Monthly Archives: April 2016

Our Museum, continued, 1900.

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OUR MUSEUM

The Bishop Collection of Curios.

One of the Most Interesting Sights In Honolulu Pleasantly Described.

(Concluded.)

Death seems to have played an important part in the ancient regime, as the kings and chiefs had the power of life and death over their subjects. Then too, the priesthood, or kahunas, exercised what is termed the “tabu,” which prescribed certain rules and regulations for the natives, any violation of which was punishable by death; for instance a chief placed “tabu” sticks at the entrance to his hut; that meant to one and all, “Do not enter or pass within the shadow of the tabu sticks under pain of death;” if a Hawaiian subject, and even a petty chief, violated this tabu, he was instantly put to death; supplication was of no avail. The power of the kahunas in their exercise of the tabu, was so great and the superstitious awe of the common native so intense, that its effects have not died out even in this day and age. The common natives are yet prone to believe in their kahunas, and believe that they have the power to pray them to death; in olden days, if an enemy obtained any part of the body of another, a hair, a part of the finger nail, spittle, or anything of the body itself, he would give it to a kahuna and ask him to pray the other one to death; with great ceremony the kahuna would perform certain mysterious functions over the hair, say strange words, offer it before the poison god, and then announce that he was praying the native to death; this being told to the native so great his superstitious fear, he would go to his hut and in reality become sick over the thought of the dread summons made by the kahuna, and in many cases they actually died of the fright thus given them; and to this day many of the natives place more faith in their kahunas than in the “haole” or foreign physicians. If the praying did not perform the evil work, then a piece of the poison god was steeped and the fluid given the sufferer, it is said, which, acting upon his heart, killed him. On every hand in the museum are the evidences of kahunaism and death. There are stones, peculiarly shaped, (like a gourd,) with a small neck; these stones were suspended from the low door of a grass house in such a way that the person entering after the trap was set, would probably be crushed by the fall of the stone. They are made from lava rock. Continue reading →

Still Our Museum Today! 1900.

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OUR MUSEUM

The Bishop Collection of Curios.

One of the Most Interesting Sights In Honolulu Pleasantly Described.

HONOLULU, Feb. 8.—Above the inner entrance to the Museum of Hawaiian and Polynesian History is a tablet of polished mottled stone, in which is engraved in letters of gold the following inscription:

To the Memory of
BERNICE PAUAHI BISHOP,
FOUNDER OF THE KAMEHA-
MEHA SCHOOLS OF HO-
NOLULU.
A Bright Light Among Her Peo-
ple; Her Usefulness Survives
Her Earthly Life.

A Bernice Pauahi, she was related to the royal family of the Kamehameha dynasty, and the cousin of Queen Emma, two women who have indelibly inscribed their names upon the hearts of…

BERNICE PAUAHI BISHOP.

…all Hawaiians, whether by birth of association. She married the Hon. C. R. Bishop, and with her immense wealth and her kindly deeds through life, created a new life among the Hawaiians. Upon her death she left most of her wealth to endow the Kamehameha Schools, a separate school for boys and a separate one for girls. These schools are kept up entirely from the income of her estates, which have become so vast as to render it necessary to erect other buildings throughout the Islands in order to expend the revenue. In memory of his wife, the Hon. C. R. Bishop dedicated the museum in her name, laying aside a princely endowment. Collectors have scoured the Hawaiian Islands for curios of historical and intrinsic value and have succeeded by the most diligent effort and at great expense, in depositing in the museum an invaluable collection of ancient materials which would warm the cockles of the antiquarian’s heart beyond measure. Calabashes, large and small, ancient and modern, have come into the museum; some were in the possession of families, relics passed from one generation to another; others were found in the caves where in ancient times were buried kings and chiefs. Idols of grotesque shapes, dedicated to all the elements of nature, good and evil; some dedicated to Pele, the Goddess of Volcanoes; others to the poison god and to the fish god; some made of stone, others of the valuable koa and kou woods; one made of the trunk of the poison tree, its wood, upon being steeped in water, being a most powerful, yet undetectable poison which acts upon the heart, and which was used by the kahunas and chiefs. Beautiful feather cloaks of wonderful sheen and delicate texture, worn by Kamehameha the Great during his tour of conquest a century ago. Continue reading →

E ola mau ka Hale Hoikeike o Bihopa! 1894.

