Coverage of the Bahá’í Faith in newspapers in Hawaii

Coverage of the Bahá'í Faith in newspapers in Hawaii comes from a variety of sources. At first, echoes of mentions of Bábí history were made, and then of Bahá'ís making trips to Hawaii in the early 1900s. Sporadic but longer moments of coverage occurred intermingled with some periods of no mention - some of them mention Agnes Alexander in the 1920s. The first assembly was elected in Honolulu in 1931 following Martha Roots visit. In the late 1930s Bahá'ís had brief mentions of a Center. A prolonged period of mentions of the Faith begins in 1938, and reaches the milestone of the burial of Hand of the Cause Martha Root. Soon programs were carried on local radio shows and meetings were held at a Center on McCully St in Honolulu, and Assembly was elected in Maui in 1949 with Agnes Baldwin Alexander present. In 1960 a new Center was opened at Allen Place, Honolulu. In 1996 some 27 local assemblies are noted, though access to digitized newspapers dwindles after 1961. A later reference notes the State formed its own National Spiritual Assembly about 1963.

Sporadic mention

It should be noted that there are various limits to this compilation of newspaper mentions. Newspapers may endure for a short or long time, be in a condition which makes OCR scanning of limited use, and be available in specific databases of newspapers with various restrictions on access. Most of these come from Newspapers.com, who's collection of Hawaiian newspapers has some specific forms of these limits. The largest section of their collection in February 2017 is from Honolulu on Oahu but even these are mostly from before 1912 or have gaps of which years are available. Thus this is not a review of all possible newspaper results mentioning Bahá'ís or the Faith, but what can be found at present. Beware considering the presence of information against gaps of information. That being said, some significant trails of history can be found. The Honolulu Advertiser has a pretty continuous record available from 1856 to 1985 but is limited in this collection from more recent years. There is also the limitation that most of the newspapers available are from Honolulu. It is hoped more materials will become available and people can contribute to and grow this article.

Before 1900s

"A New Religion" story was published in the All the Year Round newspaper in July 17, 1869 in London. It refers to Arthur de Gobineau. It is echoed in the US in the August Brooklyn Eagle and was then echoed in The Hawaiian Gazette, in September in the form of a 3 paragraph summary on the religion as a modification of Islam. It specifically mentions the Báb being like "a John the Baptist to a system which is yet to be fully revealed to the faithful." See Historical mentions of the Bábí/Bahá'í Faiths for a broader review of Bábí era mentions.

Early 1900s

A man named Thornton Chase was interviewed while coming through on the ship Sheridan stopped at Honolulu in June 1901, from Berkeley - but this may have been the point of call where Chase left the mainland. This may have been the Thornton Chase known as the first Bahá'í of the West - he was then a member of the Chicago Board of Spirituality, a precursor to the Local Spiritual Assembly, and was missing from meetings much of June. Otherwise the first known Bahá'í to set foot in Hawaii was the return of Agnes Baldwin Alexander in December 1901. Another appearance of a Thornton was noted again coming through in 1904, where again he is not mentioned in the minutes of the Chicago assembly. John Esslemont later wrote that he had been to Hawaii about 1905, before he learned of the Faith.

Charles Mason Remey and Howard Struven traveled to Hawaii and gave a summary of the religion's beliefs, history of the religion, and quotes of the religion in the Winter of 1909 across late November and early December. They met in the homes of many people - Augur, Alexander, Mrs. Dwight Baldwin, Graham, and Steere. "W.D.A." wrote a letter to the editor summarizing Browne as a source for history of the Faith, to which Remey and Struven replied with their own letter. In one of the articles Remey says the Bahá'ís of Hawaii number about 12 or 15. They departed by Dec 17. It is unknown if their fellow passenger "H. C. Tanaka" is the same as a Japanese Bahá'í known from later.

From September 23 to 25, 1910, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá went to Bristol, in the United Kingdom. Rev. Peter Z. Easton, a Presbyterian in the Synod of the Northeast in New York who was stationed in Tabriz, Iran, from 1873 to 1880, didn't have an appointment to meet ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Easton attempted to meet and challenge ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and in his actions made those present uncomfortable; ‘Abdu’l-Bahá withdrew him to a private conversation and then he left. Later he printed a polemic attack on the religion, "Bahaism — A Warning", in the Evangelical Christendom of London. This was echoed in Hawaii. The polemic was later responded to by Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl in his book The Brilliant Proof written in December 1911.

In 1911 a Bahá'í "Countess" Aurelia Bethlen interviewed, while traveling, alas with many errors. In January 1912 Bahá'ís published a "Unity Calendar". There was a report hoping ‘Abdu’l-Bahá would travel on to Hawaii after attending the Lake Mohonk peace conference. Comments of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the US were published upon the voyage leaving America. In July 1913, on the last return to Europe, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's presence at a meeting of scientists and religionists in Paris was reported. In November a Remey book reviewing the religion was donated to the library.

There are no known mentions of the Faith in 1914.

Rising pace of efforts

Sporadic mentions of Bahá'ís or presentations on the religion continued with increasing pace.

