Leilehua High School - Ka Leilehua Yearbook (Wahiawa, HI)

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YE OLD SWIMMING HOLE NoRvAL CAMPBELL, Freshman IN THE HEART of the city of Honolulu hidden by fapanese stores, Chinese temples, and small cottages, lies a large pool fed by the tumbling waters of a waterfall from a hidden spring. Here Hawaiian royalty once sought refresh- ment and sometimes escaped from the tiring affairs of state and the western civilization. Today children who live nearby frequent this pool to seek refreshment and sometimes to escape labor in nearby classrooms. On a sunny day this pool below the falls looks like a page from Tom Sawyer, or Huckleberry Finn. One sunny afternoon four brown-skinned boys were very busy in a con- versation on the banks of the pool. If one had listened in on the talk, he would have found that the main subject was the pool itself. It seemed that the park board was planning a general park development and city beautification program and these boys were wondering what would happen if these falls, which so far were well hidden, were turned into a public park. If such a park was made, there would be no privacy at all, for after all most of the boys swam as man was apparently intended to. David, the older of the four, was a tall, slender, Hawaiian boy about fifteen years old. He was well liked by his friends, because he never took anything seriously and was always of a jolly nature. He was saying, Fellows, we have to do something to keep the park board from changing this place into a park or we won't have any place to swim. But what can we do? asked a fat Chinese boy who was called Sairnin because of his love for that particular oriental food. I was hoping that I could get some suggestions from you fellows, said David. A How about sending one of us to the board of supervisors' office and ask them if there is any way we can make them leave this place alone, sug- gested a small Filipino boy by the name of Roberto. That probably wouldn't work, said David. They are too busy in the office to bother with any kid that comes in. Well, I would try anything once, said Roberto, but I don't think all of us should go. I think it would be best to send you. Yes, chorused the other boys, that's it. Let him go. He is the oldest and wisest of us. So it was agreed that David, being the oldest, was to go to the board of supervisors' office and see if he could speak to Mr. Iackson, who was the head of the board of supervisors. He was to ask Mr. Iackson if he could help the situation in any way. The next day David dressed in his best suit which was two years old, combed his hair with a comb with half the teeth missing, put on his battered hat and set out on his mission. He walked down to King Street and from there to the city hall. He then went inside. Inside he asked the telephone operator if he could see Mr. lackson, CContinued on page 923

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THE BLOCKHEAD lWith apologies to Mr. Longfellow? On a mid-Pacific Island, ln the vast and mighty ocean, Backed up by the Koolau mountains And the Waianae Range before it, Stands the school called Leilehua, Wreath of heaven, Leilehua, Close to it is Schofield Barracks, Guardian of the nation's outposts, Largest fortress on this planet. Near to it is Honolulu, Capital of all the islands, City of four hundred thousand. Nearer still are the plantations, Where pineapple fields now flourish To this school came many children, But of all, the one most noted Was a Haole called The Blockhead.' Even back upon the mainland Had the news of explorations And the acts unique of Blockhead Traveled far throughout the nation. P or his queerness won him laurels. Once upon a summer morning Blockhead, seeking an adventure, Chanced to wander to the Pali Up atop the mighty Pali. Took he with him a small spyglass Focused it upon the forest At the bottom of the Pali, Saw he there a tiny pondlet. Straightway there a thought did hi him- He would leap from off the Pali- Dive into the pool of water, Like a carnival high diver. Loud he told of his intentions Of his daring bold intentions. Soon a crowd he gathered 'round him Come to look on him and marvel. To the very edge stepped Blockhead. One more step and down he started Bouncing, thumping toward the bot- lO1'l'1 t While the crowd gasped in their Hor- ror! 1 i Ye who fear a tragic ending- Wait! The story is not ended! Far above the tiny pondlet Soon they spied our hero hanging, Hanging by his pink suspenders, By his giddy pink suspenders. When they reached him, soft he mut tered I shall try again tomorrow. After reaching home, our hero I-lied him back to Leilehua, Where a contest was in progress: Have you had a queer adventure? Win a prize: just tell us of it. This, said Block, Now I will enter l have had a great adventure. And he did proceed to do so. When the teachers read his entry Of his leap from off the Pali They all said, lt is preposterous, Such a thing could never happen! But, said Blockhead, I can prove it By my little pink Suspenders, F or l left them there behind me At the bottom of the Pali, Left them hanging there behind me On the limb of a kukuif' n u Well, they said, then that is differ- ent. We will look for your suspenders, And, if we can find them, surely We will then believe your story. Sure enough, the teachers, searching u 1 Found the Blockhead's pink suspend- ers - And believed they then his story, Saying To you, our dear Blockhead First prize let us now award you! Betty leanne Alfonte, junior 1 1

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YE OLD SWIMMING HOLE CContinuedJ I but he was refused permission, because Mr. Jmikson was too busy working on the park development plarfuand would not I e anybody except personal friends and important peopleiyf fx' ,lf I Us I It was a sad, moroseflooking group of boys'that met that day by the pool. While they were Vsittinjjhdro-u d,' eabhfdne dqcupjgd with his own thoughts, which probably wereynot very gg? ones a car drolxk up to onexbf the Chinese stores which helped hidd the pool from the outsidelworld. ,Af talllman and a little girl about sevjdn ye s old Fteppedfout. jT'he man went into th-gsliop not noticing the little gilll forh thoggtht shelf ad S yedi n the car. Theilittle girl then wandered in betwee 'the hfops b ol t em. Wh In sheffound the pool, she went racing back to h r f I s e want ' p M him what she had found. , u , y ,H I I if , . I .ff 9 if' , 4 Whenfshe found i I o eh to 332 plo W I X J T en ' ' by did not last lon for e fell into the yvater. gif it had not been for thi qui c X he little girl nni oyfully alonkr the bank of the poi? but er joy of Ddvid vqvfbiiadlfigen latching she would have been r n X al id had i plunged iri o then' pool wi out even stopping to take off lzifbest clothes whiclldk he WCIFJQIIII Wearing. I' n 'I I fy ' When David brought the little girl out of the pool, the man nf David JD a card said, I can never repay you. Come up to my office t oltrow at three ofclock and I will see what I can do about it. It I lf M K 1 Then Saimin asked, What was that card he gave you, David? V Q5 W Oh, that. I guess it was a calling card. 3 XXI What was the man's name? ff lt, Why, I forgot to notice. Let's take a look. David took one look at the card and his eyes opened wide and his mouth fell open. The card said: MR. IACKSON Board of Supervisors City Hall The next day David was standing before Mr. lackson's desk. He had en- tered the office easily this time for Mr. lackson now counted him as a personal friend. My boy, said Mr. lackson, I have no way of repaying you for what you have done. I am going to give you a check for 350000, but I Want to do some- thing that you will appreciate as much as I can appreciate the saving of my daughter. Now, that pool where you were yesterday is where most of you boys swim, isn't it? Yes, sir, agreed David. And if the park board made it a public park, you would have no place to swim, would you? No, sir, said David. How would you like it if I had the park board forget that place? David was stricken speechless for a moment, but he managed to say that he would like it very much. So now only youth reigns supreme in the pool where Hawaiian royalty once used to swim.