Jeanne Kahanaoi saved her grandfather’s (Manuel Jesus Coito 1876-1957) poems in a box in the attic. He was known as the Poet of Punchbowl. In all he wrote nearly 100 poems, fados, sonnets, and especially, décimas (named after their ten-line stanzas).

In Jardim do Mar: Madeira, he praises the natural beauty of the island of Madeira, as well as Jardim do Mar, the town next to his hometown, Paúl do Mar.

In Tasca do Monte, Kalihi, he recounts Portuguese folks spending a very social Sunday eating lupino beans, drinking beer and gasoza-ardente, singing fados, and playing the bisca card game.

In Jogo-Mesinha he criticizes the Portuguese for any bad behaviors, such as gambling, spreading false prophecy, and even pushing fake medical advice.

In 1910 he documented his cousin’s (Manuel Joaquim de Coito) sad death from leprosy in Kalaupapa, Molokai. Coito wrote of love, death, family, education and social needs. He praised the Portuguese Lusitana Society, Portuguese Red Cross, and other groups that cared for the population.