Last month, we posted articles about buttons produced for the funeral of Princess Kaiulani. JR kindly responded with an image of an example of one of these buttons! Here is the image sent, with the description: 3 15/16″ in diameter. Printed on the backside: “pin lock, patd. May 31, 98”
For the previous posts, click here:
Mourning of Princess Kaiulani, 1899.
and
More on Kaiulani buttons, 1899.
Kaiulani funerary button
1.
Hiaai, hiaai i ka nani la
O a’u Lehua i Hopoe la
Ke ona ia mai la e ka Iwi la
E ka manu hulu weo Olaa
——: Hui :——
Ninipo Hoonipo i ke aloha la
Ka wahine haa le-a a lewa i ke kai
Ka niniau ala i ke one la
I ke kai nupanupa i Haena
2.
Lou iki Panaewa i ka hala la
I ka lihi ka pilina a Moeawakea
Ke nihi ae la ka ua nihi makai la
O ka welelau noe kai io’u nei.
3.
Ike maka i ka nani o Puna la
Na lae uluhala o Kookoolau
Ke oni ae la molale i ke kai la
Na oho lau maewa luhe i ka wai.
4.
I Hilo no ka makani Puulena la
Lohe i ka ale a ke kai holuholu o Huia
Ua mau aku la o luna o Maukele la
I ka pakalikali a ka Malanai.
Composed by H. M. Q. L.
[The newspaper “Ka Oiaio” begins in 1889, but there are only a few issues found for that year, and for 1890, 1891, 1892, and 1893, there are none! Hopefully someone is holding on to copies of these years, because they can open up a whole new picture to that period in history!!
Talk about the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers to others. The more people talk, the more likely it will be that these lost issues might once again be found.]
(Oiaio, 8/10/1894, p. 4)
Ka Oiaio, Buke VI, Helu 32, Aoao 4. Augate 10, 1894.
Kapanookalani’s thoughts:—This land Honolulu, it is close to Nanawale, Puna, by the sea. It is a ku, a small land in between large lands.
The stone [pohaku] is Lord [Haku] of the chiefess and in this word, the important idea is chiefess [‘lii wahine].
Kahapula’s thoughts:—Honolulu is on Oahu, where King Kamehameha V dwelt and those who opposed him is the Honolulu in this first line of the mele. It was here his enemies schemed and carried out all their defiant acts against him. While they knew the wish of the King to marry the chiefess Pauahi, her teacher, Amos Cooke secretly agreed to Bishop for him to meet with Pauahi without the knowledge of her parents. That is how Pauahi became Bishop’s, and this is how Bishop and his relative Lee [? William Little Lee] became dignitaries of the land.
Kupihea’s thoughts:—Honolulu is a fish stone called a Kuula, and was brought here to this Honolulu [on Oahu] from the Honolulu of Puna [on Hawaii]. This Kuula was placed in the tiny land of Honolulu where an Alii called Honolulu lived, who was related to the chiefess Peleula, whose younger sister was the beautiful Waikiki. This place is mauka of the old Rawlin’s Estate. There is a bank of coral where Honolulu is; the fishing altar [Kuula] for the fish ponds [loko i’a] is on the Waikiki side of Liliha Street and between Vineyard and King Streets.
The stone is related to chiefs from times immemorial [mai ka po mai]. It is a manifestation made by God.
Iokepa’s thoughts:—Honolulu is a small land and a canoe landing makai of Nanawale, Puna, between two sand dunes, one on the Hilo side and one on the Puna side, called Puu Waawaa. From this Honolulu is called the Honolulu here [on Oahu] which used to be called Kou before, and after it was called Honolulu until this day.
This is the meaning for the word Honolulu:—The wind is very calm [lulu] an the sea is serene; it is very fine and peaceful. Bay [? Hono] of calm sea; Hono that is peaceful.
Kuluwaimaka’s thoughts:—The stone is related to Kamehameha V. Honolulu in Puna is a lowland next to the sea. Its width is perhaps half a mile long between Na Puu o Pele and Waiakahiula on the Hilo side. Honolulu is a place where you pick opihi [ku’i opihi] and pick limu [hana limu]. There is a fine spring [punawai] there and there is a foot path there.
[And to think that this is but the very beginning of Kelsey’s detailed account of the explanation of the six loea of the mele “Aia i Honolulu kuu pohaku.” This is just the first line! It continues in the following issues!!
One more (huge) reason that Hawaiian-Language Newspapers are priceless!!!]
(Alakai o Hawaii, 12/5/1929, p. 2)
Ke Alakai o Hawaii, Buke 1, Helu 32, Aoao 2. Dekemapa 5, 1929.