In 1915 there was mention of Corinne True, Charles Mason Remey, and George Latimer, who had been in Honolulu across February and March into early April, before leaving, (for a congress at the Panama–Pacific International Exposition where Baha'is gathered.) While there they were again guests of the Graham family, (the article noting that the Augur family and Agnes Alexander were then living in Japan.) They left about April 7. A review of a peace conference at the Expo noted brief comments of Ali Kuli Khan. Remey returned and stayed the summer of 1915. Remey and Latimer returned again for a series of talks in December, 1916. They were also noted attending receptions in February, 1917. Remey is noted departing in April. After he left, an extract from a 1910 tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's was submitted in an anonymous letter to the editor in the Honolulu Advertiser that was translated by Mirza Sohrab. It was about forbidding liquor. A book on Bahá'í teachings by Remey was presented to the library in 1918.

There are no known mentions of the Faith in 1919.

1920s

Hyde Dunn talked at a few meetings on his way to Australia in 1920. A presentation of the model of the Temple in Wilmette presented in New York City was covered in the Hawaiian news in February, 1921. The "Real Turk" by Bahá'í Stanwood Cobb was noted donated to the library in May. In September, before being visible as a Baha'i, Anthony Seto had a leading role in Chinese-Japanese interracial meetings. News of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was noted in December along with a book on the religion by Horace Holley. Seto also was involved in party politics in 1922. Eventually he would die during a Bahá'í meeting in Japan after living in Hong Kong his last year.

Though there was a gap of mention of the Faith in 1922, a sequence of mentions the Faith began in 1923 and continued for several years.

In 1923 Agnes Alexander was noted in Tokyo, and feared as a Bolshevist. 1924 was another year with more than one mention of the religion. There was coverage of Rev. N. Guthrie and St. Mark's in the Bowerie in New York City hosting Bahá'í events in January. In February Agnes Alexander returned from Japan as a guest of fellow Bahá'í Mrs. Samuel A. Baldwin and Mrs. H. P. Baldwin. Samuel Baldwin was manager of the Haleakala Ranch since 1916. Mrs. Baldwin was Anna Katherine Smith Baldwin who married in early 1909, youngest daughter of an early attorney general of Hawaii, William Owen Smith, who served in governmental circles and beyond into the 1920s. Smith's elder son Clarence Hobron Smith had learned of the Faith from Agnes Alexander while in France in 1902. And it was from Clarence that Katherine learned of the Faith. In March Anthony Seto was noted in discussions of discrimination/racism and seeking equal citizenship. In June Agnes Alexander was published reporting of her travels, supporting Esperanto, summarizing Bahá'í teachings and distinctions, and giving talkd at local schools, churches and temples. A letter to the editor by Ella Louise Rowland mentioned Alexander's work as well as her trip to Kauai, looking for her return to Honolulu. Indeed she returned in July with a talk at the home of Mrs. Frank Alexander with Mrs. Isaac Cox, who's talk centered on hearing ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's talk at Stanford, (the talk was Oct 8, 1912.) Others noted present included Scott Pratt, Unitarian Charles Poole, Robert Kay, H. H. Brodie, Robert Spencer, Isaac Cox, Joel Cox, C. B. Hofgaard, James Davidson, Frank Hawkins, Benton and Peirce. A reviewer noted the Iqan in a followup a few days later. Mrs. Cox was a descendant of founding community of Quakers in Hawaii and long a university associated socialite and club leader with interests in public beautification, art and literature, theatre, and religion, who had run a children's class for Stanford professors. That year she was founder and president of the Hawaii branch of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom ("WIL" for short). Joel Cox was noted in war relief efforts in France for the Society of Friends. Additionally there was coverage of the murder of Vice Consule Imbrie in Persia, accused of being a Bahá'í, in 1924.

A letter to the editor objecting to Orcella Rexford's, stage name of Louise Cutts-Powell, teaching of the Bahá'í Faith was sent in by E. Burnham published in late February, 1925. Rexford followed with a letter to the editor suggesting Mr. Burnham read Esslemont's Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era or The Most Great Peace by Paul Dealy. Rexford was mentioned giving talks a month earlier, some commercially. Among her many talks was one about Bible prophecies and a new age. She continued giving talks on various topics into March and April before leaving. The obituary of Leona Denton Thompson, called "the sole missionary" of the Bahá'ís in Kona for hosting meetings in her library, was published in June. She had died in May on the mainland. A letter of appreciation for the obituary followed from Bahá'ís in San Francisco in August, noting her activity in Bahá'í circles on the mainland. She was a native of Nashville. She was portrayed as a gracious lady who had sincere admirers among Oriental and Hawaiian neighbors - it should be noted she was also wife to the west Hawaii Circuit Judge John Wesley Thompson. Services were held by American, English, and Japanese ministers, also noted as Buddhists, Catholics and Episcopalians, and Evangelicals, which she was also associated with. She was a founding member of the Kona Forum often concerned with a promotion on interracial unity. The following year the memorial committee for Cox had Agnes Alexander as chair of a peace essay contest, which was funded and was among six such contests. In between, the Seto family was noted attending a major Chinese wedding. Someone on pilgrimage in 1925 shared comments of Esslemont that he had been to Hawaii about 1905, before he learned of the Faith. In November Seto was involved in a fund raising campaign for a community relief program, and then was visible in a businessmen's volleyball league.

In August 1926 an article by Horace Holley was published about Bahá'ís addressing the persecution in Iran under the Shah, and in October, Tenko Nishida, called a "Ghandi in Japan", mentioned Bahá'ís among views of unity of religions. In November Seto updated a club on that year's community relief fund, and was nominated as a member of the Kaimuki Community Club which took positions on local issues. In the following April Seto gave a talk at the local Rotary club on being a Hawaiian Oriental. That talk was profiled as promoting giving Oriental Americans a field of endeavor overseas to show the world "love and tolerance" as an American ideal, to support statehood, while others felt some could go to help bring peace to China but patriots would stay home; exchanges in letters to the editor continued.

