Photo curtesy of the Kalaupapa Historical Society Collection John Taylor Unea left his wife and daughter behind in Hilo and came to Kalaupapa at age 37 with his 16-year-old son, who also had been diagnosed with Hansen’s disease. He had several different occupations at Kalaupapa. He was the store manager, recorded the Kalaupapa census, and was a school teacher. A 1906 report of the school districts shows he had a total of 12 students—11 boys and 1 girl. Unea also wrote newsworthy articles for several of the Hawaiian language newspapers, Nupepa Kuokoa, Aloha Aina, and Alakai o Hawaii. His informational letters helped keep the rest of the islands abreast of Kalaupapa news. In October 1919, he submitted a letter to the editors giving them a heads up that he was resigning his post as a newspaper agent due to failing eyesight and other ailments. He died at age 69 at Bay View Home. He is buried at Papaloa next to other Unea `ohana. |
Last updated: October 24, 2022