The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-09-01
Correspondence pac. Commercial AdvertIser.l
Hawaiian Smperstition.

The natives have many superstitious ideas still
clinging about them which the public never hear of.
But their superstitions are not, after all, more un-
reasonable than those of many European nations,
and not at all surprising when the very recent period
is remembered since when civilization first dawned
on the Sandwich Islands. Thirty or forty years is
surely short notice for a barbarous nation to divest
itself Of the traditional hobgoblins of centuries: and
we should not, therefore, be surprised to hear that
there is, among the more ignorant, a lingering reve-
renee and fear of the goddess Pele, about whose an
cient exploits they have SO copious an unwritten
history--more especially. as every year or two they
see before them the manifestations of her mysterious
power. Like every other superstitious people, the
Hawaiians have a good deal of respect for the sayings
and doings of 'sdaft'' folks-the harmlessly crazy.
This was exemplifed recently at the beach at wailoa,
where the eruption of Mauna Loa is running into the
sea. A crazy man from a neighboring hamlet took
up his residence alongside the lava stream, and for
weeks together, walked up and down with rapid
steps, talking loudly all the while to Pele. 1t seemed
as though he never rested, for wake Mt whatever hour
of the night you might, he was still jabbering away,
and his gaunt form was always to be seen fitting
about the burning rocks in the baleful glimmerinps
of volcanic light. No one ever knew him to eat, but
whatever he got in the shape of food, he carefully
preserved. and with much ceremony presented to the
goddess, expressing great satisfaction when the fiery
stream rolled over and consumed the fish and poi
which he had placed in its path. The natives
gathered about him in crowds, some-the younger,
and more travelled, jeering at him-hut here and
there was one who looked upon him with reverence
as an inspired priest of Pele. This feeling, combined
with the natural awe inspired by the wonderful
scene, had such an effect on some few, that I am
credibly informed they sacrificed pigs. sugar cane.
bananas, etc., to the spirit of the volcano. 1t was
not, however, done openly, but slyly. with every at
tempt at concealment. 1 heard at Kailua, a deacon
speak of it in church. As a fact which he was ashamed
to have to acknowledge.
In the old times, before the abolition of ido,atry.
the common people were liable at any moment to be
knocked down and dragged off to be sacrificed to the
gods. But whenever a new heiau, or beathen temple
was to be consecrated, some one was sure to disap-
pear neutrality-suspicious. a child or youth, and
the only explanation found was that they had been
taken by the .Mu. as the executioner of the priests
was called. Strang ely enough, the simple natives of
to-day. ignoring in this respect the traditions of their
anccstors-or. it may be. arguing from them-have
fixed this custom on the foreigners. and firmly believe
that whenever a new church is built a human being
is sacrificed Without this, they say, the pule,-.he
worship,-will be ineficacious. They say that when
the Odd Fellows Hall was built at Honolulu. a native
woman disappeared from Pauoa Valley, and has
never been heard of since. Here in Kona. the
foreigners have been building a church, and here,
too. y mysterious disappearance is believed to have
occurred, the deceased "a -woman-having appeared
to her husband in a dream, and related the circum-
stances of her abduction and immolation by the
foreign .Mu- One OF our residents. who is . physi-
clans and q very benevolent. kind gentleman,
enJpysthe dreadful distinction of being our MA. and
lafeay on his arrival at q village . few>niles from
bora whittier he had gone on business. Tie Aeus v,s
spread Of his counting md The Nhole population. men,
women Al chndrs1s 5aeoqtinenkly 1lopea ~ M