and their immediate family will be admitted free throughout the day. For further information, call the Battleship Missouri Association at 455-1600.
17 Army helicopters in Hawaii still grounded
Seventeen of the 22 CH-47D Chinook helicopters belonging to the Hawaii Army National Guard and active-duty Army forces at Wheeler Army Air Field remain grounded, despite a decision on the mainland to return part of the entire fleet to limited flight duty.The Army yesterday announced that half its fleet of 466 Chinooks will be returned to duty after being grounded since Aug. 9 following the discovery of a cracked transmission gear.
A spokesman for the Hawaii Army National Guard said its 14 Chinooks need to have transmissions replaced, which means they won't be back on line for several months.
Five of the 25th Infantry Division's eight helicopters have been returned to duty.
The Army's decision to return part of its fleet was based on records checks and inspections.
No accidents or other problems have been attributed to transmission gears that may have been cracked.
Reported crime drops 11 percent in isles
Reported crime in Hawaii dropped 11 percent last year to the second lowest total since 1975, according to the annual Uniform Crime Report released today by the state Attorney General.Violent crime, including homicides, declined 11 percent. There were fewer homicides than at any time since these reports were first compiled.
Property crime also fell 11 percent. Burglaries, theft and auto thefts all recorded double-digit decreases.
Kauai County's crime rate was the lowest in the state, according to the report. Crime on Kauai fell 21 percent to record lows. However, robberies and assaults increased.
On Oahu, reported crime dropped in all eight categories: murder, rape, assault, robbery, burglary, auto theft, theft and arson.
All the decreases were reported while the number of police officers statewide dipped 2 percent from 2,645 in 1997 to 2,588 in 1998.
Kona Family Court's Judge Cox retiring
Kona Family Court Judge Victor Cox will retire from the bench on Sept. 15.Cox cited the low pay for state judges as the reason for his retirement.
"I'm leaving because my compensation has not kept up with inflation,' he said. "Although I recently received a pay raise, the 4 percent fails to offset the loss of purchasing power caused by inflation."
The Legislature passed a pay raise for judges this year, their first raise since 1990. But because of a mix-up in the last minutes of the session, the raise was less than intended.
Cox, 59, was appointed a District Family judge in 1994. He also served as a per diem judge since 1991.
HPA director points to serious funding lag
The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly says Hawaii has shown the largest decrease in funding for public higher education of any state in the country.UHPA, citing a report from the "Chronicle of Higher Education," says state funding in the 1998-99 fiscal year decreased by 9 percent compared to the previous year.
UHPA added that the only other state to show a decrease was Texas, which spent 1 percent less on public higher education.
The data confirm "what everyone knows, including Gov. (Ben) Cayetano," said J.N. Musto, UHPA executive director and chief negotiator. "The University of Hawaii is being seriously underfunded, even in comparison to other state departments and programs. Beginning in 1992, the UH system has seen less funds each year."
Park firefighters going to help in California
HILO -- Five national parks in Hawaii are sending 23 firefighters to California to help battle fires in national forests and other public lands, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park announced.Besides the Volcanoes park, the firefighters come from Puukohola Heiau, Puuhonua o Honaunau, Kalaupapa and the USS Arizona Memorial.
The Volcanoes park remains in an extreme fire danger status, but enough firefighters will remain at that park to carry out at least initial firefighting if a fire breaks out there, the announcement said.
Trial date is scheduled in fatal beating
One of two males charged in the fatal beating of another man outside the Waipahu 7-Eleven store earlier this month pleaded not guilty yesterday in Circuit Court.Trial for Tali Fai, 18, charged with second-degree murder in the death of Vaovai Faateleupu, is set for the week of Nov. 1. Fai is being held on $200,000 bail.
A juvenile also charged in the murder is awaiting a waiver hearing next month.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Man who escaped prison seven years ago nabbed
A 41-year-old man who escaped from prison seven years ago was apprehended last night in Wahiawa by officers responding to a domestic dispute at a North Cane Street home.While trying to settle the argument at about 11:30 p.m., a resident told police the suspect was an escapee.
The man was booked for escape and returned to the Oahu Community Correctional Center.
CrimeStoppers bulletin puts pressure on fugitive
After a CrimeStoppers bulletin went out, state law-enforcement personnel yesterday apprehended Andrew Powell, a parolee wanted for threatening his former girlfriend and violation of parole.He was arrested at 3:30 p.m. outside 1130 Alakea St.
When he gave up, he said there had been too much pressure on him after he heard his name broadcast and saw his picture on the news.
Powell, 29, who has been convicted of several weapons offenses, was considered dangerous.
Makiki man accused of sex assaults on minor
A 58-year-old Makiki man was arrested yesterday for the alleged sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl over three years.The girl told police she was sexually assaulted several times from 1995 to 1998. The suspect was booked on seven counts of first- degree sexual assault.
Waimanalo man allegedly kidnapped, beat girlfriend
Police yesterday arrested a 32-year-old Waimanalo man for allegedly holding his 34-year-old girlfriend against her will and beating her at a Waimanalo home from Friday morning to last night. Police said the woman suffered two broken ribs.
Crime suspect escapes after going to hospital
KAILUA-KONA -- Police are looking for a man who escaped from custody at Kona hospital, where he had been taken for treatment of an alleged back injury.The escapee, Lelio Rigaud-Chapini, 33, was being held for drug offenses, burglary, breaking into a car, and credit card offenses, police said.
He is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, about 200 pounds, with curly black hair and brown eyes, with a surgical scar on his lower back.
He speaks with a Caribbean accent, often uses aliases, and changes his appearance by wearing glasses or growing a stubble beard.
Anyone with information should call (808) 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at (808) 329-8181.
