Dr. Edward Solon Goodhue

Born in Canada of American parents, Dr. Edward Solon Goodhue (1863-1935) was educated at McGill University, Montreal and at Rush Medical College, Chicago, which granted him his medical degree in 1892.

From 1895 to 1900, Dr. Goodhue served the Republic of Hawaii and the Territory of Hawaii as the government physician and medical superintendent of the Koloa Government Hospital, as well as the attending surgeon at the Eleele Hospital.

While practicing medicine on Kauai, Goodhue initiated the first campaign against tuberculosis in the Hawaiian Islands and organized the Hawaii Anti-Tuberculosis Association, with officers from all islands participating.

He also came in contact with many sufferers of Hansen’s Disease, which sparked his intense interest and study of this dreaded affliction.

His numerous articles on the subject of leprosy led to his appointment by President William Howard Taft, in 1909, as a delegate to attend the International Congress on Leprosy in Norway. Territorial Governor Walter Frear also appointed Dr. Goodhue to this Congress as the special representative of Hawaii.

From 1900 until his death, Dr. Goodhue continued his medical practice in Honolulu and on Molokai.

Active in civic and political affairs, Dr. Goodhue was a longtime member of the Republican Party. As a delegate to his party’s national convention and a member of the platform committee, he was the first person to advocate and draft a provision for women’s suffrage.

Dr. Goodhue was an accomplished poet as well. The following verses are from his book, “Verses From The Valley.”

“Stretching myself upon a bed, of beaten sand and withered moss. I lay full length and watched the red, sun send its rays the waves across.

“A charm I held within my palm, and clasped it tightly, as a dream. With Various fancies, fair and calm, did soon my wandering thoughts redeem.”

He and his wife, Lulu Mae, had two children.