The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1880-01-14
Supplement to the Hawaiian Gazette, Jananuary a. $780,


coral stones, and raised the lofty walls of what
he intended to be a magnificent structure. he
proceeded no further than the erection of the
walls, which remained for long time monu-
ment of the building enterprise of His Excelency,
and were removed and the stones sold by his son
Kamehameha V. and thus that palace vanished
into thin air Hoikea which is now standing,
and within your sight has been the scene of
some of the most interesting incidents in Haw-
allan history. 1t was the personal home of Ia
mehameha III, and here he who has the honor
to address you, argued the only cause that was
ever argued before the King himself, since regu-
lar courts were established. This court, which
was soon after abolished, was called the Supreme
Court, and the King sat as Judge. Perhaps l
need not say that Judge Lee the then Chief JUS
tiee of the Superior Court was present to guide
the King. Here Kamehameha Ill, died, and in
that house have been held many of the most i'm
portant councils to decide the destiny of this
nation The name itself ''Hoikea1 the life re-
turns is in commemoration of the restoration of
the flag by Admiral Thomas
During the reign of Kamehameha V. the Minis
terial councils were held there more often than IN
the house which stood upon this spot. There was
held the council which summoned the Constitu-
tional Convention, the eventual result of which
was the abrogation of the Constitution of 1852,
and the establishment of the present one by pro-
clamation. Here Kamehameha V.-he of the firm
will-succumbed to his fate, and the dynasty of
the Kamehameha Kings became extinct; and here
the present Royal Family met with the only be
reavement which has yet befallen them. Long
distant be the day when they shallmeet the second
I There, In what was called the Pohukaina lot,
within this enclosure, stood the tomb-house of
former kings and chiefs, at the door of which lay
John Young's body, fit emblem of his fidelity in
f life to the first Kamehameha His Majesty has
caused garden mound to be erected there which
may mark the spot and keep in memory those
faithful friends of the kings who still lie buried
there. Who that witnessed it viii not remember
the transferring of the bodies Of those chiefs to
the present mausoleum. Earth has not seen
a more solemn professor than when, in the dark
ness of the night the bodies of these ehieftlins
were carried through the streets which were lined
with thousands of people on either side along the
whole line of march, even to the mausoleum itself.
Not a sound was heard. The flaming torches,
made of kukui nuts and of gigantic size on either
side of the procession, made the darkness beyond
impenetrable and centred all light upon the pro-
cession. Surely it was wierd and solemn scene,
one never to be forgotten.
The house which was last demolished, which
stood mauka and on the left hand side of Ehis
spot, was called in the lifetime of Kameha-
meha ". commonly, the Queens house, and by
the natives Ihikapukalani. Who that was priyi-
legged to participate in the elegant Inequalities of
the King and Queen viii not remember them.
The closing hours of the Kings life seemed to be
fit exponent of his lifelong devotion to the hap
piness of others. He had ordered a bah to be
given, and sick as he was, though surely he did.
not expect his end to be so near he was unwilling
that the invited guests should be disappointed,
and the ball went on with all its brilliancy Dur
ing the evening he sent a message to me that he
2 wished to see me before l went home. I imme-
diately went to him He said that he did not wish
e to interrupt my amusement but desired that
. Gould come as early as convenient in the morn
5 ing, as he wished to attend to an important per-
= sonal matter. l came at half-past eight in the
: morning-he was dead.
, The northern part of these grounds, at the
t iuncture of Palace Walk and Richards street, has
5 no particular association with the Hawaiian
e chiefs but as most Of you know was purchased
h very recently Of Capt William Summers heirs,
It for the purpose of completing the square.
On this spot, therefore, conseerated by 50 many
T memories, this new home for Hawaiian rulers is
7 now about to be erected and the hope and prayer
! of every one who hears me is, that his present
Majesty may enjoy it for many years yet to Gomez
+ that IS few sorrows and as many joys as are hu-
# manly possible may be accorded to him and his
: Queen, and when he has passed away from this
y scene Of action, pleasant memories Of his reign
n and residence may adhere to it; and that it may
e long continue to be the scene Of domestic happi-
e ness to his successors, round which may cluster