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THE BISHOP MUSEUM.

This thing being built is a great treasure that cannot be counted amongst other things of these islands; it will show our progressive state in the future if the intent for its establishment is carried out correctly and without deviation. The Editor of the Advertiser, as usual, is strongly opposed to supplying the Museum with alcohol for preserving its specimens. He did not reveal to the public the main reason for their opposition. This is something amazing in our eyes, that there are reasons that the government can be prevented from agreeing to the wishes of the curator of this great site that will become a place much visited by visitors and locals of Hawaii.

(Leo o ka Lahui, 9/21/1894, p. 2)

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Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Buke II, Helu 1033, Aoao 2. Sepatemaba 21, 1894.

Long live the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum! 1892.

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A Visit to the Museum.

President Hosmer and the boarders of Oahu College paid a visit to the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum at the Kamehameha School last Saturday afternoon. Prof. W. T. Brigham, curator, showed the collegians almost every article on exhibit at the museum, and his visitors were very much impressed with the relics of the barbaric age of Hawaii nei, only one hundred years ago. Mr. Brigham knows the history of almost everything placed in the museum, and he entertained the students for over two hours with the pedigree of the various exhibits.

[I wonder if the students of Punahou are still visiting the museum today!]

(Advertiser, 10/17/1892, p. 3)

PCA_10_17_1892_3

The Pacific Commercial Advertiser, Volume XVI, Number 3203, Page 3. October 17, 1892.

Patriotic mele of a different sort, 1893.

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I usually don’t repost old posts, although sometimes I forget and put up an article I have already put up. Today, I just felt like restating that “mÅ«heÊ»e” or squid (not octopus) is one of the worse epithets a person can receive and for good reason. Don’t be a mÅ«heÊ»e.

nupepa

MELE NO KA PUNI LILELILE

Eia e ka lono ua hiki mai,

I lawea mai e ka makani Kona,

Ike ia ai na hana poholalo,

A na muhee o ka Aina,

Puni wale i ka mali leo panai,

Kuai i ke Ola me ka Uhane,

Ua paa na maka i ke Kala,

I ka mea lilelile a ka haole,

Ua like me Iuda kumakaia,

Hoomaewaewa i kona Haku,

Aloha ole i kona onehanau;

A i puka mai ai i keia Ao,

Ike ai i ka la he mea mehana;

Hanu ai i ke Ea o ka Aina,

Haina ia mai ana ka puana,

No ka poe puni wale i ka lilelile.

Maluihikoloheikahuaneneakapoeowaolani.

[There are not only patriotic compositions that laud and encourage, but there are also those like this one here which ridicule and disparage. This one goes something like:]

A SONG FOR THOSE WHO COVET SHINY THINGS.

The news…

View original post 143 more words

O Hawaii, My Beloved Homeland! 1932 and Forever.

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E HAWAII E KUU ONE HANAU E

E Hawaii e kuu one hanau e
Kuu home Kulaiwi nei
Oli no au i na pono lani ou
E Hawaii aloha e.

Cho.

E hauoli e na opio o Hawaii nei
Oli e, oli e
Me ke aheahe makani e pa mai nei
Mau ke aloha no Hawaii.

Na ke Akua e kiai mai ia oe
Kou mau kualono aloha e
Kou mau kahawai olinolino e
Mau ke aloha no Hawaii.

(Ka himeni keia a Lolena Laiana i haku ai)

[I just saw a report on a cool project featuring this mele by patriot Lorenzo Lyons. Hawaii News Now – Sunrise this morning did a piece on the Mana Mele Project being carried out by Mana Maoli and Playing For Change. Check out the story here! Mau ke aloha no Hawaii!]

(Hoku o Hawaii, 7/12/1932, p. 2)

HokuoHawaii_7_12_1932_2.png

Ka Hoku o Hawaii, Buke XXVI, Helu 5, Aoao 2. Iulai 12, 1932.

Queen Emma sends condolences to Mataio Kekuanaoa, 1866.

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News of the Royal Court

Through the kindness of His Highness Mataio Kekuanaoa, we put before our readers these loving words of our Queen Emma.

Upper Gore Lodge, England
Kensington, July 23, 1866.

