The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-11-03
The mn 1n-urrec.ion on Hawaii.

The people of Kau, the most southern district
of Hawaii, and the remotest from the seat of gov
eminent, have always been noted as unruly
characters, and holding 6 6 the powers that be- in
rather slight consideration. Our readers will
remember that we alluded some weeks ago to an
insurrectionary movement ON that island, in
which the inhabitants of Kau resisted the tax as
SCISSORS. Our attentive correspondent in Kona
furnishes some interesting facts in regard to thi:
affair, and of the rebellious character of the Kau
people, who appear to retain more of the chival
nv of their ancestors than their enlightened
brethren on the other islands. Many stories are
told of their rebellions against the %exactions of
the chiefs in old times. On one occasion during
the life of John Adams Kuakini, when Governor
of Hawaii. they chased one of his tax collectors
all the way into Roma, he running for his life.
Coming to Kailua, they went to the Governor,
and boldly told him not to send any m ore such
men to Kau or they should kill them. The
story goes that Kuakini was amused at their
temerity, and sent them off satisfied.
The recent disturbances in that district on the
occasion of the assessment of taxes under the new
law, which have resulted in the conviction and
sentence Of some twenty of the ringleaders, was
rather a more serious affair than was supposed.
Though no doubt the people were exasperated by
the iniudicious conduct of the Assessors in putting
on imperious airs, disdaining to talk Hawaiian,
and searching closely in their enumeration, yet
they had fully made up their minds, long before,
to resist the enforcement of the law. Two weeks
before the Assessors commenced their labors, the
district had been thoroughly canvassed by the
ringleaders, and the people persuaded, and in
some instances intimidated, by threats of house
burning, to join in the rebellion. And the in
tention was, to all intents and purposes. to raise
a rebellion against the government of the present
King. to throw off all allegiance, and to pro-
claim Kinau as King Such was the programme,
as boldly proclaimed, and their lack of a leader
of chief blood was the only thing that prevented
the affair from assuming serious proportions, and
involving the loss of life.
As it was, they were prepared to do mischief,
and but for the prudent conduct of Laanui, the
Deputy Sheriff, blood would no doubt have been
shed. In the height of the riot, while several
hundred people were assembled around with
sticks, knives and poi-beaters, Mr.. Laanui re-
ceived an order from the District Justice, to pro-
coed to the spot, order the crowd to disperse and
arrest the ring-leaders, suggesting at the same
time tnat he take AL tut COHStiDltS lOF Tile puT-
pose. Had he done SO, a collision would newt
ably have resulted with some broken heads and a
defeat of the police The Sheriff, however, with
creditable Judgment went alone to the spot, and
rode in amongst the crowd unarmed. They
seemed surprised at his temerity, and after listen
ing to the order to dispense, the ringleaders were
induced to talk the matter over quietly, and the
people went home. The next day the arrests
were made, and the trial and conviction of the
ring-leaders took place at Hilo. at the last term
Of the court.
The story goes, that q sort of injustice has
been the result of the trial, though it is not clear
what truth there may be in it. 1t is said that
those actively concerned in the riot, were fined
only $40 each on account of their having plead
guilty to the Indictment, while those who merely
went to look on, and who pleaded s not guilty"
were sentenced to three years each. The Kno-
oinas, though ~livingremote from the seat Of gov
ernment, will however learn BY tie result Of this
attempt 70 oppose its authority. hat th1hn Of
TIL, rxcHn8c6ch into thezxe0efe diejEict q Kao.