27 chapters
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27 chapters
PREFACE
PREFACE
From mist to sunshine—from fabled gods to a constitution and legislature as a Territory of the United States—this is the outline of the stories told in the present volume. This outline is thoroughly Hawaiian in the method of presentation. The old people rehearsed stories depending upon stories told before. They cared very little for dates. This is a book of stories related to each other. Veiled by the fogs of imagination are many interesting facts concerning kings and chiefs which have been pass
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I MAUI THE POLYNESIAN
I MAUI THE POLYNESIAN
The Manahiki Islanders say that Maui desired to separate the sky from the earth. His father, Ru, was the supporter of the heavens. Maui persuaded him to assist in lifting the burden. They crowded it and bent it upward. They were able to stand with the sky resting on their shoulders. They heaved against the bending mass and it receded rapidly. They quickly put the palms of their hands under it, then the tips of their fingers, and it retreated farther and farther. At last, drawing [ 16 ] themselve
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II MAUI SEEKING IMMORTALITY
II MAUI SEEKING IMMORTALITY
Maui warned the birds to refrain from making any noise while he made the supreme effort of his life. He was about to enter upon his struggle for immortality. He said to the birds: “If I go into the stomach of this woman do not laugh until I have gone through her, and come out again at her mouth; then you can laugh at me.” His friends said: “You will be killed.” Maui replied: “If you laugh at me when I have only entered her stomach I shall be killed, but if I have passed through her and come out
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III THE WATER OF LIFE1
III THE WATER OF LIFE1
They said, “Did you build this boat, and have you its chant?” He said: “We must not call this a boat for war, but of discovery, to find new land.” The chiefess of that land looked out and saw a boat in the ocean, and sent some birds to see what the boat was doing and learn whether it was a war canoe, or a travelling boat. The birds went out, and Aukele wanted his brothers to say it was a travelling boat. The birds asked and the brothers said: “This is a war canoe.” The birds went away. Aukele to
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IV A VIKING OF THE PACIFIC
IV A VIKING OF THE PACIFIC
Fornander suggests that Hawaii is derived from Java and Java from the Arabian Saba. Evidently a Polynesian chief of high rank gathered a number of adherents or members of his tribe, and sailed eastward over the Pacific, about the beginning of the Christian era. His descendants, or at least such portion of his family as did not follow him on his voyage, seem to have moved from Java to the Molucca Islands and settled in Jilolo. It is said that after he brought his family to Hawaii, new islands spr
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V LEGENDARY HOME OF THE POLYNESIANS
V LEGENDARY HOME OF THE POLYNESIANS
The name of the Hawaiian Islands is taken from this mythological name. So also is the Savaii of the Samoan Islands. So also the small island [ 43 ] Hawaiki in Lake Rotorua of New Zealand, where the New Zealand legends say the ancestors of the Maoris placed the relics which they brought with them from their ancestral Hawaiki when they settled in New Zealand. In far eastern Tahiti is a place on Raiatea, the island now known as Opoa. Its ancient and sacred name was Hawaii. Some writers have thought
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VI THE SONS OF KII
VI THE SONS OF KII
He chanted the charms which would control the action of the gods of the seas over which the boats might sail. He invoked the gods of the home land to make friendly the gods of any new country to which the sailors might go. He pleaded for the acceptance of the human sacrifice about to be made to the gods. Executioners with sharp-edged clubs of heavy hardwood then struck down the prisoners as the boat was rushed to the sea. Human sacrifices at the launchings of the canoes of chiefs were not at all
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VII PAAO FROM SAMOA
VII PAAO FROM SAMOA
“It is false!” angrily replied the father. [ 67 ] Theft was considered the greatest of crimes among the Polynesians. “No! It is true. He is coming even now from his feast. If he touches my fruit again he shall die. It is tabu” (sacred). “E! Kaino!” called the father. The boy came near, evidently having just been eating. “Have you taken fruit from Lonopele in the night?” “No. I have fruit at home, but better are the baked dog and fish. I would not eat his fruit.” Lonopele became angry, and cried
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VIII MOI-KEHA, THE RESTLESS
VIII MOI-KEHA, THE RESTLESS
The days and nights were filled with fishing and feasting, ruling and revelling. Olopana soon found a beautiful young chiefess, who was in full sympathy with his ambitions, whom he took from [ 81 ] her home as his life-companion. This woman, Luu-kia, was said to be a descendant of the Nanaulu line of chiefs, originally coming to Hawaii from Tahiti. Storms, floods and freshets swept Waipio Valley. The people fled from the scene of disasters. The young chiefs found themselves homeless. Again the l
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IX LAA FROM TAHITI
IX LAA FROM TAHITI
Kila, the third son of Moi-keha, was made a messenger to Tahiti by his father. A great longing had taken possession of Moi-keha to see the foster son whom he had carried away many years before. Kila was said to be very careful and courageous with a strong desire to emulate the deeds of his ancestors. The call to the sea was hereditary and with eagerness he grasped the opportunity. The largest double canoes were selected, their mat sails were made from new and strong hala leaves and they were equ
