After not being paid attention to for many years, that old house of Levi Chamberlain [Levi Kamalena] in the old missionary lot at the corner of King and Kawaiahao, was spruced up and it is beautiful to see today as it looked when it was first built; it is supplied with office furnishings in preparation of bringing back some old relics of the missionary teachers there. Continue reading
Personal.—The venerable Judge Andrews took passage in the last steamer for Maui, where he has gone to visit some of the ancient battle-fields, Continue reading
Hawaiian Kaaos and Meles.—In the native papers published in Honolulu, there frequently appear old compositions by the native poets and historians, which would be highly interesting if translated. the late Judge Andrews, the the preface to his “Dictionary of the Hawaiian Language,” says, Continue reading
History of Kamehameha.—A communication from Mr. Kamakau, the author of the History of Kamehameha, now in the course of publication in the Kuokoa, will be found in our columns. Continue reading
The early history of all nations without a literature, is necessarily traditionary. That of the Hawaiians, previous to the advent of the missionaries, is of course derivable from the traditions handed down from father to son, of those families immediately attendant upon the chiefs, known by the term of kahus—literally, body attendants. These body servants constituted a class of themselves, and it was their province not only to wait on the chiefs personally, but to carefully commit to memory and to transmit to their successors, everything connected with the birth and lineage of their lords—quite after the style of the bards and harpers of olden times in Britain. Continue reading
We are thrilled to hear that the Hawaiian Language Manual being assembled by the esteemed L. Andrews [ka mea Mahaloia L. Aneru]. It is a Book that explains the essence of words, like the haole; only the letter P remains, and then it is finished. There was a great resolution by the Legislature to set aside funds for this endeavor; but not a penny has been given by the Government Treasury. It can be made ready for printing should there be a skilled Hawaiian, and if there is not, it will take about three months before it can be printed. And now, there are many haole who want to know the Hawaiian language; and so too of the Hawaiians, they want to know English; therefore, we believe that it is appropriate that the money is spent on this. Continue reading
Because of the brave and fearless rescue carried out by Duke P. Kahanamoku, the famous swimming champion of the world, just recently at Newport, California, in saving the lives of eight people from death, he was sent a gift of a medal to honor him, last Wednesday with a letter from Governor Farrington.
The news of this rescue carried out by Duke P. Kahanamoku arrived in this town, therefore, some people of Honolulu donated a sum of money to purchase a medal to present to him.
This presentation medal was sent along with a letter from the governor to Lorrin Andrews, living in Los Angeles, as the president of the Hawaiian Club of South California [Kalapu Hawaii ma Kalepooni Hema], and from that club the gift will be given to Mr. Kahanamoku.
[I noticed today’s post by Bishop Museum announcing their upcoming exhibit on this hero, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku!]
(Kuokoa, 8/27/1925, p. 4)
Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LXIV, Helu 35, Aoao 4. Augate 27, 1925.
Hawaiian Dictionary of Andrews [Anaru].—We were told that this book will be completed next week; one section will be from Hawaiian to English, and the another section from English to Hawaiian, and at the very end is placed a timeline of famous events. This work by Andrews will stand as a monument to him for all times, with generations to come. The book is dedicated to the haole of Honolulu nei, and to the Hawaiians as well.
[This dictionary is indeed useful today, 150 years later! The alphabetization is not done ABC, but AEIOUHKLMNPWBDFGJRSTVZ. Check it out here online at Google Books.]
(Au Okoa, 4/24/1865, p. 2)
Ke Au Okoa, Buke I, Helu 1, Aoao 2. Aperila 24, 1865.
Gabriel K. Keawehaku.
After being ill for the past many months, Gabriel K. Keawehaku left this life at 9 a. m. on the 4th of this month, just outside of his home in Kaimuki, and in the afternoon of the following 5th, his remains were put to rest at the Kaimuki cemetery.
He was given birth to by his parents, Keawehaku (m) and Olaola (f), on the 31st of the month of May, 1867, here in Honolulu, and when he grew weary of this life, he was 54 years old, plus 7 months and 4 days.
He was educated in Honolulu nei during his childhood; he was a kamaaina of this town, performing many jobs, and it was the illness that came upon him that made him give up his different jobs.
He first was employed in his youth in the Metropolitan Meat Market of Waller [Wala] and company. During the monarchy, he lived with King Kalakaua, in the king’s private guards for six years. He served as the customs inspector when the government was transferred under America, being sent to Hilo, and he was customs inspector there for five years. Continue reading
It is a great pity that David Malo, the Hawaiian Historian and Antiquarian, did not preserve in his “Moolelo Hawaii” or Hawaiian Antiquities, some account on Ancient Hawaiian Astronomy. S. M. Kamakau, a contemporary of David Malo, and also a writer on the Ancient History of Hawaii nei, is little better off, about this matter than his colleague. He wrote an article on “Instructions in Ancient Hawaiian Astronomy” and was published in the Nupepa Kuokoa of Aug. 5th, 1865. It was translated into English by Prof. W. D. Alexander for Maile Wreath (Lei Maile), and was republished by Mr. Thos. G. Thrum, in his “Hawaiian Annual” for 1890.
In the year 1885, we found in the monthly newspaper, “Ka Hoku o ke Kai,” that subject was treated again, only to last a very short time. And about twelve or thirteen years ago we again found certain very valuable statements pertaining to the Ancient History of Hawaii by Kanalu, said to be the priestly ancestor of the priesthood or order of Kanalu.
We saw in “The Journal of the Polynesian Society,” Vol. XVI, No. 2, an article on “Tahitian Astronomy” by Miss Teuira Henry. It treats the “Birth of the Heavenly Bodies.” It is very interesting.
In order to preserve these accounts relating to Hawaiian Astronomy, we give our English translation here, starting first from the account in Ka Hoku o ke Kai (1885).
In ancient times, the class of people studying the positions of the moon, the rising and setting of certain fixed stars and constellations, and also of the sun, are called the kilo-hoku or astrologers. Their observations of these heavenly bodies might well be called the study of astronomy. The use of astrology anciently, was to predict certain events of fortunes and misfortunes, victory or defeat of a battle, death of king or queen, or any high chief; it also foretells of pestilence, famine, fine or stormy weather and so forth.
The old Hawaiians knew some names of certain planets and several constellations. The names of planets are somewhat slightly different in corresponding English names, rendered by Andrews, Alexander and the late Dr. Bishop.
| HAW. NAMES OF PLANETS | ANDREWS. | ALEXANDER. | BISHOP. | |
| 1 | Ukali | Mercury | Mercury | Mercury |
| 2 | Hokuao | |||
| Hokuloa | Venus | Venus | Venus | |
| Mananalo | ||||
| 3 | Holoholopinaau | Mars | Saturn | Mars |
| 4 | Kaawela | Venus (an evening star) | Jupiter | Jupiter |
| 5 | Naholoholo | Saturn | (See No. 3) | Saturn |
The Hawaiian name for Mars according to Prof. Alexander is Hokuula (red star). In the newspaper “Ka Hoku o ka Pakipika,” published about the year 1860, the name for the planet Saturn was Makalii, Kauopae for Jupiter and Polowehilani for Mars.
(To be Continued)
(Kuokoa Home Rula, 4/2/1909, p. 2)
Kuokoa Home Rula, Buke VII, Helu 14, Aoao 2. Aperila 2, 1909.
nupepa 