In May 1927 there was an article of the US & Canada national Bahá'í convention. A week later the Bahá'ís were noted contributing to local Red Cross relief effort, and a letter to editor mentioning the Faith was signed by "Truth Seeker". "Truth Seeker" seems to be an anonymous inquirer who had exchanges with readers over some years at least back to 1922. Exchanges with "Truth Seeker" would continue for years but seemingly no further comment related to the Faith. Separately, Seto was elected to the Chinese Civic Club in December.

From 1928 there was no explicit mention of the Faith through Bahá'ís were active. First, Stanwood Cobb's book "The New Leaven" was reviewed. Then there is an extended presence in the news of Bahá'ís Mrs. S. A. Baldwin, and, house guest since August and art teacher, Julia Goldman. First they were present for a Pan-Pacific Women's Conference, serving with the Women's International League and later represented the organization at a meeting in New York in October. Goldman had arrived in December 1927, and in-between she gave a talk on Japanese art. Goldman joined the University of Hawaii at Honolulu in January 1929. Goldman and Mrs. Baldwin reported of the WIL meeting in NY in February. Talks by Goldman continued through the year on art and WIL meetings and other clubs, as well as the occasional social reception. Part of the series on art was extended to include Persian rugs and miniatures in the Summer. Her work continued along similar lines in 1930. Mrs. Baldwin and Goldman also appeared at a Chinese dinner reception in June.

earlier 1930s

1930 is the start of another sequence of years of the presence of the Faith and Bahá'ís in newspapers in Hawaii so far available. In January Mrs. Baldwin was noted co-chair of the Women's International League, and Seto was announced working on a committee for the Chinese Civic Club. An article covered the progress of the Bahá'í Temple being built in Wilmette in April. Seto represented the Chinese club at the retirement of a Japanese official. That Summer both Baldwin and Goldman were officers in WIL. In January 1931 Martha Root came to Hawaii for a few weeks. Initially she spoke with a federation of women's groups, and then a tea reception in her honor was held by Mrs. Baldwin and Mrs. George Straub. That talk was summarized in the newspaper - her pilgrimage, women in action, and Root's travels were reviewed. And she met with other groups as well, including on Esperanto, and on youth empowerment in a high school, and university. There was a second interview for KGU radio held at the Baldwin's home. And then she was off to the mainland by late January. Years later it was mentioned she donated books given her in Japan before arriving in Hawaii to the Hawaiian library.

At first 1931 begins as previous years - mostly individual published in their own spheres of activity - but following April it is clear an Assembly of Honolulu has been elected and individuals named in articles are related to the Faith. This activity would stretch into 1933. In February meetings were advertised, and it was apparent Seto was still active in the Chinese civic association. At the end of February Mrs. George Straub, leader in the federated women's clubs, gave a talk for the Bahá'í meeting. In March there was a profile of Bahá'ís and mention of Glenna Fodmore singing at the event. Then there was a meeting for the Faith advertised at the YWCA. Meetings, some reviewed, continued through April, into May. Meanwhile in mid-April the WIL meeting had a talk given by Goldman. The report on the WIL meeting earlier in April noted Goldman's talk echoed Bahá'í themes - and that Goldman and Baldwin were both officers again. In June 1931 Keith Ransom-Kehler stopped in the islands on her way to the orient and gave a talk and was profiled in the newspaper. The Baha'is were published observing the Martyrdom of the Báb and that Goldman was secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of Honolulu. Bahá'í meetings were published from August through the Winter; again some were profiled. Mrs. Anthony (Mamie) Seto and Goldman talked on the Bahá'í Faith at church group meetings in November - this was the first visibility of the Seto family at a Bahá'í event so far identified. The Setos both appeared at a Chinese Women's University Club recital among the patrons from the Chinese and American communities. Advertised meetings, some summarized in the newspaper, continued. In January 1932 similar patterns continue of some activity of Baha'is with their names visible; again some are summarized in the newspaper. In-between Goldman was mentioned contributing a painting to an exhibition series by the Association of Honolulu Artists, giving another talk at the WIL meeting, and she was profiled and her paintings reviewed for that exhibition. In March Baldwin and Goldman were noted in a dinner reception. A large article quoted Goldman's talk for the Faith on the Qur'an, art and life in Arabia, with a quote of Abdu'l-Bahá in late March. While anonymous meetings and talks continued to occasionally be summarized in the newspaper, in April some of these were credited to Goldman - her final one in a series of talks on the Faith was profiled and the article noted the Assembly chair was Mrs. Baldwin. In May there was a small profile of Bahá'ís and a talk of Florence B. Johnson published, and it was noted that the Seto family was vacationing on the mainland with another Chinese family. Other anonymous meetings were advertised and sometimes summarized through the rest of May. Goldman was noted contributing to an art exhibition at the end of May. There was one more talk on the Faith summarized that summer, and then there was special mention of the death of Bahiyyih Khanum in late July. Goldman left in August reported as only for some months, however she is not mentioned in newspapers until 1934 when she wrote a letter referred to and an article reporting on a meeting of the League of Nations. Goldman would later encounter and be part of the attraction to the Faith for Hilda Yen. Meanwhile back in Hawaii the next talk advertised after mid-July is in mid-September, and from there talks again continued through the Fall into the Winter. and then Mr and Mrs. E. R. Mathews were published giving a talk at meeting of the Faith in early December. Advertised meetings, sometimes anonymously summarized, continued to be published into the Spring of 1933. The last known advertised meeting for the Faith was in April. Mrs. Baldwin was visible among patronesses of a recital. It was published in January 1933 that the Bahá'í community had held a memorial for Keith Ranson-Kehler December 31. Otherwise there was no advertisement or mention of the Faith in 1933 and things did little better in 1934.

