Posted on: Monday, October 11, 2004

Waimea tea party will toast the suffragettes

By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — A group of Big Island women will host a Yellow Rose Tea in Waimea to honor the women who fought for women's right to vote. The event is free and open to the public, although donations will be accepted.

The yellow rose theme comes from a symbol chosen by suffragists seeking the right to vote for women, in what became known in Tennessee as "The War of the Roses."

Anti-suffrage forces took to wearing American Beauty red roses depicting their efforts "to save Southern womanhood." The suffragists chose the yellow rose as their symbol, and wore it as a boutonniere.

In 1920, after the decisive vote was cast to ratify the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a "shower" of yellow roses cascaded from the upper gallery down onto the floor of the Tennessee State House of Representatives.

The yellow rose shower marked the ending of the 72-year battle in America for women's right to vote.

"A group of us decided to celebrate the 'lei of yellow roses' — the women who worked so hard and long and suffered so much for our privilege to vote," said former state senator Malama Solomon of Waimea.

"Many of us wahine take voting for granted," said Patti Cook, also of Waimea. "We forget that it was a bitter, harsh struggle by courageous women who endured jail, hunger strikes, forced feedings and years of ridicule and great disappointment. We should honor the dedication, hope and suffering that went into securing our right to vote."

Rep. Cindy Evans, D-7th (N. Kona, S. Kohala), will be the guest speaker at the tea from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at Beamer-Solomon Halau O Po'ohala at 65-1696 Kohala Mountain Road. The driveway to the halau is just north of the upper entry to the HPA campus. 

For information and directions, call Patti Cook at 937-2833 or Malama Solomon at 885-3553.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 935-3916.