The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-12-16

They ARE PASSING AwAY.-Soms days since. We
noticed . native funeral procession, which is quite
worthy of remark. Six collins. containing the bodies
of nearly a whole family, were at one time taken to
the cemetery Of the Stone Church, at Kawaiahao, for
interment. First came the hearse, with the remains
of the late ]. Kekaulahao, who at the time OF ms
death. several years ago, was q Member Of the House
Of Mobiles and Circuit Judge for the District Of Homo
lulu. Next was an OF cart, containing the cotins OF
the following persons: a son Of Kekaulahao; q young
brother of his; q sister, the deceased wife of J. kape-
ma, present Circuit Judge; ]. Kalili, former Circuit
Judge at Koolau, and cousin to Kekaulahao; and
last, A. kama, the father of Kekaalahao. On top of
the cart sat Mr.. Kapena, and following was a long
procession of natives, men and women, very respecta-
bly,, aud some richly dressed in black. Arrived at
the cemetery, all six collins were placed in one grave.
which was first lined with mats, coarse ones first. and
next to the collins a fine Niihau mat. Kaina's shoes
were than carefully placed at his feet, and. after the
usual ceremonies, the whole were covered up. First
was carefully spread q fine black silk kihei, or shawl;
then a 6ne Niihau mat; next and last, several coarser
mats; after which the earth was filed in, and the
funeral was over.
kama, one of the above deceased, was known for
years as one of our most expert coasting captains An
anecdote is told of him by a resident, which will bear
repeating. Most of our readers will remember that
old m%ill-pond steamer, the .dkamai, which ran as a
coaster among our islands, and the narrow escape she
had in the winter of 1854 1--WE believe) when she came
near being lost. She left Lahaina for this port,
deeply laden with freight and passengers, among
whom were the late Judge Lee and his lady, and
Mr.. Armstrong. 1t was a terrific Kona storm, such
as we have never had since, and the angry waves
would continually sweep over the decks of the boat,
causing her to strain and labor to such a degree that
scarcely one on board hoped to reach land in safety.
In passing Coco Head she barely escaped the break
ers under her Ice, and though it was then A o'clock,
P. NJ, with q dark and fearful night before him,
with the usual supply of fuel nearly exhausted,
Capt. Lighthall still headed for Honolulu. 1t was
between 9 and 10 O'Clock that the little steamer ar
chances of safely entering it were very small. 1t was
here that Kaina's skill as a pilot was shown. Stand
ing on the bow Of the steamer and leaning his head
over the rail, he listened closely to the deafening roar
of the surf, for it was only by the interruption Of the
breakers that the entrance could possibly be indicated.
Every passenger felt that his life rested on the skill
of the old sailor, for the entrance once missed, there
was no hope for the steamer and her freight of lives.
kama himself felt the responsibility that for the mo-
ment rested on him. When he found himself oppo-
site to where the surf appeared to break less, he or
dered the helm to starboard, and as the steamer
passed close by the spar buoy, the thrill of Joy that
caught the old man and from him went to every per-
son on board, win never be forgotten by them. With
out him the chances were that the .4kamai would
have been lost.