Continuous mention of the Faith

From 1934 into the 1960s there would be continuous mention of the Faith in the newspapers available through digitization projects. While coverage would still grow and shrink seasonally with longer or shorter gaps, at least annually there was something advertised.

Another rise of activity

No known meetings are advertised in 1934. However there was a notice of Bahá'ís in relation to Geneva as a unit of the League of Nations in April. And in December a profile of visiting Roscoe and Mrs. Mathews mentioned there are about 40 Bahá'ís and friends of the Faith - and the Mathews announce the community is planning to spread of religion through the islands. Her talks are advertised in early January, 1935. Advertised meetings continue through the Spring. Agnes Alexander herself gave a talk in early March, and a mention of the progress of the Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette was published in late March as well. In June an advertised meeting is published for a talk by Thomas Rosenthal. Advertised Bahá'í meetings are then advertised in July, and then cease the rest of 1935.

In January 1936 there was an advertised Bahá'í talk by Mrs. R. D. Little from New Orleans held at the local library, followed by an advert for a talk by the return of Mrs. E. R. Mathews. Mathews' talk was reviewed afterwards. More profiles and talks were published in February. The last of the series, in mid-February, is noted chaired by "A. Husted", and another series was summarized in late February and early March. In March the Assembly hosted a Tea for Mathews and Little. The article noted that Matthews had traveled the Pacific some the previous year and returned to the islands in November. An article reviewed that this year Bahá'í New Year was observed with conferences for youth. In Hawaii it was held at the Baldwin home and a review of gifts given to Childrens Homes and poor, and books given to libraries, was reviewed. In early April Garland Anderson, early African American playwright presently on a talking tour, gave a talk at the library for the Bahá'ís and his presentation was summarized in the newspaper. Following that talk was one on the views presented by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on the future of America. A profile of the Bahá'í convention followed noting the Assembly met at the Baldwin home and that Mrs. R. D. Little who had spent 4 mths in Hawaii was now the delegate. Late in April an article summarized a talk quoting Shoghi Effendi on the broad perspective of the theme of a New World Order, this continued weekly on into July. Meanwhile Baldwin was occupied with the marriage of her son. Then an article reviewing the Bahá'í School in California was published mid-July.

From October a different series of meetings was advertised, and where previously relatively few names are mentioned - Little, Matthew and Baldwin - now we enter a period of many more names are mentioned. And following that, the next year, there is a new Bahá'í Center. It starts with Rev. J. L. Dunstan at the library giving a talk for the Bahá'ís. Around then Dunstan was associate minister of education at Central Union Church, and had recently given a sermon on "modern movements in religion". Another talk at the Center was published near mid-October, followed by W. W. Krauss at the Baha'i meeting at the library November 1. Krauss was a visiting professor from Sweden concerned with race and culture. A couple more meetings, and then another this time mentioning Rev Yetatsu Takeda, recently elected executive secretary and president of the Buddhist Seinen Kyodan, who gave a talk on the Buddha at the Bahá'í meeting at library, followed by Walter J. Homan giving a talk on "The life & teachings of Christ" in later December. Homan was a a professor of the University of Hawaii in religion who also gave the occasional sermon. The next meeting was in mid-January, 1937, and Episcopal minister Kenneth Bray, who had arrived some years earlier in charge of the regions Episcopal cathedral and mission, who spoke before the Bahá'ís in late January about peace. A talk on universal peace followed in late February, and then a talk by Mrs. Seto on the oneness of mankind was advertised and previewed, followed by Otto Swezey, long time entomologist of the Islands, in mid-March on his recent trips to Guam and Japan. Another talk was noted the next day with the subject "How does God reveal himself to man" though no speaker named, followed by Mrs. Seto again on March 21, and then J. B. Freitas, noted local artist gave a talk in early-mid April on the inspiration of art in religion, followed a week later by the return of Swezey for a talk. In early May an article covered the marriage of Shoghi Effendi to May Maxwell. Most of the rest of May is noted simply that meetings were held at the library on Mondays. The last notice in May, however, noted Martha Root on the islands for a day, arriving via that Tatsuta Maru, and then on her way to Yokohama on the same vessel. While present that one day and in addition to her talk on universal peace, she interviewed Shao Yang Lee for input as part of her work on fourth world tour. A week later Kalidas Nag, recently arrived professor at the University on Indian culture, gave a talk on the "Brotherhood of Man" at the library. A few days later an article noted Little returning as a guest of Mrs. Baldwin to give a report from the national convention. Regular Monday meetings were advertised continuing through June. Mrs. Little gave a talk on "Ye must be born again" in September. Then in October a celebration was held at Mrs. E. Austin Jones in Manoa for the Birth of the Báb. In November another name is mentioned - Henriette From - who is back from national convention. From first appears on the Islands about a decade earlier and in another couple would serve on the 1957 Assembly of Honolulu, (see below,) and died in 1971.

