Los Angeles Times, dated Jan 30, 1906, page II1

Hawaii Lures The Russians.
Leaders of Quaint Local Colony Say They’ll Go.
Plan is to Homestead Fertile Acres of Kauai.
Several Hundred May Join in Exodus to Island

Leaders of the local Russians, after a meeting held last night at the home of Capt. P. A. Demens, on West Twenty-Eighth Street, stated that they have decided to leave Los Angeles. They say they will take with them almost all the colonists, and that the land of settlement in Southern California is abandoned.

There will be an exodus of the Molokanes from this city in a few days when 100 families, representing 700 souls, will leave for the Territory of Hawaii.

The Russians will settle on Kauai, one of the western islands of the Hawaiian group, and will take up government land. The bewhiskered leaders of the large colony are glad, and all are said to be anxious to start.

The Russians do not want to go out of the United States, as they feelingly express a desire live beneath the Stars and Stripes, which to them is a symbol of liberty and protection. They would have gladly settled in Southern California, but this was out of the questions, as the men had not the money to purchase sufficient territory for the hundreds of quaintly-dressed children of the Great White Czar.

United States Land Commissioner Pratt of Honolulu has spent a week in Los Angeles. He placed before the Russians the plan which they formally accepted last night. They will homestead the fertile acres, and will endeavor to prove up and become owners of the land.

GOOD REPORT ON KAUAI.
Recently the leaders of the Molokanes made the journey to Kauai and looked over the country with a view to settlement. The prospect was pleasing they said the climate good, and the opportunity encouraging. Like the two faithful spies returning from Canaan, they gave a good report.

The land, they said, will raise anything. Sugar cane, wheat, vegetables in abundance and almost anything else can be grown, and the hearts of the local Russians were made glad by the report.

Like little children the peasants danced in glee at the prospe3ct of owning their own farms. They could not say enough for the generosity of the agent ho told them Uncle Sam would give them a chance to pay in labor for the land offered.

Simply, in broken English, they told the commissioner of their great desire to go, and the leaders were commissioned to make terms as soon as possible, as the people, like a child trying to possess a new toy, wanted to go at once.

There is said to be plenty of land on the island for the Russians. Their transportation has been arranged. Many of the peasants have saved snug sums since coming to this city. Their interests are common, and all who desire will be given a chance to go.

SEEK PASTORAL LIFE.
Business men of Los Angeles have interested themselves in the Molokane, almost all of whom settled, upon reaching here, in the vicinity of the Bethlehem Institutional Church. Much has been done to relieve their condition since their arrival. Members of the colony have found work in lumber yards, factories, and in private families. They have proved honest and capable.

Owing to their inability to speak English and to their lack of experience in American ways, the colonists suffered many privations after reaching here. There was not a little sickness. Physicians and nurses gave them help, and though some died, scores were helped.

Driven from their native land because of fierce religious persecutions, their one desire was to reach America. Once in the United States their objective point was Los Angeles. Their great disappointment is that they could not settle somewhere in Southern California.

Because the plan of settlement in southern California was not feasible, the leaders of the Molokane went into Lower California recently and returned with a good report.

The land is fertile and was reported suited to their needs, but a serious objection was raised on a religious point. A promising source of industry connected with the settlement in Lower California had to do with the raising of hogs. The Molokane do not eat port and would not raise hogs. The plan for a colony in that section was therefore abandoned.

Their great desire is for pastoral life, away from a large city. Such a prospect they think they have found in Hawaii.

Some local friends of the Russians do not believe a majority will go to the island. Some members of the colony already are prospering in a way and are tempted to remain in hope of better things.