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CHANT OF KU-ALII (KU—THE CHIEF)
CHANT OF KU-ALII (KU—THE CHIEF)
“O Kahiki, land of the far reaching ocean. Within is the land—outside is the sun, Indistinct are the sun and the land when approaching. Perhaps you have seen it. I have seen it. I have surely seen Kahiki. “A land with a strange language is Kahiki. The men of Kahiki have ascended The backbone of heaven (mountains) Up there they trample down, They look down on those below. Men of our race are not in Kahiki. One kind of men is in Kahiki—the white man. He is like a god. I am like a man, A man, indee
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XI CAPTAIN COOK
XI CAPTAIN COOK
A man by the name of Mapua, and others, were out fishing, with their boats anchored. They saw a great thing coming up, rising high above the surf, fire burning on top of it. They thought it was something evil and hurried to the shore, trembling and frightened by this wonderful apparition. They had fled, leaving all they had used [ 102 ] while fishing. When they went up from the beach they told the high chief Kaeo and the other chiefs about this strange sight. In the morning they saw the ship sta
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XII THE IVORY OF OAHU King Kahahana, About 1773
XII THE IVORY OF OAHU King Kahahana, About 1773
Soon the morning came for sailing to Oahu. Kahahana, his wife, and the high chiefess who had come from Oahu to bring the news of his election, and a large retinue of retainers left Maui in regal state, while the good-bye “aloha” rang out over the waters from crowds of friends. When the Oahu priests in the heiaus on the slopes of Leahi or Diamond Head saw the fleet of canoes coming from Maui, swift runners were despatched to all the high chiefs of the island that they might assemble at Waikiki an
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XIII THE ALAPA REGIMENT 1776
XIII THE ALAPA REGIMENT 1776
As he beat down the Maui warriors his cry rang out: “E kokua! E kokua!”—“To the rescue! To the rescue!” He gave the old chief a moment’s rest while he kept the surrounding crowd at bay; then he dashed against the wall of warriors and broke it down. Turning, he caught the old chief and aided him in hurried retreat, while his terrible war club played with lightning strokes against his foes. The young giant screamed with joy when he struck to earth enemy after enemy. With the insane inspiration of
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XIV THE LAST PROPHET OF OAHU In the Days of Kahahana, 1782
XIV THE LAST PROPHET OF OAHU In the Days of Kahahana, 1782
It was said that Kahekili followed his advice in creating a division between the king of Oahu and Ka-o-pulu-pulu. He made Kahahana believe that the high priest was secretly hoping to take Oahu from its king and turn it over to himself. This statement was drilled into the mind of the Oahu king while visiting on the island of Molokai. When Kahahana returned to Oahu he did not hesitate to show his enmity toward the high priest. He refused to listen when the priest attempted to give counsel in the m
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XV THE EIGHT OF OAHU
XV THE EIGHT OF OAHU
It was over this arid plain dotted here and there by cocoanut trees and across a few streams bordered by taro patches that the eight famous chiefs picked their way. It was not smooth walking. Lava had been poured out from the craters in the mountains and foothills. The softer parts of the petrified streams had dissolved and the surface of the land was covered with the hard fragments which remained. The trail which they followed led in and out among great boulders until they came to the sandy slo
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XVI THE RED MOUTH GUN (Ka-pu-waha-ulaula)
XVI THE RED MOUTH GUN (Ka-pu-waha-ulaula)
When Ka-eo-ku-lani, chief of Kauai, climbed the hills above the seaport he carried his war spear. Standing among the ruins of an ancient fort he threw his spear far up toward the clouds above. Referring to the legends, he cried: “It is said of old that the sky comes close to Hana, but I find it very high. I have thrown my spear and it did not pierce the clouds. I doubt if it will strike Ka-meha-meha. But listen, O you chiefs, warriors and kindred! Be strong and valiant and we shall drink the wat
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XVII THE LAW OF THE SPLINTERED PADDLE
XVII THE LAW OF THE SPLINTERED PADDLE
A shudder passed over the young man as he said: “My chiefs no longer lie in the ferns. In my thought I see the temple servants carrying the bodies of my friends to the altars of the gods. It is almost the hour for the evening sacrifice. The hands of the priests are red with blood. The bones of my choice companions will be used for fish hooks. Auwe-Auwe-e-e! Woe to me. My name is indeed The Lonely-one—The Desolate!” “O King! thou art Ka-meha-meha, ‘The Lonely One,’ the one supreme in royal geneal
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XVIII LAST OF THE TABU
XVIII LAST OF THE TABU
Ka-ahu-manu laughed gaily, saying: “O my thoughtless one, you have tempted your queen to break tabu.” [ 178 ] A horrified expression crossed his face and he hastily started to withdraw the bananas. But the queen was wayward and self-willed. Her hand was on the bunch as she said: “This is mine. It is your offering to your chief. I will eat of these bananas.” In a moment she was eating the delicious fruit. Then the old woman began to wail: “Auwe, auwe! The queen must die and we shall all be destro
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THE ALPHABET.
