Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 9, 1 November 1984 — Kona Son Returns to Stay Following 70-Year Absence [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kona Son Returns to Stay Following 70-Year Absence

By Ruby McDonald West Hawaii Community Resource Specialist

Dr. Kalei Kaonohi Gregory spent 70 years on the mainland and has returned to stay following his retirement in the field of pediatric medicine in Providence. R.l. The loeal boy who made good on the mainland was born Dec. 18, 1892, just a month before the overthrow

of the Hawaiian monarchy. At age 15, he left Hawaii for Oahu where he lived and studied carpentry at The Kamehameha Schools whieh was basically military at the time. Dr. Gregory has fond memories of his childhood days as he recalls watching the Parker Ranch paniolo "swim" their cattle from Kailua wharf to offshore ships for transport to Honolulu.

He remembers being a barefooted youngster and observing businessmen in shoes and suits, prompting him to vow then: "1 will be like them." Dr. Gregory was also impressed with the accomplishments of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole that he resolved to improve his own lot and went on to accomplish his goal.

He was one of 17 graduates of the Kamehameha Class of 1912. holding the rank of captain. He worked as acarpenteratSchofield Barracksand Pearl Harbor, saving his money so he could attend a mainland eolleee.

In 1913, he was a student at Mount Hermon Prep School. Northfield. Mass., studying, working as a carpenter and preparing himself for admission into eollege. Then eame World War I and he served two years with the army in France. Following his discharge in 1918, he enrolled at Brown University, Providence, R.L, and earned a bachelor's degree. Brown did not require entrance exams those days. He later attended Harvard University's medical school and in 1927, at age 35, got his degree in medieine. Following his period of internship, Dr. Gregory became resident physician and assistant superintendent at Chapin H ospital for Contagious Diseases in Providence where he specialized in childrens' diseases.

At the turn of the century, it was almost fatahstically accepted that children would catch such diseases as whooping cough, measles, ehieken pox, rubella, scarlet fever, mumps and perhaps the more dangerous infantile paralysis, typhoid, diphtheria and tetanus. Mortality from these diseases was extremely high. "Serving at Chapin was the greatest thing that ever happened to me," Dr. Gregory recalls. "Oh, what

excitement that was. We got any disease other hospitals couldn't handle. We say everything. "Now, thanks to medical research, better sanitation. wonder drugs such as sulfas and anti-biotics and vaccinations, children rarely have to endure these debilitating diseases. The advances of medicine within my lifetime are beyond comprehension."

Dr. Gregory established his private pediatric prac- • tice in Providence in 1945 after being passed over as superintendent of Chapin in a move his supporters charged was politically and racially inspired. However, he later laughed in appreciation of his practice with children, remembering how mueh he enjoyed it. Before he retired in 1975 at the age of 83, Dr. Gregory had the satisfaction of caring for about 20,000 children. Two generations of Providence citizens lamented his retirement.

Among the many personal belongings he shipped home to Kona is a color photo of a huge maple tree in full fall color, depicting New England's beauty at this time of the year, definitely a marked contrast to the beauty of Hawaii. Dr. Kalei Kaonohi Gregory, Kona's son who is now approaching his 92nd year, is back at the plaee of his birth with his English wife, Maude Mary, son Eugene and his wife and their three children. They are residents of Kalaoa.