Monthly Archives: April 2024

Rev. William Hoapili Kaauwai

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Real News–On Sunday morning (that being the 30th of April), there was seen here in Hawaii nei for the first time, a Hawaiian reverend preaching in English. And that reverend is Rev. W. Hoapili Kaauwai, from Maui. While he was preaching on that morning at the Anglican Church at Peleula, the haole congregation there was listening carefully, and the ideas he expressed were greatly appreciated. His topic was from Romans VII:24. The reverend clarified that all people are sinners; some are very sinful while other are less; but we all have sinful hearts. Sometimes we go straight, and thereafter we fall into sin, yet we rise up again; and this getting up and falling back down is something all people do until they reach the nation of heaven, where all troubles and sins are no more. Rev. Mr. Kaauwai became a reverend, and he was ordained by the Lord Bishop of Honolulu [Thomas Nettleship Staley], at Lahaina, on Sunday, September 25, 1864.

[This William Hoapili Kaauwai wrote a lengthy autobiography of his travels around the world. “Ka Moolelo no ka Makaikai ana a Puni ka Honua, i Kakauia e William Hoapili Kaauwai.” It appears in the Kuokoa from 8/29/1868 and abruptly stops on 1/9/1869. On 1/30/1869, in the article, “He mau olelo hoakaka,” explained is that Kaauwai returned to Wailuku with promises to continue writing from there.]

(Au Okoa, 5/8/1865, p. 3)

Ke Au Okoa, Buke I, Helu 3, Aoao 3. Mei 8, 1865.

Princess Victoria Kamamalu goes fishing, 1865

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His Highness M. Kekuanaoa is residing at Papakanene. The elderly alii is in good health.  

News of the Royal Court.

The King is in fine health and is in Waikiki. On Thursday he went to Hamohamo and came back that evening.

The injured foot of Her Royal Highness Princess Kamamalu is feeling much better, and on Thursday, she went fishing at Kalia. On Friday evening, she went with the Queen dowager to Kawaiahao Church to see the Sunday School examinations. Also there were His Highness M. Kekuanaoa, the Hon. D. Kalakaua, Hon. L. Andrews, Mrs. Allen (the wife of the Chief Justice [Elisha Hunt Allen]). Rev. H. H. Parker, the kahu of Kawaiahao Church lead the alii to sit at the seats made ready for His Highness M. Kekuanaoa, Her Royal Highness Princess Kamamalu, and the dowager Queen. The alii were escorted by the Hon. D. Kalakaua.

On Tuesday evening, the Hon. Mrs. Dominis went to the school examination at Kahehuna. On Thursday evening, there was a ball banquet at the residence of Paukuwahie given by the Hon. Mrs. Dominis. There was her husband the Governor of Oahu, the Hon. D. Kalakaua, Hon. Kamakau, and Hon. Makalena.

The following Saturday morning, the Royal Governess of Hawaii [Keelikolani] went home aboard the ship Themes.

(Au Okoa, 6/19/1865, p. 2)

Ke Au Okoa, Buke I, Helu 9, Aoao 2. Iune 19, 1865.

Death of Kaka, the governess of Liliuokalani and Likelike, 1866.

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Found under “HUNAHUNA MEA HOU O HAWAII NEI.”

Sudden Death.–On Monday morning, Kaka died suddenly at the residence of Paukuwahie. She was the governess of our beloved young mistresses, Liria Kamakaeha Dominis and Likelike. She died from a stroke. How sad for her.

[Does anyone know more about Kaka?]

(Kuokoa, 5/12/1866, p. 2)

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke V, Helu 19, Aoao 2. Mei 12, 1866

Death of Doreka Kaholua, aka Doreka Opunui, 1869.

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Found under: “NU HOU KULOKO.: Oahu.”

Died.–This past Monday, at Kamakela, here in Honolulu, Kaholua wahine, one of the women who took the word of God to the ignorant lands, but for other reasons she was returned here. The cause of her quick death was that she was pregnant, and perhaps it was while she was giving birth, the baby died within her belly, and the dead baby could not come out. Because the doctors’ skillful attempts, the child was expelled disfigured, but as for the mother, after she gasped for life for some hours, the one who belongs the soul took hit away, and left the body behind for the earth.

(Kuokoa, 9/18/1869, p. 3)

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke VIII, Helu 38, Aoao 3. Sepatemaba 18, 1869.

Another account:

A Sorrowful Death.–At 1 o’clock in the afternoon, this past Monday, the hand of death reached out and snatched Mrs. Doreka Kaholua while she was bearing down giving birth; and on Tuesday afternoon she was carried away for all times. She left behind a number of younger siblings and a child, and her birth mother who grieve for her. God’s hand stretches out above our friends, from the young to the old. She was a welcoming host, should she see a stranger or friends, until she passed. With her family goes our sympathy.

(Au Okoa, 9/16/1869, p. 2)

Ke Au Okoa, Buke V, Helu 22, Aoao 2. Sepatemaba 16, 1869.

Did you see Bishop Museum’s He Aupuni Palapala blog the other week about Hawaiians in the Marshall Islands? See more about the Daniela and Doreka Opunui. Click here.

Sword presented to Samuel Damon by John Manjiro, 1932.

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Sword Returns from Japan

Aboard the steamship Tatsuta Maru that landed in town last week Tuesday, the Japanese sword given in 1860 to Samuel Damon, the one who gave good fortune to Manjiro Nakahama, the first Japanese sailor who traveled to the United States, and who became an interpreter for Commodore Perry at Yokohama.

Last June the sword was taken by W. Araki, the secretary of the Japanese American Association of Kansai, to the town of Seki where it was forged five centuries ago.

It was however returned at this time, being beautifully polished, to Mrs. Henry Damon, the current owner, the granddaughter of Samuel Damon.

At the Pan-Pacific club house, on the evening of the 16th of November, is when the sword will be on display.

That is the actual date of the golden anniversary of the marriage of Prince Iyesato Tokugawa.

[I wonder where this is today.]

(Alakai o Hawaii, 11/10/1932, p. 2)

What should and should not be printed in the newspapers, 1864.

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South Kona, Hawaii
12 of December, 1864.

Rev. L. H. Gulick; Aloha oe:–

At the meeting of church leaders here in South Kona, on the 9th of this month, I was selected as the Committee to write to you about some opinions decided upon by that assembly, pertaining to the newspaper you are thinking to publish. And here are those opinions:

First. They discussed with much consideration words that are appropriate to publish in the Kuokoa Newspaper, and those that are improper. And they believe it is not proper to publish Hawaiian mele in the newspaper. They believe that by publishing mele in the newspaper, it will lead the young ones of the lahui toward its old ways. Being that some mele published in Whitney’s Kuokoa ; the extremities of this nation have much delight in those mele, and they are memorized by the youth; just like this mele:

“O Kilauea no ke aloha,
O ka ihu lolilua i ka ale.”

Kilauea is beloved,
Its prow unstable on the billows.”

And so forth, and there are many mele of that nature.

Second. The Assembly believes it is improper to publish certain local news of Hawaii nei, such at this. People start to hula on Kauai, and someone there sees this and announces it in the newspaper. That announcement to them is something inappropriate to print in the newspaper. It will give people living on the other islands the idea to imitate this behavior.

But they consider it is proper to print in the newspapers should hula practitioners from this location or that location be punished under the law.

Third. The Assembly believes that fighting words and filth should not be constantly printed in the newspaper–That is what they decided to report to you through me.

Aloha olua,
J. W. Kupakee, Committee.

(Kuokoa, 12/24/1864, p. 5)

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke III, Helu 52, Aoao 5. Dekemaba 24, 1864.