Girded Loins

On the shores of the tiny Hawaiian island of Niihau, Major General Rapp Brush last week addressed elderly, squinting Benehakaka Kanahele and young, strapping, sober-eyed Howard Hawila Kaleohano. "You showed fine qualities," Brush said. "When put upon, you took the only action decent people could take." Thereupon he pinned American Legion hero medals on them. Said the spokesman for the Hawaiians in Niihau: "Thank you, we appreciate this greatly but the greatest award is that given us and our country: from on high [air raiders] we have nothing to fear."

Thus the U.S. paid a debt of gratitude dating from Dec. 7. For Hawila captured and disarmed a Jap pilot who landed on the island. And when the Jap later escaped and ran amuck trying to kill the islanders, Hawila sailed in a whale boat to get help, while old Kanahele battled the berserk enemy.

From time immemorial the Hawaiians, too, have paid debts of gratitude to their heroes--not with medals but with ballads --and last week they were singing one obligingly provided by Alex Anderson (Honolulu businessman):

Jap shot Ben in the stomach, in the ribs and in the groin.

Kanahele took a swallow and tightened up his malo [loincloth],

And then he girded up his other loin.

Then the big Kanahele grabbed Jap around the belly,

And threw him down against a stone wall

And took a rock and made jelly

Of his head till he was dead,

And that was all.

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