THE ALPHABET.
As soon as the missionaries were sure of the orthography and pronunciation of a number of words they prepared a primer or spelling book to be [ 185 ] printed for the schools they were carrying on. Mr. Bingham says: “On the 7th of January, 1822, we commenced printing the language in order to give them letters, libraries and the living oracles in their own tongue. A considerable number was present, and among those particularly interested was Ke-au-moku (Gov. Cox) who after a little instruction by
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XX THE FIRST CONSTITUTION
XX THE FIRST CONSTITUTION
What has been called “The essence and glory of Magna Charta” reads as follows: “No freeman shall be taken, or imprisoned, or dis-seized, or outlawed, or banished, or anyways injured, nor will we pass upon him, nor send upon him, unless by the legal judgment of his peers or by the law of the land.” The Hawaiian Declaration of Rights, issued June 7, 1839, stated first the principle upon which the American Declaration of Independence was founded, viz.: “That God has bestowed certain rights alike on
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XXI THE HAWAIIAN FLAG
XXI THE HAWAIIAN FLAG
This continued from 1794 to 1812. Then war broke out between England and the United States. Alexander, in a report to the Hawaiian Historical Society, says that upon the outbreak of this war [ 203 ] a friendly American persuaded Ka-meha-meha I “to have a flag of his own.” An English Captain (George C. Beckley) some time near the beginning of the century brought a small ship to the islands and sold it to the chiefs. He then settled in Honolulu and became a friend of the king, who made him a “tabu
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TRAVEL AND DESCRIPTION
TRAVEL AND DESCRIPTION
My Nestorian Adventure in China A Popular Account of the Holm-Nestorian Expedition to Sian-Fu and Its Results. Illustrated, with photographs by the author, Maps, Etc. $3.50. Presenting the narrative of adventurous exploration and travel in the interior provinces of China. Dr. Holm’s account is full of interest. D. E. LORENZ, Ph.D. The New Mediterranean Traveller With Maps, Plans, Pictures, Etc. $3.50. An up-to-date Edition of the Famous Guide-Book of which a prominent reviewer said: “Will take t
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IN MISSION LANDS
IN MISSION LANDS
MARY NINDE GAMEWELL The Gateway to China Pictures of Shanghai Yesterday and To-day. New Revised Edition Illustrated. $2.00. A new, revised edition. Mrs. Gamewell has contrived to catch and hold China’s colorful panorama, and furnish a diverting and informative description of its origin, manners, customs, people, politics and enterprises. W. F. JORDAN Secretary, Upper Andes Agency of the American Bible Society. Author of “Crusading in the West Indies.” Glimpses of Indian America Illustrated. $1.7
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THE FAR EASTERN QUESTION
THE FAR EASTERN QUESTION
“Impresses on America the supreme opportunity and the greatness of the task which confronts the Christian forces. It is not only a mine of useful information, but a challenge to missionary effort.”— Congregationalist. GE-ZAY WOOD Member of the Chinese Delegation to the Washington Conference. The Shantung Question $5.00. “A comprehensive history of the Shantung question from the German occupation of Kiaochow Bay down to the agreements reached a few months ago at Washington. The book will prove va
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AROUND THE WORLD
AROUND THE WORLD
Illustrated. $1.75. The story of twelve years’ residence and experience in Latin America under the auspices of the American Bible Society. Mr. Jordan writes sympathetically of the men and women he has met, and of incidents which have come under his personal observation. Nearly every phase of life, as it is lived in Latin America, is dealt with. PAUL RADER Pres. Christian and Missionary Alliance. ’Round the Round World $1.50. What Mr. Rader saw and encountered in his round-the-world visit to fore
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Corrections
Corrections
The following corrections have been applied to the text:...
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