Community of Bahá'ís

First Bahá'í Center

In January, 1938, there was a brief note Mrs. Baldwin had returned from the mainland visiting several Bahá'í Centers in California - this is interesting also because the Hawaiian community is about to have a Center. Mrs. Matthews gave a talk on KGMB radio in early February that was profiled in the news. She was also on KGU radio and it is announced a study group was being held at a Center, - the first mentioned for the religion on the Islands now moving out of people homes and the library. Then the Center hosted a program with music and poetry - it was on 36 Bates St, mentioning Edith Woolworth Warren and Mrs. Mathews and a study group meeting Sundays. Warren was a soprano well known on the Islands. In late February, during Ayyam-i-Ha, Bahá'ís held another music and poetry evening at Center. Classes and talks were noted again in March between other meetings noting there were now two study groups with Mrs. Mathews - one on Friday evenings and the other Sunday mornings. Chao Chang Lee gave a talk at the Center and the Friday and Sunday study group meetings with Mrs. Matthews. Lee was a professor at the University in oriental religions, though his talk for the Bahá'ís was on movie films from China. In late March Mathews gave a talk at the center and the meetings on Friday and Sunday noted. In April it was mentioned the Center was a private home of Mrs. Baldwin's gifted to the Bahá'ís, and that Mrs. Matthews was leaving the Islands after many visits and talks amidst her world travels. It also noted meditation sessions had been held regularly on Mondays. Following her leave the Monday evening time from 8pm was set aside for a series of talks that ran through April into May, though not Memorial Day. Events continued to be advertised in June, including study classes Fridays and Sundays. There is a break in meeting advertisements in July and the first mention in August was of Agnes Alexander giving a talk in San Francisco, followed by ones locally advertised for Mondays though without a title. In September a series was announced, And Alexander was noted again in San Francisco. A series in October centered around youth had Rev. Stephen G. Mark, and the return of L. J. Dunstan, who's talks were briefly reviewed. Another series began in November along with the regular study meetings Friday and Sunday, and the series started with R. Ray Scott. Generic advertised meetings continued into December.

In January, 1939, it was announced Agnes Alexander would give a series of talks. One of them was profiled briefly in the newspaper. This was followed by occasional roughly monthly advertisements of meetings through February into May. Among these meetings there was an article profiling Baha'is, the Temple, and that Mrs. W. F. Crockett attending convention for the Maui community. The article also noted Anthony Seto, Louis Gregory, and Kenneth Christian represent 3 races giving talks at the convention. Generic advertisements for meetings ran through June, July, August, September - the first time all months through the summer. Martha Root came in June to the Islands for a short stay, however she was ill after leaving Australia and stayed to recuperate and unable to travel. Root had been traveling with Mr and Mrs. S. W. Bolton and she substituted for Martha on a KGU radio broadcast, and there was a broadcast on KGMB as well. Root died in September at the home of Mrs. Baldwin and was buried the next day in the Nuuanu cemetery. Meetings at the Center continued from October and November, ending November 19th - the last of the year, until January, 1940. Earlier in November an article review the gifting of copies of The Bahá'í World vol 7 to both the public Library and the University Library.

Generic advertisements for meetings begin in early January 1940, and then Dunstan returned in early February. Mamie Seto is published giving talks at the Center a couple times since late February. In March Seto was named as chair of the assembly. There was also mention of Charles Mason Remey publishing biographies in March. Martha Root's biography of Táhirih was published posthumously. Alma Adolphson was elected convention delegate along with Agnes Alexander in April. Adolphson would appear off and on through to 1950 in the news for the Faith as well as community service organization Daughters of the Nile. An advertised meeting was published late in May, followed by being listed among donors to the Red Cross for relief in Europe, and then in July the Baha'i Spiritual Assembly of Honolulu sought incorporation and the article noted Helen Hobron Jones as chair. A generic advertisement for meetings at the Center on Bates St occurs in July, however in mid-August the meeting is being held at the YWCA with another phone number associated. The next advertised meeting there at the YWCA occurs in October, and then not again until January next year. In October long time Bahá'í Elizabeth Muther died while staying the Baldwin home. Muther was the spiritual mother of Kanichi Yamamoto in 1902.

In January, 1941, generic advertisements for meetings at the YWCA, still labeled as "Baha'i Center", begin and then carry into March. Talks by Seto were advertised from late March - some were back at the Bates Street Center while others were at the YWCA - across the Spring and early Summer of 1941. In May she was also of assistance at a reception by the Watumull family. In June there was also a summary of 'Foundations of World Unity' with a notice it had been donated to public and university libraries.

McCully St Center

This was followed by news in mid-June was of the ground breaking for the new Center to be built on McCully St. The following October articles said the Bahá'í Center was to open with talks Anthony Seto and Mrs. Baldwin. Meanwhile, Mamie Seto was addressing the Honolulu Business and Professional Women's club on "The World Crisis and its significance" and the article also noted Seto had returned from a recent lecture tour on the mainland. An article covering the dedication appeared a few days later - Gertrude Piutti was noted as acting chair, Agnes Alexander read readings and a prayer, there was a talk by Anthony Seto on the Báb and the program ended with prayer by Mrs. Baldwin. It also notied the first talk to be held would be by Mr. Seto. Regular talks were then advertised from for late October, November, and early December. Around the period the Baldwin family was noting another marriage.

In November an article reviewed the observance of the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh.

