The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-09-19
Letter from Mr.. N mn Ian a..
Literary Gentlemen and Friends an Ha-
,r1ii and sIxs,rbsrs.

JSHGH Literary Genaeaea and Friends in Ha-
pdii and sissrhere:
A certain person, styling himself in the GGsetts,
a Hawaiian" and whom I judge 10 be the same
who signs himself in the .7u Okod R Kapihe,.' and
who, moreover, 1 doubt not, is one aspiring TO a
very high rank in the Kingdom, seems very jealous
Of my statements in the Hawaiian History which 1
am now writing. The line Of descent Of some Of the
present high chiefs, and their relationship to Kane
hameha 1 as l have stated it, appears TO find eSpe-
cial disfavor in his eyes, perhaps and very probably,
for the reason that another name very near st home
to the aforementioned writer is not included among
those whom 1 have written down as descendants and
near of kin 10 Ksmehameha l.
/ have simply written the genealogy as it has been
taught me from my ancestors, and find in that name
no relation TO Kamehameha l. How can l falsify the
truth before God?
He moreover says that Hawaiian History is some
thing very sacred, and forsooth must not be pub
lished What grounds has he for this assertion?
True. there are few that know it, but it is free TO all.
Ancestral genealogy was indeed tabu on the island Of
Hawaii, but from Maui to kausi, they had persons
whose business it was to recite ancestral names.
So his first attempt to give a false genealogy is a
most unchristian one. And, secondly, as to its being
contrary to the wish of the King and the chiefs to
h1NC II HuoA4SuCN, - IL III Xix NIX AAAASS-
that is opposed to it, and wishes to cover things
up in darkness. kamehameha III. was very anx-
ious to have Hawaiian History written, and MesSrs.
Richards. Dibble, HaaliliO, Andrews and others,
formed a Historical Society in 1881. May be
that was before " Hawaiian's day?
Others are mentioned as being much more learned
than myself in Hawaiian History. This matter has
been tried before competent witnesses, some of them
chiefs now living, and my claims as an authentic
historian, and a better one than the persons mentioned,
have been fully confirmed. His late Majesty, Kane
hameha ", but for his premature death, would have
employed your humble servant to write history.
There is a copy of Hawaiian History in the royal
records, but it is, like the one published by the Rev.
Mr.. Pogue in 1853, very meagre and needs very
many important additions.
What civilized country would think of laying a
tabu on its history? How is it with England, with
France, and all of Europe? How was it with Greece
and Rome in ancient times: And with the Chaldees
and Jews?
We profess to be a christian kingdom. So let us
come out into the light, and forsake any superstitious
pagan tabus or false sacredness of anything of this
kind. And is it right for a member of the House of
Mobiles to be a blind leader back into darkness?
1t was after more than six years of sickness, and
after repeated solicitation from the editor of the Kuo-
kod, that l was induced to lay before the public this
Hawaiian History, beginning with the year 1886
the year in which Ksmehameha 1. was born, and
going on down to the times of his successors. 1t is
for you TO Judge of the nature and the motives of this
ill-natured opposition.
l place before you gentlemen, and countrymen,
my treasures of warmest affection.
S. NJ. KAMAKAU.