O Friends who chase after Ke Alakai o Hawaii, the mele, “Aia i Honolulu kuu pohaku,” is a mele of familiarity [mele hoolauna] composed by Luka Keelikolani when she was coming to here in Honolulu from Hilo to meet with King Kamehameha V.
From what is understood, it is believed that she composed this mele while she was in Hilo before her travelling to Oahu nei.
In this mele are hidden things dealing with the nation in the time of the alii Loka Kapuaiwa Kamakaiouli (Kamehameha V); the contention between the haole and the King, the deceit of the enemies of the King and their attempt to thwart the plans by the King and his court to make Pauahi his wife.
The Hale Hoonaauao Hawaii asks the native ones of the land, the old ones familiar with the history of King Kamehameha V, and the experts still living, to read with much pleasure the explanations of this mele as per what was obtained by the Hale Hoonaauao Hawaii from those native born of the land through the assistance of Theodore Kelsey.
The Hale Hoonaauao Hawaii will award a one-year subscription of the newspaper Ke Alakai o Hawaii to the one who sends the best letter with explanations on this mele. Send the letters to the office of Ke Alakai o Hawaii withing two weeks of the completion of the publishing of all that has been compiled.
Here is the mele and the explanations of the experts [loea] whose names are: Paulo Kealaikahiki Kapanookalani from whom we received this mele, Kahapula (Prof. Fred Beckley) who teaches at the University of Hawaii, Kawika Malo Kupihea who studied with the loea J. M. Poepoe for fifteen years. James Anania Iokepa who was born in Honomu, Hawaii, Rev. H. B. Nalimu who was born in Papaaloa, Hawaii in 1835, and J. P. Kuluwaimaka the skilled chanter [olohe oli] in the court of King Kalakaua.
[“Aia i Honolulu kuu pohaku” is perhaps the most widely studied mele i have seen, with line-by-line interpretations by experts of the day. It continues on for a number of issues of Alakai o Hawaii.
Does anyone have any details on the organization called Hale Hoonaauao Hawaii, or Hale Hoonaauao o Hawaii?]
(Alakai o Hawaii, 12/5/1929, p. 2)
Ke Alakai o Hawaii, Buke 1, Helu 32, Aoao 2. Dekemapa 5, 1929.
Share this site with people who you think might be interested, or even with people who might not be interested!
Got Nupepa?
1. Aia i Honolulu kuu pohaku
2. O Kealohilani kuu haku ia
3. Ua holo ka wela i na mokupuni
4. Ua puni hei au leo o ka manu
5. O a’u lehua i Mokaulele
6. Hooneenee mai e ka iliahi
7. Hoohanua mai la ka ua iuka
8. Aia ka pono ia Oniula
10. Ua malu ka honua ia Kalani
11. Kuu Haku i ka ehuehu kai olalo
12. I ahona Puna i ke ala o ka hala
13. Paa mai la Olaa i ka ua noe
14. Noho i ka ehuehu kai o Hilo
15. Kahiko Poliahu i ka hau anu
16. He manao paa ko’u a hiki aku
17. Ua lahui ia mai e iala
18. Hea aku no wau o mai oe
19. O Kamakaiouli kou inoa.
(Alakai o Hawaii, 12/5/1929, p. 2)
O Kaulilua i ke anu Waialeale e—a!
He maka halalo i ka lehua makanoe,
He lihilihi kuku ia no Aipo,
O ka huluaa ia o Hauailiki,
Ua pehia e ka ua a eha ka nahele,
Maui eha ka pua uwe i ke anu,
I ke kukula lehua wai o Mokiha—na—ea,
Ua hana ia’ku ka pono a ua pololei,
Ua hai ia’ku no ia oe,
O ke ola no ia o kiai loko e—a.
Kiai kaula nana i ka makani—e—a,
Hoolana o ka halulu a ka malua,
Kiei halo i Makaikiolea,
Ka mau ka ea i Kahalauaola,
O ke kula lima ia o Wawae noho,
Me he pukoa hakahaka la i Waahia,
Ka momoku a ka Unulau o Lehua e—a!
A lehulehu ka hale pono ka noho ana,
Loaa kou haawina e ke aloha,
Ke hauna mai nei ka puka o ka hale e—a;
[So many interesting things about this. The first and foremost perhaps is that this appears as part of an unusual kanikau for Alexander Liholiho Kamehameha IV in the form of a conversation between Kamehameha III (K III.) and himself (K IV.). Another is that if you hula, you probably learned this as a mele inoa for Kalakaua and not as one for Kamehameha IV. Does anyone know who it is that is labeled as (M.) in the conversation? Click here for a PDF of the issue with the rest of the piece on page 4.]