In April 1942 Bahá'ís held a memorial service for Martha Root. Meetings were also held in October. It was also the one year anniversary of the McCully St Center which had a picture published in The Honolulu Advertiser.

Campaign during the War

Despite the beginning of American involvement in WWII, meetings were held from January, 1943, and these were often summarized in the newspaper, all during the War years. Over the same period Bahá'í shows were also on KGU AM radio. Such meetings at the Center and programs on the radio were usually on a weekly basis - a level of activity never before achieved(?). However in the weeks leading up to the Centennial of 1944 in May the pace of advertisements increased still more - approaching daily - with meetings being held Wednesday during the day and Sundays in the morning. And occasionally there was additional mention over these few years - a book by the Baha'i publishing committee - Race and Man by Maye Harvey Gift and Alice Simmons Cox was mentioned in December 1943, and the Bahá'ís held a symposium ahead of the Centennial in February. There was also more extended coverage for that year's New Year (Naw Ruz) both for advertised meetings and for the KGU radio program.

The May 1944 Centennial of the Declaration of the Báb was separately covered noting an open house at the Honolulu Center followed by a commemorative program and carried on KGU, "through the courtesy of the Maui Bahá'í community". The same pattern of regular meetings, though fewer advertisements, and weekly programs on KGU continued. In June it was reported that Anthony Seto and Ellen Watumull were at the centennial national convention. Advertisements for the regular twice-weekly meetings at the Center returned to once a week with the observance of the Martyrdom of the Báb and then continued into the Fall. Alas the radio programs ceased in July. In August the twice-weekly meetings continued at the Center. and the KGU radio programming returned in mid-August, and both continued into the Winter. In August there was also a youth group with members L. K. Fouts and Corinne Hangai organized. the Fall the Bahá'ís observed the Birth of the Bab and Bahá'u'lláh.

The same patterns continue from January, 1945, and continued into the Summer. January was also when two Bahá'í books were summarized in the newspaper: God Passes By January 1, and The Baha'i Centenary… January 22. An extra meeting and broadcast were held during Ridvan as well.

An additional meeting at the Center began to be advertised in May as a youth meeting, and from June the Baha'i Center was published as hosting its Sunday morning service, (as a talk on some topic), a study group, and library time as well though it skipped July, and in August there was mention of a Sunday afternoon session as well as the morning, until from September the extra meeting was a study group on Thursday evenings - and that pattern held into the Winter save that the library hrs were dropped from mid-October.

Post War

In 1946 Bahá'ís were still noted on KGU radio from March, as well as regular meetings. Amidst this Mrs. E. D. (Alma) Adolphson wrote letter to editor for the community to make notice of UN talks on Iran. In June Adolphson wrote of the re-instatement of the religion in Germany. Observances like the Martyrdom of the Báb were held. Then in July came the news of the death of Lidia Zamenhof when under the Nazi regime and the Bahá'í observance of her passing. In August the Bahá'ís held their (second) summer school. And the Birth of the Báb was observed in October.

In May 1947 the Center was noted in regular meetings, and soon Catharine Nourse was elected as delegate to national convention. Nourse had worked in the Occupational Therapy department of Queen's Hospital, and would consult on the challenges faced by children. Other meetings were advertised for the Faith from Spring and Fall.

In February 1948 The Honolulu Advertiser posted of the Center hosting meetings and as well as of a KGU radio program. A couple weeks later Frank Drees gave a talk at the Center. And then Jean McKillop and Kenji Toyama gave a talk at the Center, and then another meetings carried on through December. The year closed with mention of a Bahá'í luncheon at Mrs. A. F. Voss' home for Agnes Alexander - attending were Mrs. James Fanton, Annie Crockett, Mrs. W. A. Clark, Leslie Bissett, Gladus Fredholm, Mrs. E. F. Sabin, Virginia Daniels, Harriet Clark.

In March 1949 Bahá'ís held a talk at the Center, followed by Naw Ruz. That Spring the Assembly of Maui was published - Daisy Sabin was chair of the assembly, with members Annie Crockett, Mary Fantom, Mary Clark, Daisy Voss, Jessie Bisset, Virginia Daniels, Marian Maclister, and Rolf Macalister. In May meetings continued, and having a national convention, sending a resolution to the UN. Alma Adolphson's husband, Edwin, died. In July meetings continued, on through September with meetings on other religions. That October the observance of the Birth of the Báb was published being held at the Center, followed by the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh.

1950s

In January 1950 a talk was hosted at the Center. It was followed by an observance of World Religion Day. In February there was a talk on Táhirih at the Center,. Meanwhile Alma Adolphson was an officer of YWCA of Wahiawa. A New Year observance was held at the Center, followed by a dinner in late March was held at Mrs. E. F. Sabin's home in Maui. In April talks were hosted at the Center, and Alma Adolphson was reported elected as the delegate to the national convention. Gertrudet Garrida and Catharine Nourse took vacation trip to the mainland. The convention was summarized a few days later. Then there was a brief review of Ruhiyyih Rabbani's "Prescription for Living". In May a profile of the religion was noted growing on the continent. In July Albert Guerard gave a talk at the centennial of the Martyrdom of the Báb at the Center. This was followed by a talk on Táhirih.

Gertrude Garrida was published as chair of the Honolulu assembly in March 1951 speaking of the New Year event at the McCully Center. Garrida had been a painting teacher who had also contributed to exhibitions. In June meetings were held at the Center, into August. In September L. D. Tuthill gave a talk at the Center with slides, while other's also occurred, on into November.

