The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-07-29
Hawaii AZ the Exposition.

Department, in a Centennial number Of the
Pennsylvania Journal Of Philadelphia
The special Commissioners is II. Z. Hitchcock,
and who. also. is Inspector General Of Schools 10
the Hawaiian Islands. Mr.. Hitchcock, has the
sole charge Of the space. Although born Of
American parents, his father having gone as u
missionary to the islands ia 1882, taking his wife
along, this is the first time SIR. Hitchcock, has
been on the American soil. 1t was only in jan
nary last that the government made any effort to-
wards representation here, and even now many
Of the exhibits are the result Of private enterprise,
and are placed here at great cost and sacrifice.
Mr.. Hitchcoeks familiarity with every Depart
nent in the Hawaiian Government, fits him pre-.
eminently for the position which be now occupies
here.
The space has two entrances through arcbed
doorways, over one are the words The Hawai-
ian Islands" over the other are the words, Z" Ia
mau ke Ea o ka Alma i ka Pono, which is the
motto Of the Government, and interpreted reads,
- Righteousness is the life Of the Nation" The
Islands are familiar to most American students,
and are otherwise known as the Sandwich Islands.
Honolulu IL It's chief seaport. There are twelve
islands in the group, eight of which are inhabited
and the area Of the whole Is 5000 square miles.
Recent surveys show that they are a chain of vol
canic peaks rising abruptly from a depth OF three
miles below the ocean level, 10 4 height three
miles above, making the loftiest submits OF Ha-
wall six miles above the bed Of the ocean. They
possess the general attractive characteristics of
the tropical Polynesian groups, that perfection Of
climate and most charming scenery, which sug-
gest to the sea worn traveller, Paradise and Gar
den Of Eden.
Over the entrance TO this space are placed flags
of the nations with which the Hawaiians are in
treaty. The coIors of the Hawaiian nation are
red. white and blue, taken from the French, who
have promised them protection. The field Of
their flag consists of the British Jack, St. Georges
and ST. Andrews Cross. The stripes are eight
in number, representing the eight inhabited ISL
ands.
We have thus introduced the reader to 4 very
interesting spot, and shall now endeavor to take
a note Of what is on the inside. Forming the
front of the space are three large show cases, con
tanning exhibits by Queen Emma.
We note n necklace of hair and ivory, made Of
several strands of hair put up as it were in skeins,
and then about q hundred skeins tied at the ends,
constitute one of two rolls of this hair. Suspend
ed from these rolls by strings are ivory anne
crooked at the end. Long strings OF beads made
Of bone, fans made Of the arrowroOt plant, and
very delicate and costly, n stone used in an an
cient game, elegant feathers made into plumes,
and only worn upon state occasions, sticks of
wood called KdUriid, when used together furnish
music in certain dances q wooden spittoOn made
of a wood called KOu, and inlaid with human
bones excite wonder. Then there are porridge
dishes made of the same wood, which are only
uScu DS Nilc OelltE Cldseee. lDey are Dl1Lly pol
lshed and suggest great labor in the making of
them. We come across two stones which are
about four inches long, tapering n little on one
end, which are used for bowling. The natives
dig trenches IN the earth sometimes a half a mile
long, and treading the earth as smooth as possible,
roll ut one effort these stones the whole length.
A specimen Of CdI05dSh or gourd is here. They
are handy for holding water, and keep it remark
ably cool. Mr.. Hitchcock has n CaLdbaSh Of wa
ter at all times in his Office. A very neat look
ing mat is that made from the bark of a tree
called Manaki or Wauke, and cloth made from
the bark of trees called Kappa cloth. This cloth
is made from the bark by the use of Kappa sticks,
which beat the bark to the required thinness.
A bird called Manou is the royal bird. Neck
laces are made from feathers, each one of the ma
nan bird furnishing a feather from under its
wing. The necklace so gotten is very expensive,
the one before us costing 5000. None but rOyai
persons use these necklaces. The 90 and the
nlomO also contribute for this purpose, and in the
same way-One feather from under the wing of
each bird. When it was known that these ex-
hibits were to appear here, Mr.. Bergh, of n. Y,
wrote to the Centennial Commission, requesting
that, as the exhibition Of these necklaces might
awaken n desire to procure something of the sort
from some of our species of birds, that they he
not allowed to be shown. This occasioned no
little merriment when it was known that the
birds are not killed, but are caught, and after the
particular feather is plucked, Just as we pluck q
%goose's feather, the bird is allowed to fly away,
to furnish a feather some other day, when it shall
have grown out. y handsome case containing
volcanic specimens, had amongst other interesting
collections, what is called Pele's hair. This is a
fbr0us article, really q mineral, which is produced
bv the eruptions. The natives believe firmly that
when an eruption takes place, the Goddess Pele
becomes very angry, and pulls out her hair by
the handful and ~scatters it to the winds. Speci-
men minerals from the Crater of KiIduea repre-
- o,ltooEso4 0F 10 -aarc 1ahOr mazda hu Mr.
Hitchcock. They are beautiful and of every hue.
Over a case of birds of rare species is a wreath of
ferns with words interviewer and reading, s. God
bless you"
The sugar interest of the islands is large, and
kegs showing the different grades are arranged on
a circular stand. By an arrangement made with
this government, sugar from the Hawaiian Islands
will be admitted free of duty. Coffee is a small
product of the country. Sugar cane stalks are
exhibited. one of which is &c feet in length. A
peculiar arrangement is an apron made OF cocoa
nut bark with strings to tie around the waist.
This constitutes a full dress for ladies' wear.
One Of the colleges contributes an elegant case Of
land shells, while near by are more cald6ashes
used for food. An article like our mush, called
POI, is much liked by the natives, and is made in
this vessel. Suspended from the rear wall, is q
singular plant called silcer StCOTd, which is found
on an elevation 8 to II, 200 feet above sea level.
1t resembles strips of plush, and feels like it. No
other plant suDslstS where IL cdn. III u caSe VI
~rarities is a collection of MicrOneSiaa %corals, pink
and deep red, resting in baskets made from hfush-
room corals found south of the Equator. In the
same case is a Tdhitidn gala hat, made Of arrow
root plant and bamboo, also q Idhitldn cloak,
made from the bark of the bread fruit tree, and
trimmed with the inside lining of the young CO.
c0anut leaf. 4 table mat of arrow root plant
completes nearly a list of exhibits which are mar
velous of their kind, and will tend to arouse a
new interest among all classes for q people who
are selfsupporting, and which specially has the
sympathy and support of American residents. If
ever the Hawaiians reach a point when they can
not take care of themselves, the interest mani
tested in them by us, as a people and government,
insure them our protection and fostering
care.