(Kuokoa, 1/23/1864, p. 4)
Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke III, Helu 4, Aoao 4. Ianuari 23, 1864.
[HAKU IA E KAMEHAOKALANI.]
1 Aia i Alakai ka anoi,
Na pua keu a ke aloha,
He aloha ka—ii—mau loa,
A no’u, no ia la kekahi.
Cho:—O ia la ka pua i poni ia,
I kukuni paa ia ka iini,
He iini kau na ka manao,
No halia hana mau i ke kino.
2 Kuu kino kai lono i ka leo,
I ke kani a ka manu o uka,
Ulu mai ka manao a nui,
Hoonua i ka lau laau.
Cho:—Au mai nei holu i ka wai,
Ma ke kihi hema o ka aina,
Aneane hoolale na manu,
Na kapuai kani o Ulili.
3 Ke nu mai nei ka makani,
Ke owe mai nei ka moana,
Ane hiki mai paha o Uwila,
Ke aiwaiwa o luna.
Cho:—Nana i kaomi na mano,
Hakukoi ka wai i na pali,
Puluelo ka liko o ka lehua,
Ua olu i ka ua ke hau.
[The mele in the newspapers need to be studied. Here, this one is credited to Kamehaokalani. Later on in 1897, in Edward C. Holstein’s “Ka Buke Mele o na Himeni Hawaii,” it is credited to Kamealoha. This book is available as a reprint from the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum.]
(Koo o Hawaii, 8/29/1883, p. 8)
Ke Koo o Hawaii, Buke 1, Helu 2, Aoao 8. Augate 29, 1883.
This is from an issue of “The Friend,” which includes a short biography in English of the ruling monarchs of Hawaii nei, written by S. C. Damon. As for this page of illustrations, they say:
The illustrations accompanying this number of the Friend we could wish were better executed. The plate was made in New York, from the best photographs we could procure in Honolulu. The original of Kamehameha 1st was executed in 1817 by a Russian artist, who accompanied Kotzebue in his voyage, and may be seen by referring to the third volume of his voyage. The original of Kamehameha 2d was executed in England in 1824, in the style of the dress of George 4th’s reign. We think those of Kamehameha 3d, 4th and 5th are very good, but not quite so good those of Lunalilo or His Majesty Kalakaua.
[For the biographies, find them here: The Friend, February 1, 1876.
Although it is clunky to maneuver, most of this series of news letters is available from the Mission Houses Museum here: The Friend.]
(Friend, 2/1/1876, pp. 9–13)
![[Monarchs]](https://nupepa-hawaii.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/friend_1_2_1876_13.png)
The Friend, New Series, Volume 25, Number 2, Page unnumbered. February 1, 1876.
After 3 o’clock in the afternoon of this Tuesday, the King, the Princes and Princesses, the dignitaries, and the makaainana sat at a long table housed by a pavilion with corrugated iron roofing [lanai pili hao], which could sit an estimated 600 to 900 people at a time. There was much Hawaiian foods supplied, like laulau [puaa hoolua] and roasted pork [puaa kalua kele]; fish wrapped in ti leaves and baked [lawalu] and raw [ai-maka]; baked beef [i’o pipi hoolua] and all types of poi spoken of.
The Governor of the “bays of Piilani”¹ as well as his government officials and Delegates, along with those of the island of Keawe.² These people sat along with their pastor, M. Makalua. They began eating after the prayer was over. The entourage of the King and Queen arrived and sat in their area, and they had their own pastor, J. Waiamau. Therefore, Maui was victorious over their hunger [?? Nolaila, ua eo no ia Maui ma ka houpo lewalewa].
The eating continued perhaps until 5 o’clock. A big problem was the dearth of waiters for the grand feast that was boasted about. Thanks to the small children of Kahehuna [School], there were those to serve the food for the feast.
HAWAIIAN HULA.
From 7 o’clock in the night, Hawaiian hula of five types commenced, that being olapa, kui, uli-uli, pa-ipu, kaka laau, and hula pahu.
When those of Waikiki kai danced their hula kui, the audience complained, and that hula was put to an end without ending properly.
During that joyful night, some youths were seen attempting to get the dancers to kiss their cheeks, and to [?? hoolele na ala] without any sign of shame.
We were deafened by all the improper talk of some of the things seen in that partying crowd that we will not agree to tell the nation.
¹The governor of Maui was John Owen Dominis.
²The governor of Hawaii was Virginia Kapooloku Poomaikelani
(Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, 11/27/1886, p. 4)
Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, Buke IX, Helu 48, Aoao 4. Novemaba 27, 1886.