In April 1952 meetings continued at the Center, on into August, including a talk on Táhirih. Daisy Sabin had attended the national convention. In February 1953, the McCully Center hosted an informal meeting. A photo of the Center was published, along with a general review of the religion. The Center hosted the wedding of Martha Beck and John Rutan and mentioned that Mrs. Larry Beers was chair of assembly. Mr. Beers had been working with the Lions Club for fund raising. In April Bahá'ís met for the centennial of Baha'u'llah's mission and that year's Ridvan meetings, national convention and conference. In May there was an informal meetings were held. In July The Honolulu Advertiser carried an article on the Bahá'í conference in Stockholm, Sweden. In August a series were published. In September the 60th anniversary of the mention of Bahá'ís at 1893 Parliament of Religion was observed by Bahá'ís in Hawaii. In October there was mention of the New Dehli conference of Bahá'ís. Mrs. Larry Beers was published as a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. A series of meetings were published in October, along with the occasional informal meeting. In November Bahá'ís had a series of meetings, and had a show on KHON radio. In December Bahá'ís were on KMVI radio, and the Center hosted a talk as well.

In January 1954 Bahá'ís held World Religion Day at the Center, followed by another event with slides showing Haifa. That spring Shirley Lombard was elected delegate to the national convention and profiled in The Honolulu Advertiser. In August an advert for a meeting at the Center was published, and Mrs. Albin Kubala talked at the Center, with information on the Temple and convention meeting. In September Mildred Mottahedeh was on a world wide tour and gave a talk at the Center. In October Albin Kubala talked at the Center for UN Day along with comments of Horace Holley. The Kubala family had recently moved from Wisconsin. In November the observance of the Birth of Baha'u'llah at the Center, along with a brief profile of the religion.

In February 1955 Shirley Lombard gave a talk at the Center for Brotherhood Week. In October Bahá'ís observed the Birth of the Bab and UN Day at Center.

The April 1957 the Honolulu Assembly election was published - Ed Dover, chair, Gertrude Garrida vice-chair, Lil Hollinger, Bernice Caine, recording secretary, Maj Salvatore Pelle, treasurer, Henriette From, Rose Kubala, Catharine Nourse. In May Gertrude Garrida hosted Heather Mott Stewart from Molokai who gave a talk on religion at the Center, and news arrived that Anthony Seto, husband of Mamie Seto, had died in Japan while attending a regional assembly convention (a precursor to a country's national assembly.) It noted he had been born in Hawaii, was the first oriental admitted to legal practice in Territorial courts in 1916, and that the Setos had pioneered to Hong Kong in 1955.

In May 1958, Bahá'ís hosted Buddhist elder Narada Maha Thera giving a talk on Buddhism at the Center.

In February 1959 Bahá'ís hosted Davaraj Henry Thiagaraj giving a talk at the Center on McCully St. In May a thank you letter from Frances Tamanaha in May. In July Mildred Mottahedeh gave a talk on Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai. She stayed as a guest of Dr. and Mrs. L. M. Beers. In December Bahá'ís held state convention; the chair was Al Kubala. Thomas Hollinger and Bernice Caine were elected as delegates to the national convention.

Mid-Pacific Center

1960s

In the Summer of 1960 the Bahá'ís opened a new Center at 3264 Allan Pl. But in January 1960 The Honolulu Advertiser noted Bahá'ís holding an interfaith World Religion Day; Larry Beers for Judaism and Albin Kubala for Bahá'ís, among them. In July Bahá'ís were congratulated on their new Center in a letter to the editor by "G. S.". Bahá'ís then observed Martyrdom of the Báb there. In August a Bahá'í advert noted panelists for a discussion - Maurice Willows, Gertrude Garrida, Albin Kubala, Brad Hollinger - with moderator Tracey Hamilton. Willows had a varied career before and after this, including having been by the Islands in 1933 as an expedition entomologist before joining the Faith. In October Mrs. Larry Beers gave a talk at the Center for UN Day. Maurice Willows gave a talk for the observance of Birth of Bahá'u'lláh. Then two movies were shown at the Center in earlier November: "The American College in Beirut" and "Jerusalem, the Holy City". In later November a letter from Frances Tamanaha was mentioned about what Christmas was for, for Bahá'ís. In December the Center held a state convention while the state was still under the US Bahá'í national assembly.

In January 1961 the obit of Katherine Baldwin was published and a service was held at the Center. Widow of Samuel Baldwin, she was the first Bahá'í on Maui and her home in Honolulu was its first meeting place and who financed many travels to and from the islands for Bahá'ís. The observance of World Religion Day was held at the Center - and a picture of James Wada, Grayce Smith, Lee Chang, Healani Hamilton, Sookja Winters, and Maurice Willows was published along with a brief profile. Assembly chair of Albin Kubala was noted along with another event with Kata Tamanaha and Fin Hollinger over in Wailuku. In March a letter to editor by Mrs Willows was published reviewing Bahá'í views of religion and science. In May Baha'is that went to national convention - Maurice and Mrs. Willows, Fin Hollinger, Elena Fernie, Mrs. William H. Winters. In June the obituary notice for Daisy Nestor was advertised, and the prayer service was held at Maurice Willows home.

