This is an independent blog. Please note that I am nowhere near fluent, and that these are not translations, but merely works in progress. Please do comment if you come across misreads or anything else you think is important.
Just another place that posts random articles from the Hawaiian Newspapers! It would be awesome if this should become a space where open discussions happen on all topics written about in those papers!! And please note that these are definitely not polished translations, but are just drafts!!!
[This blog is not affiliated with any organization and receives no funding. Statements made here should in now way be seen as a reflection on other organizations or people. All errors in interpretation are my own.]
The writer of this American newspaper strongly stated, “Should Stevens (American Consul) and Wiltse (Captain of the Boston), be hanged from a Coconut tree by the Hawaiians, it is not clear if this Nation can lawfully demand payment for the damages of that action.” This is a great statement full of importance, and it would appear as if extreme anger has entered deep into the heart has taken seat deep in the heart of the writer pertaining to the overthrow of the nation here in Hawaii nei, and that is the reason he is able to speak in that way. As for us, we are not a people of rioters–there is one important thing, that is our maintaining the peace.
[Has anyone seen the article being referred to here?]
(Hawaii Holomua, 2/24/1893, p. 3)
Hawaii Holomua, Buke III, Helu 168, Aoao 3. Feberuari 24, 1893.
The sum of the people’s money spent to build Aliiolani Hale as well as for purchasing parcels of land for its foundation, reached $135,000! The losses from the Hawaiian Hotel and its foundation was $116,000. But if the two sums of money were added together, it would not be close to the expenses for the building of the new palace, which is known to be much greater than $300,000. We believe that there was fraud and unfair practices that went into the building of this new palace.
We would like our solon and the magi of this legislative session to properly investigate where the people’s money was spent aimlessly in this endeavor.
(Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, 5/6/1882, p. 2)
Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, Buke V, Helu 18, Aoao 2. Mei 6, 1882.
That Hawaiian Hotel, the building and grounds, which costed the government $116,000 which was squandered by a number of Ministers of King Kamehameha V. It stands in front of our eyes this day, a reminder of wasted money of the lahui. Its lease for the year is not enough to cover the interest of 30,000, and the government is losing 7,500 every year, and so forth everyday that the government remains the owner of the hotel which Chief Lunalilo has called, “the 116,000 devil.”
A new newspaper called, Ka Leialii o Hawaii was raised from the grave of the Nupepa Elele which died from lack of greenery needed to survive. A writer of that Leialii says because of the very little salary of the boys of the Pacific Commercial Advertiser Press [Halepai Kalepa] that they are hungry. This is not true because the PCA Press is paying its Hawaiian typesetters high wages from eight to twenty-five dollars a week. The Leialii cannot pay such high wages. Therefore what this writer speaks of is a big lie!
Here are some things translated from the writings of Francisco de Paula Marin [Manini], the Spanish haole who died the previous year. The writing was done in Spanish, and they were translated by Mr. Charles R. Smith [Mi. Kale R. Semita].
1814, Oct. 26, until Nov. 19, there was a kapu, and a feast for the Makahiki.
1819, Nov. 6, The word of the King, Liholiho, that the men and women would eat freely. The women ate pig, and other foods that were kapu to them previously; the heiau were burned down. It was the end of idolatry [hoomanakii].
1811, Oct. 9, Kaahumanu I was married to Kaumualii, the King of Kauai, at Honolulu.
1825, Sep. 27. There was a great noise heard in Honolulu, like the sound of canons; there were a lot of rocks which rained down upon the town.
Ke Kumu Hawaii newspaper asks the kamaaina, the ones who witnessed the falling of these rocks, and the sound of it [falling]. What was this like? Write to us how it sounded to you and how this amazing thing appeared to you.
Here is another thing that was clear through those writings of Manini. November is the month that there is much rain every year, and that is the month when there is much sickness. From the month of November to February there is much sickness; but some years, the sicknesses go on, along with fever, and also vomiting blood. Cold and heat, they are the same as many years before, as well as recent years. If it is a hot day, the mercury rises in the thermometer to 84° to 86° indoors; it does not go above 86°. There is much lightning and thunder some years, and in others there is none.
On Monday of this week, the Alii, the Queen went to where the amazing talking gourd, the ponogarapa was being shown to listen to the speaking of the Hawaiian Consul in New York with his own voice to the Queen from this talking gourd in English, thus:
I ka Moiwahine Liliuokalani o Ko Hawaii Pae Aina:–E oluolu e lawe aku i ko’u mau hoomaikai ma o ka hookomoia ana aku o ka ponogarapa a Edisona iloko o ke aupuni o Hawaii. E oluolu e hoomau ia ko ka Moiwahine ola maikai, a o kou lahui hoi me na manao maikai i ko makou lahui.
Owau iho no o kau kauwa hoolohe, Elliah H. Allen, Kanikela Nui o Hawaii.
