Just as we announced in last week’s issue of our paper, that there would be a funeral for the Minister of Foreign Affairs [Kuhina o ko na Aina e], it was indeed carried out. After the night prayer [pule poeleele] of the Anglican Church [Halepule Hoomana Enelani] was over, the body of R. C. Wyllie was taken from his residence at Nuuanu to the Church at Peleula, where it was left until the funeral procession to his permanent home, that being on a following day.
When the sun reached its heights, the military boys were seen crowded together in the grounds of the Palace. The Cavalry [Puali Koa Kaua Lio] under Captain C. H. Judd, the Artillery Division [? Koa Pukaa] under Captain J. H. Brown, the regular soldiers [? Koa ku mau] under Captain Kahoohuli, the Hulumanu Division [Koa Hulumanu] under Captain J. M. Kapena, the Rifle Squad [Koa Raifela] under Captain Hassinger. From the Palace, they moved on to the Church, and there many people of all sorts who waited with great hope that they would take part in the procession taking him to be left in peace where we all must go with no delay when fetched by the heartless ruler of the pit.
After the prayer for him was over, a procession was organized by the Marshall for the day, John O. Dominis, and the procession marched quietly to the Royal Cemetery at Maunaala. Most of the businesses were closed that day, and everyone went to watch the funeral procession; the sides of the streets were filled with men, women, and children. When the remains entered the Cemetery, and right after, the troops and the artillery division sounded their guns for him. However before his funeral, the Fort at Puowaina shot off minute guns until he was at the Cemetery.
It was as if while the group of onlookers watched him being taken away, all of the people were were reeling with painful sorrow in their hearts. Who would not be without aloha, for he lived until well known in the calm of Hauola, and should he have had a partner, he would have had many grandchildren, but he lived alone and did not multiply in the uplands of Kawananakoa. He has gone, but has left a Monument for himself, not in the city, or on the side of the streets of our town, but on the sides of the history of our Nation, and in the hearts of this generation, and all of the generations to come. When he entered the Tomb, the crowd scattered and went back with a heavy heart.
After the sun returned to the surface of the sea, another funeral was readied, and that funeral to move to a new place our
Alii’s Remains,
and here are their names below, as is written on their coffins:
(1) Jane Lahilahi Kaeo, Died Jan 12, 1862, Aged 50 years.
(2) T. C. Byde Rooke, F. R. C. S. Born May 18, 1806, Died May 28, 1858.
(3) Keoni Ana, Born on the 12th of March, 1810, Died July 18, 1857.
(4) B. Namakeha, Died 27 Dec. 1860, At 52 years of age.
(5) John William Pitt Kinau, Born Dec. 27, 1842, Died on the 9th of Sept. 1857.
(6) Elisabeta Kaahumanu, Born 1793, Died 1842.
(7) Kamehameha 2d, Elii no nahina o Awhai, Make i Pelekani 28 Makaiki Kaiku, I ke mahoe mua o Kamakaiki 1824, Aloha ino no komako Elii Iolani.
Kamehameha 2nd King of the Sandwich Islands, Died July 14th, 1824, In London, in the 28th year of his age, May we remember our beloved King Iolani.
(8) Kamehamalu Elii no na aina o awahi, Make i Pelekani, 22 ma Raiki Teitu, London 8 Re mahoe o Re ma Raiki 1824.
Tamehamalu, Queen of the Sandwich Islands, Departed this life in London on the 8 July 1824, Aged 22 years.
(9) Kaahumanu II died Apr. 4, 1839 in Her 33rd Year.
(10) In this casket is the daughter [? son] of Kamehameha III, Keaweaweulaokalani; there is nothing inscribed on the casket.
(11) Kamehameha III, born on the 17th of March 1813, Died 15th December 1854, He reigned for 29 years.
(12) His Highness, Albert Edward Kauikeaouli, Leiopapa a Kamehameha, Haku o Hawaii, Born on the 27th of May, 1858, died on the 27th of August, 1862. Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of God.
(13) Alexander Kalanikua Liholiho, Iolani Maka o Iouli Kunuiakea, Kukailimoku, Kamehameha IV, King of the Hawaiian Islands. Born Feberuary 9, 1834, succeeded to the Throne, December 15, 1854. Died November 30, 1863.
(14) Mose Kekuaiwa, Born July 20, 1829, Died November 29, 1848.
(15) Davida Tamehameha, Born on May 20, 1828, Died December 15, 1835. He was 7 years, 6 months, and 16 days old.
(16) Leleiohoku, Born March 21, 1821, Died October 21, 1848.
(17) A. Paki, Born Aug. 1808, Died June 13th, 1855.
(18) L. Konia, Wife of A. Paki, Born 1808, Died July 2nd, 1857.
(19) Keolaokalani Paki Bishop, Born Dec. 30, 1862, Died Aug. 29, 1863.
(20) Kamanele, Died May 7, 1831, at 19 Years of Age.
(21) Liloa and Lonoikamakahiki.
When the stifling rays of the sun left, and when the dim moon shown over the peaceful town, the torches glowed red, lighting up the bones of the Alii as they were carried on palanquins [manele], to lie and be placed in the new building made with fine craftsmanship for their physical remains, for they returned to the eternal home of this life, death snatching without compassion, and dragged them off without a cry [?? ke ka-ua aku] being heard.
Death, according to one poet, is something terribly frightening. This is true; we understand that death is something very awesome, because it is not known where it will come, from the lowly hovel to perhaps at the door of the Palace.
“Ka ilihune, ka poe waiwai,
Ka poe kiekie, a me ka poe haahaa,
Na ka make e hoiliwai like ia lakou.”
[“The poor, the rich,
The high, and the low,
Death makes them all equal.”]
Death is something regular, everyday we hear the ringing of the funerary bells, and we always are witness to the funerary processions cloaked in mourning clothes, following after their friends to his resting place—the grave. As these people are taken away, we look—and each of them go to our occupations in this life; some look for their fortune, while other for fame, and glory. But when are Alii are taken away, trapped by the tireless hands of death, we all unassumingly consider, looking back upon the history of his life, and weigh.
“Ina ua kupono ia no ka lani i ka lani,
Ina aole ia i kupono nolaila, i Gehena.”
[“If befitting for heaven, then to heaven,
If not befitting for there, then to hell.”]
[See more on the Nanea Armstrong-Wassel’s instagram post here.]
(Au Okoa, 11/6/1865, p. 2)
Ke Au Okoa, Buke I, Helu 29, Aoao 2. Novemaba 6, 1865.
nupepa 