In January 1962, hold Bahá'ís held World Religion Day at the Center with Fin Hollinger, Maurice Willows and Claude Caver. Maurice Willows, Lois Hall, and Brad Hollinger were all mentioned in an article in September, albeit mentioned separately. In November a Bahá'í advert quote and talk series was advertised with Elena Fernie, Mike Woodward, C. V. Caver, Maurice Willows. James Wada, formerly president of the Aloha Club in Tokyo, commented on the Nisei club. An article reviewing the persecution incident on Morocco was covered in the newspaper in December.

Twenty-two Bahá'ís were published going to the 1963 World Congress: Sidney and Mrs. Dean were to go pioneering, and Hand of the Cause A. Q. Faizi was present. The names of the ones going to the congress included: Catharine Nourse, Gertrude Garrida, Bernice Caine, Tomiko Mizobe, Elena Fernie, Elsie Umetsu, Claude and Mrs. Caver, Maurice and Mrs. Willows, James Wada, Larry and Mrs. Beers, several of the Hollinger family, Corale Borges, Mabel Van Valkenburg, Evelyn Musacchia. On return Maurice Willows advertised for forming a youth group. After her return, Gertrude Garrida showed slides at Center of her world trip.

In 1964 January Bahá'ís held World Religion Day with a talk by Maurice Willows and Elena Marsella on peace. In December Bahá'ís were noted among an interfaith seminar. In April elections were held and the National Spiritual Assembly of Hawaii was elected and reported in the newspapers with a brief profile and goals assigned by the Universal House of Justice - to pick a Temple site, help the Philippines community being noted in the article. The members of the assembly were: Hugh Chapman (Kaneohe) elected chair; Michael Woodward vice-chair, Claude Caver treasurer, Lei Chapman, corresponding secretary, Evelyn Musacchia (Hilo) recording secretary; Elena Marsella, Gertrude Garrida, Jacques Smith and James Wada. (If no location stated, they were from Honolulu.)

In February, 1965, Elena Marsella was the guest of Albin and Mrs. Kubala now living in Wakesha, where she gave a program on her way to pilgrimage. In March Gertrude Garrida had her own one-woman painting exhibition, noting she was also artist of the month for her work in training others.

In 1966 informal meetings were noted and advertised.

In July 1968 James Wada was pictured in the news about giving a talk, part of series, and noted serving on the national assembly. Later in September he was noted again giving a talk. He was noted later in a construction association.

In 1969 Gertrude Garrida gave a Bahá'í talk at the American Legion Auxiliary.

1970s

In January 1970 Hand of the Cause Abu'l-Qásim Faizi gave a talk at the Allen Place Bahá'í Center.

In May Bahá'ís were profiled in the newspaper noting the Allen Place Bahá'í Center with comments by Ben Ayala and Healani Hamilton.

Stanwood Cobb spoke at a winter school in 1972 held at Camp Erdman, There had been a fire at the Center and Stanwood Cobb spoke at the renovated Center and World Religion Day in January 1973. His talk for World Religion Day was summarized a couple days later.

In 1973 Gertrude Garrida published a compilation entitled Directives from the Guardian.

Maurice Willows returned to Hawaii and gave a talk at the Center for the 159th Birth of Bahá'u'lláh.

In March 1979 an article noted there were 28 spiritual assemblies across Hawaii and that for Naw Ruz Billy Smith Jr, and Healani Hamilton would contribute prayers at the sessions of the state legislature. In October Richard Taylor, former Hawaii Preparatory Academic headmaster, gave a talk in the Center. In November an informal meeting at the Bahá'í Center was advertised.

1980s

In February 1980 obits of was Lesley Loretta Janis-Rovin were published. She was buried in the the Hawaiian Memorial Park Feb 11.

In June 1985 there is a large profile of the Bahá'ís with comments of Alicia Guadardo and Robert McClelland, Carol Padilla, Gladys Johnson, as reported from a series of firesides, on a number of teachings of the Faith and mentioning the persecution in Iran. In July the obituary of Catharine Nourse was published. In October Bahá'ís observed the Birth of the Bab at the national Center. In December Bahá'ís from Maui, Molokai, and Lanai observed Human Rights Day meet with Mayor of Honolulu.

1990s

Notice of the death of Gertrude Garrida was published in early January, 1991.

Bahá'í show on ATTN cable tv in 1995.

In January 1996 an advertisement listed Bahá'í communities across Hawaii - Honolulu, Wahiawa, Millilani, Waualua, Kallua, Laie, and Walanae. In April 27 local assemblies are listed as part of the national community and the 33rd national convention. The national center was listed in May, and Bahá'ís supported an AIDS prayer vigil. Some 85k people were among the Bahá'ís, Scientology, Tenrikyo, Seico No Ie, Islam and others according to a report at the end of May. In June classes on the Faith were held at the Center. In July (a tape of?) Hand of the Cause William Sears (who died in 1992) giving a talk at the Center on his Thief in the night. In July Eric Bowes gave a talk at the Center.

2000 and after

The Molokai Dispatch has issues online back to 2005.

In January 2010 an article echoed from the LA Times about troubles in Iran in general and faced by the Bahá'ís as well.

In February an article echoed from the NY Times about the Iranian government trimming communications in the face of demonstrations, and the further arrests of Bahá'ís, was printed in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

See also

• Search Chronology for entries about "Hawaii", bahai-library.com
• Bahá'í Period of Historical mentions

Notes

Additional references can be gleaned from this customized search of the Molokai Molokai Dispatch. Results should be integrated into this article.

References

External links

• 50th National Convention Commemoration 1 of 3, by NSAHawaiiBahai, Jun 7, 2013