To Her Majesty Liliuokalani of the Hawaiian Islands:–Please to accept my congratulations on the introduction of Edison’s phonograph into the Kingdom of Hawaii. Please Your Majesty to continue to enjoy excellent health, and your people the good will of our nation.
I have the honor to be your most obedient servant, Elliah H. Allen, Consul-General of Hawaii.
On that very same day, the Queen spoke into that talking gourd, thus:
Owau keia o Liliuokalani:–
O keia la 16 o Novemaba, M. H. 1891 ka la hanau o ka Moi Kalakaua. Ua haawi mai o Mr. Stoeckle i kona lokomaikai piha e ae ia’u a me ka’u mau hoahele e ae, a me na Keikialii Kawananakoa a me Kalanianaole, a me na lede a me na keonimana e ae e hoolohe i na mea maikai e puka mai ana mai keia ponogarapa (phonograph) mai. He la keia e hoopoina ole ia ai iloko o na puuwai o na Hawaii ponoia a pau. He la keia e hoopiha ana i na puuwai o na mea a pau i ke aloha no ko lakou Moi Kalakaua i hala. Aole e pau ana ko makou hoomanao ana i na mea i lohe ia mai keia ponogarapa mai. Ua oi aku ka nani o keia mea maikai mamua o ka makou i lohe ai mamua,–ka moakaka o na olelo oloko a me na manao maikai i hoopuka ia e Hon. Mr. Allen o Nu Ioka. Pela i hoike ia ai ka maikai o keia mekini. Aloha oukou.
I am Liliuokalani:–
Today, the 16th day of November, A. D. 1891, is the birthday anniversary of King Kalakaua. Mr. Stoekle has kindly extended a most courteous invitation to myself and my companions; also the Princes Kawananakoa and Kalanianaole, and several ladies and gentlemen, to listen to the delightful things coming from this phonograph. Every true Hawaiian can never forget the memory of this day. This is a day that will produce in the hearts of all a deep aloha for Kalakaua, their late beloved sovereign. We shall long remember what we have heard from this phonograph today. This wonderful instrument excels in clearness to what we have heard before. The words and the kindly expressions of Hon. Mr. Allen of New York are produced with perfect distinctness. Such are the delightful qualities possessed by this machine. Aloha oukou.
I came from the countryside, and stayed a for a bit in Honolulu. I witnessed some things that are not right:
Pigs should not travel in droves on the streets of town.
People should not raise so many dogs. You hardly can walk on the streets without being bitten. It is almost impossible to sleep at night because of the chattering dogs. The town is close to facing a famine because much of the food goes to the dogs.
This is another thing I witnessed that was not right, the leaving of dead animals on the streets. It is better to bury them. [If not] maybe and epidemic will develop.
And another thing, springs should not be left open where people walk.
Kawaiahao Church and the cemetery should not be left so it becomes a place where pigs live. Where are you O Friends of those buried there? It would seem that you would get together and rebuild the wall that has fallen and is left gaping.
(Hae Hawaii, 9/3/1856, p. 107)
Ka Hae Hawaii, Buke 1, Helu 27, Aoao 107. Sepetemaba 3, 1856.
One day when Pele was in her home in the pit, she heard a rumbling. She took the regular attire of women and stood atop of a hill to look, and she saw a chief gliding upon his holua sled, down a cliff, and when he arrived at the bottom of the cliff, that was when the people cheered.
When the chief arrived up where Pele stood, on top of the cliff, she told him, “I will take the challenge to sled with you.”
Kahawali turned and replied, “Let’s go.”
When the incline of the cliff was right, Kahawali came out in front of her. The heat of anger of that woman of the pit rose, but she did not speak. That wondrous one imagined that Kahawali’s holua was faster than hers. When Kahawali reached the top of the cliff, Pele asked him to give his holua to her to try out.
He spoke sassily to Pele. “You think that you are a woman that can ask me for my holua and go gliding down the cliff?”
The frightening anger of that wondrous one quickly escalated and she stomped and there appeared an earthquake that cleaved the cliff in two, while thunder clapped and fire blazed on this side of him and that. When the crowd was watching, it appeared as if Kahawali was racing with the flowing fires of the lava, and they were filled with fright, and were filled with fear for the life of Kahawali.
When he reached the base of the cliff, and he looked and saw this woman coming down within lava. Here comes Pele, here comes Pele. And he ran with all his might to where his canoe was floating, and he got in, and he was chased by the river of lava and he sailed out to sea. The water began to boil and he was nearly caught and turned into volcanic rock.
Kahawali sailed on and he was saved, but he did not dare to return to Hawaii and stay near Pele.
(Alakai o Hawaii, 1/16/1930, p. 3)
Ke Alakai o Hawaii, Buke 2, Helu 38, Aoao 3. Ianuari 16, 1930.
nupepa 