A Birthday Feast.—At 3 o’clock on this past Friday, a birthday party was held at Kaakopua, the home of the Royal Governess of the big island, to celebrate the day of birth of her hanai, the one who is named after the day of the funeral [hoolewa] of the departed King Kamehameha III, that is Kalahoolewa.

“Heia ka mano o ka ua i Alakai,
Nahae ka mauna weluwelu e ka noe,
Kau liilii i ke kiu wai ahulu,
Kapa ia mai e Waimea, he kiu
Ke komikomi la i ka wai pao—e.”

The party began at the hour mentioned above; and the table for the celebration of his birthday was given honor by the royal ladies of his generation. Also appearing there were some officers of the warships, the Lacawana and the Cameleon, and so too the “birds whose beaks were pierced” [?? “manu i hou ia ka nuku”]. While the food was being swept from the table, entertainment began, and it continued until the late hours of the night.

[Might anyone know the meaning behind the turn of phrase, “manu i hou ia ka nuku”?]

(Au Okoa, 1/16/1868, p. 2)

Ke Au Okoa, Buke III, Helu 39, Aoao 2. Ianuari 16, 1868.