Translations of Manini, Francisco de Paula Marin, 1838.

SOME OLD THINGS.

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.

(Kumu Hawaii, 12/5/1838, p. 55)

Ke Kumu Hawaii, Buke 4, Pepa 14, Aoao 55. Dekemaba 5, 1838
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Kamehameha II and Kamamalu return aboard the British ship Blonde on May 4, 1825.

Remembrances.

On the 22nd of May in the year 1824, King Liholiho and his attendants landed in Portsmouth, England. On the 26th [of May] of that same year, Kaumualii, the King of Kauai, died at Honolulu, and Lahaina is where he was buried. Continue reading

Letter pertaining to plight of William Kanui, 1863.

Pertaining to  William Tennoee [William Tenoee] Alias Kanui.

We heard from Rev. S. C. Damon, the Pastor at the Bethel Church [ka Halepule Betela] at Polelewa, Honolulu, that he received a letter from San Francisco, pertaining to the old Hawaiian that is living in that city, that being the one named above, and he is living there in severe poverty and in difficulty. Kanui has been living in foreign lands since a long time ago, perhaps more than fifty years. Continue reading

Kaumualii and Kaahumanu seek out Nihoa, 1868.

[Found under: “KA MOOLELO O NA KAMEHAMEHA.”]

Kaumualii built several large houses for Kaahumanu at Papaenaena. When Kaahumanu was staying on Kauai. A great desire grew within her to search for Nihoa, a land that was not known to the new generations. But Nihoa was found in the stories and the mele of the ole people. When Kaahumanu heard the chant of Kaweloamahunaalii. Continue reading

The death of Jonah Piikoi and his autobiography, 1859.

The death of J. Piikoi.

On the 26th of April, the Honorable J. Piikoi, one of the alii of this Hawaiian archipelago died. He was a much admired man for his competence and his determination in the duties given to him. He was 55 years old, and the sickness he died of was of quick pulse [? aalele nui], and problems with his blood flow, and he died.

Before the death of Piikoi, he prepared a story of his life, from his birth until the day he wrote it, that being the 7th of April. This is it below:

The Autobiography of J. Piikoi

I was born in the month of Ikuwa, that being January, in the year of the Lord 1804.

I was born in Waimea, Kauai, and that was where I was raised until the first Liholiho landed on Kauai on the 22nd of the month of  July, 1821. Continue reading

On Kalaipahoa, 1931.

POISON GOD BURNED

Hilo, Hawaii, July 6, 1931.

Editor, The Star-Bulletin.

Sir: In your issue of July 4, 1931, there appears a picture of an old Hawaiian wooden idol  under which it was stated that it was believed to be the poison-god Kalaipahoa. Continue reading

Population decline, 1835.

ON THE DECLINE IN POPULATION.

Waioli, Kauai, 1835.

I read the Kumu Hawaii, pepa 18, on page 140, and I thought, while we are in the midst of life, we live in the midst of death. Our friends die on our right hand, and on our left. Death is victorious over children, and elderly; over the young, and the aged. Strength cannot ward it off; it cannot be escaped through wealth nor skill. Continue reading

Kaumualii’s mahiole fetches a mere $120 at auction, 1873.

[Found under: “NU HOU KULOKO.”]

Antiquities of Hawaii nei.—At 10 o’clock in the morning of this past Saturday, Mar. 8, the valuables of old Hawaii which were advertised earlier were auctioned off by E. P. Adams. The house was filled with all sorts of people, and some objects went for high bids. The feather mahiole of Kaumualii went for the price of $120. This headdress went for a very low price; it is believed that never again will there be available a mahiole of that kind. The care given to all of the objects by the mother who has passed [Mrs. Whitney] was very good.

(Kuokoa, 3/22/1873, p. 3)

Na mea kahiko o Hawaii nei...

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XII, Helu 12, Aoao 3. Maraki 22, 1873.

On Kaumualii and Kaahumanu, 1880.

[From: “Ka Moolelo o Kaahumanu”]

Kaahumanu was one of them who made a circuit of Maui, Oahu, and Kauai with Liholiho. When Kaahumanu arrived on Kauai, she took Kaumualii, the alii of Kauai, as a kane [husband] for herself. When Liholiho returned to Oahu, it was with Haakulou, the woman of Kaumualii; because Liholiho took Haakulou as a wahine [wife] for himself, along with his other wahine.

Kaahumanu lived on Kauai along with Kaumualii in the year 1822. Perhaps in the month of August.

Kaahumanu wanted to seek out Nihoa. It was the very first time that Nihoa was found, that tiny island to the North-West of Niihau. Continue reading