My Father; Much Aloha:

During these dark days of distress of ours and the nation, I have much aloha for you and the One who left us. Alas for my sister-in-law [kaikoeke], my companion of the land from when we were children. The sun and the rain are companions, joined together by us are the sea spray and the rains steady on the barren fields and the forests; your leader of the islands. How sad; aloha for that lei of ours, my child, and aloha for my dear husband. Alas for you all! My heart is troubled as I am separated alone in a foreign land. It is as if this trip to introduce the Archipelago to the Great Nations of the World is a waste of time. But be patient, O Father, don’t give up, and leave us. For there is one who remains from your loins. Be patient.

With a heavy heart,

Your child,

(Signed) Kaleleonalani.

[There were so many deaths amongst the alii during these years, Ka Haku o Hawaii and Kamehameha IV, and now, Victoria Kamamalu. Not long after, her hanai mother, Grace Kamaikui Young Rooke would pass on. These were indeed dark days for Queen Emma.]

(Kuokoa, 10/6/1866, p. 2)

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Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke V, Helu 40, Aoao 2. Okatoba 6, 1866.

Queen Emma in New York, 1866.

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THE DISTINGUISHED VISITOR.

Emma, the Queen Dowager of the Sandwich Islands, Visits Brooklyn, the Navy Yard, and Sails Down the Bay—Callers at Her Hotel Yesterday, &c.

Her Majesty of the Sandwich Islands, Emma, is determined, it would appear, to see the lions of the famed city of New York while she has the opportunity, and yesterday she extended the pardonable curiosity, which it is not scandalum magnatum to say her Majesty shares with the rest of her sex, to the sister city of Brooklyn. At half-past nine in the morning Queen Emma left her hotel, accompanied by Miss Grinnell, Miss Spurgeon, Major Hopkins, and lady-in-waiting, and drove down Broadway, to the Fulton ferry, whence Her Majesty and suite crossed to Brooklyn. The first place visited was Greenwood cemetery, with the beautiful scenery around which the party was much delighted. On the way back, they stopped at the photographic gallery in Fulton street, where the Queen sat for her portrait.

VISIT TO THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD.

Pursuant to the announcement made in yesterday’s Herald the entire party then paid a visit to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The hour appointed for her arrival was half-past one o’clock, and for one hour an assemblage of the citizens of Brooklyn and elsewhere commenced collecting until the mass numbered upwards of three thousand persons. The gates of the yard were closed to all persons except those who had passes signed by the chief officers. Half-past one arrived, but no tidings were received of the Queen. The crowd commenced to get impatient, jokes were passed to and fro to the parties on both sides of the street, when at length, at twenty minutes to two, two open carriages appeared in sight, containing the Queen, suite and attendants. It was observed as the carriages entered the yard that the first one contained her Majesty, Miss Spurgen, maid of honor; Mr. and Miss Odell; and the second Major C. Gordon Hopkins, of the Hawaiian army, and Miss Grinnell, maid of honor. As the party entered the gates the marine guard were formed in line and received her Majesty at “present arms.” She returned the compliment with a polite bow, the carriages proceeding to Admiral Bell’s quarters, in the Lyceum building. Arriving at this point the honored guest was received and assisted from her carriage by Captain Alexander M. Pennock, chief executive officer of the Navy Yard, who in turn introduced her to Rear Admiral Charles H. Bell, the commandant. The Admiral tendered his arm to the Queen, who promptly accepted it, and the party proceeded to the portico on the second story of the Lyceum. When Queen Emma alighted, the Marine battalion, commanded by Captain Collier, were drawn up in line, presented arms, while the Navy Yard band played the air of “Hail Columbia.” A detachment of the crew of the United States ship Vermont fired a salute of twenty-one guns from the Cob deck battery, and the Hawaiian flag was displayed at the main topgallant masthead. Continue reading →

Queen Emma travelling abroad a hundred and fifty years ago, 1866.

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Queen Emma.

From what we heard last of our beloved Queen, she is staying at Hyeres in the south of France. We are happy to say that she is in very good health, and so too her entourage. In accordance with the kind invitation by His Highness, the Minister of the Navy [??? Kuhina o na moku], she went to tour the areas where the weapons are stored and the port of Toulon, and she was welcomed hospitably and treated with all honors appropriate to her position. A great feast was given in the evening of the day she went there. Continue reading →