The sugar mill was an object of wonder to young Seikichi who had never been inside a factory. Beyond the village water-wheel, he knew nothing of machinery. Mechanical devices were a novelty and a source of never-ending wonder. The huge flywheels, the long strips of revolving leather that kept the different machineries in motion, and the incessant din of pounding noises that issued from steel in action, filled him with an awe and fear that did not leave him for some time as he stood in the engine room. The millhands who worked nonchalantly amongst these monstrosities appeared superior and courageous to him in every respect. He wished to be like them, to be at ease in this fearsome surrounding and feel himself the master of these monstrous and intricate devices. For these were in the final analysis, products of human imagination and creation. If the white men had produced such portentous slaves of labor, then he too must study hard to learn the secret of these objects and return to Japan equipped with a new knowledge of engineering. He had come to the islands simply to make money, but here was something additional and unexpected. To have become assigned to a place in the mill was providential indeed. He would make the most of it.
He was awakened from his ruminations in the big engine room by a summons to go to the next wing of the building. Here he was confronted by a pot-bellied white man, ruddy faced and double chinned, but with kindly blue eyes. "So, you are my new help. What is your name? Arata? Easy to remember. Sakimoto, take him around and show him the ropes."
George Weiman was the sugar boiler. Most plantations had, as chemists and sugar boilers, men trained in the technical schools of Germany. He was in charge of the most important job of seeing to it that the sugary syrup was properly boiled in large vats to bring about crystallization of sugar from the crude molasses. A corps of assistants kept up a twenty-four hour vigil over these vats, maintaining a constant optimum temperature of the syrup.
Arata was taken around by Sakimoto and taught what to do. "Young man, you are lucky to be given this job. In the first place it is easy. No back-breaking toil as your friends will have to do in the canefields. You will not even get dirty. But you must not sleep on the job. You have to be wide awake."
"Oh, I shall try my best. But frankly I am scared. I never saw such large over-powering machinery in action."
"That is correct. In Japan there are no such factories. These Germans are smart. Mr. Weiman is a very good man at heart. We are all behind him and will work to our bones not to disappoint him. I hope you will likewise do your best. Your job is to keep an eye on these thermometers and regulate the steam that heats the vats of cane sugar. When the mercury in this glass tubing goes beyond this line, turn the faucet this way and when it is below this line let in some more steam by turning the faucet the other way. To slip up on this job means thousands of dollars of loss." Only intelligent and responsible men could be entrusted with the job, Sakimoto told him. Seikichi should be honored to be picked by the overseer for this particular assignment. Even if it were an empty compliment, to be accorded a favorable opinion was not unpleasant.
For the ensuing three years Seikichi Arata worked hard and conscientiously. He mastered his job and was dependable. But, however hard he tried he could not come to love it. Perhaps his inability to understand the basic theory of sugar manufacture, its chemistry and application, and the lack of books in his vernacular to read and study, were the reasons why he could not like mill work. He determined to go into commercial fields for his life work. With the passage of the years, he came to love Kauai as a place to live and possibly raise a family. The carefree atmosphere of this new country, not tied down by century-old traditions and taboos, and an immense opportunity that existed for those that would settle and seek their fortune, changed Seikichi's original intention of returning to his homeland at the expiration of the three year contract. Being the second son, he was not obligated to look after his parents. There was no breach of filial piety if he stuck to his land of adoption. In spite of the disowning declaration that had been made by the family, this impetuous rupture was soon repaired by the nominal and formal patch-work of an uncle, and the family in Japan was thrilled to hear about this new land of opportunity. News spread fast and the stream of migration of the sons of Choshu to the Hawaiian Kingdom was steady. Many came to Kauai. Life became more congenial to the immigrants. The gregarious instinct was especially evident when different races settled in a community.
CHAPTER 2
Transition to a Mercantile Trade
ARATA'S THREE YEARS OF TENURE CAME to an end. Now he was free to engage in any trade of his own chosing, leave the plantation for the city, or keep on with the mill work at an advanced rate of pay--eighteen dollars per month. He planned to work for two more years, denied himself all luxuries, quit smoking, and stayed away from gambling and friendly games of cards that were being indulged in by many men. His object was to acquire five hundred dollars and venture forth as a storekeeper. He was certain of success. All the Japanese were obliged to do their shopping at the plantation store or at the little store run by Afook, a Cantonese. Invariably, things were cheaper at the Chinese store. Although stock was meager at Afook's, laborers patronized his store with reason. What would happen if he, Seikichi Arata, should open a store and cater to the public with an intimate understanding of their wants and tastes? There could be no mistake. It would be a success, as certain as the sun rises from the east every day of the year. The only deterrent was his lack of capital. It would not do to go into partnership with anyone. He wanted to do it alone.
But it did not take him two years to work for the necessary capital. He had heard of Dan Yone of Lihue, an eccentric, hard man but enormously rich by standards prevailing among the immigrant Japanese. He was one of the few remaining immigrants that had come to Hawaii during the 1860's and was commonly called "The gwan nen mono."
Most of these early immigrants went back to Japan after a government emmissary came and investigated the working conditions of the plantations. The investigators became indignant over the treatment accorded their fellow countrymen: contrary to the agreement under which the immigrants came to the islands. A score, however, remained. Among these, there were a few who later prospered. Each one seemed to have started by marrying a native woman whose dowry was land. Land was an item that came to assume added value with each passing decade as industrialization of the islands increased. Yone's first wife had died and he married again, this time a Portuguese woman. He has descendants who are to this day respected citizens of the islands of Kauai and Oahu By the time Japanese immigrants began arriving in droves, Yone was owner of the largest store at Lihue and his credit among all races of people was excellent.
Yone had risen from the lowly coolie class in Japan and so was unable to acquire the three "R's" in his youth. He must have been of superior mental endowment for his success could not be accredited solely to his rich Hawaiian wife. He could not read or write but he had a prodigious memory and was full of ideas that would have been a credit to an educated man. He wanted to keep up with the current thoughts and events of the world. As he became wealthy and could entrust the routine of the store to his employees, he sought culture in his own way.
One day, while Seikichi was talking to Obasan, the cook, the conversation turned to gossip about island personages. "Arata-san, you have heard about Dan Yone?"
"Yes, like everybody else I have heard a lot about him as a successful businessman on this island, and particularly as he is also from my own province of Yamaguchi Ken."
"Do you know that he is trying to get someone who will read the newspapers to him?"
"Is that so? And how much is he going to pay for that sort of work?"