Clemente Gomes

Clemente Gomes with his adopted son, Raymond, and his wife Maria Achee Gomes.

Personal Information:

Born in Hanamaulu, Kauai, in 1893
Son of João Gomes and Maria Joaquina Vieira from Madeira
Married to Maria Achee, born in Kona (Titia) daughter of M W Achee and Maria de Braga.
Titia's father was from Canton, China, and her mother from Agua d'Alto, São Miguel
She was a school teacher in Lihue.
He was a resident of Lihue on a large property that was cut into a number of lots.
The house is still there.
Had an adopted son, Raymond, who in adulthood moved to Illinois.
Was a member of the Lusitania Society
Manager of Waimea Stables that was subsequently named Nawiliwili Transportation Company
He became the owner of the Transportation Company.
Was a Representative from Kaua'i in the Territorial Legislature.
Clem went on to become a Senator in the Territorial Legislature
Was elected to be President of the Territorial Senate, a post that was more powerful at that time than the Governor's.

Memories of Frances Margaret Fernandes, daughter of William James Fernandes

My father went to live with Uncle Clem while attending Kaua'i High School. He told me that when his mother died, Titia wanted the children to go to an orphanage but they were sent to live with spinster aunts, Maria and Luisa (later to become Sister Claire of the Sacred Heart order located in Honolulu).

Clem had left home in his late teen years with one of his brothers to work at the Waimea Stables. He later became owner of the Nawiliwili Transportation Company located on land that is now a shopping center.

Now a prominent member of Hawai'i, he was approached by the Haole's to run for office. At that time, not many Portuguese were in the legislature. But he won the election and began serving as a Representative. As a member of the Territorial Legislature, he wielded a lot of political power. It is said that he did a lot for Kaua'i and Hawai'i in general. After WWII, my father returned to Kaua'i to work at the Transporation Company and also to serve as an aide to the then Senator. They went to Washington, DC, to cast the one vote allowed For Territorial Hawaii in Congress.

Uncle Clem was a frightening person for a little girl like me. He was an alcoholic and had quite a temper. Thank goodness he and Titia were frequently gone, either involved in politics or traveling. Nephews of Titia also lived at the house. I remember riding a bike and mistakenly hitting into the bike of one nephew’s. Uncle Clem blamed me for hitting into him on purpose, terrifying me. All three of us attended St. Catherine's elementary school. They couldn't be entrusted to bring their tuition money to the nuns each month, so that task was given to me.

     Campaigns were colorful times in Hawaii. Uncle Clem would get up to speak. Then people would shout, "Bring out the ukulele, Clem." He would get out the uke and his fingers would fly over it. Then I would have to go up on stage to be the first one to put a lei around his neck and give him a kiss. Then the hula dancers would come on stage and the entertainment would begin.
     Clem's home was located on a spacious piece of land. Titia had a large garden. Her help included Ikutaro Torabashii, a Japanese who spoke no English. He lived in a small shack with a horrible smell that emanated from the filthy conditions inside. Every night, he would boil water for a large tub and then proceed to soak himself. One day I was playing by myself when Torabashi came upon me. I became frightened and tried to run from him but he chased me into a large storage building that was usually locked. I prayed hard as I ran, hoping the door on the other side was unlocked - and it was! Thank goodness I escaped. Later my mother warned me, "Stay away from Torabashi!" We moved to a little house near the sugar storage facility after that.
         Since Clem spoke Portuguese and had one of the most elegant houses on the island at the time, he hosted Carmen Miranda and her maid when she performed on the island. I remember going to the house with my mother when mom was taken into the bedroom to meet her. I stayed in the living room next to the grand piano and waited. That evening we children were taken to see Carmen Miranda perform in Lihue. Yuki, who worked at the Transportation Company, was assigned the task of taking us there. Miranda performed, took off her tall hat decorated with flowers and fruit, and threw down her long red hair. It turns out that Carmen Miranda was born in the north of Portugal, an area settled by Celts centuries ago. She was brought to Brazil at about 2-1/2 years of age.
     Dr. Cockett of the hospital in Lihue was a very good friend to Clem. I remember him coming to the house to visit and also to care for Clem's health. Clem was eventually defeated and died shortly after. Although the newspapers published the news that he had died of a heart attack, my father told me a different story years later. According to dad, he was charged with giving Uncle Clem his medications. He was to place the real medications out of Clem's reach, while placebos were to be placed on the table beside Clem. One day dad got the medications mixed up, placing the real medications next to Clem. After taking too many of them, Clem died. Was it suicide? You be the judge.

Titia died in 1963. She had planned to come to my wedding to Quentin Appert on April 20th. However, she fell ill and went into the hospital for tests. They found cancer and she died shortly thereafter. Titia was buried in the dress she bought to wear for my wedding.

The house with columns on the porch still stands. The large property was divided and newer homes are now on the land. One could see the ocean from the front yard but two-story homes now sit in front of it. I can see, by passing by, that the property has not been kept up. I always wonder what the new owners know about the history of that property.