The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-03-15
The Story Of a Princess.

The several current press notices Of
the royal order of Kapiolani, recently
presented to the author Of "Kalani Of
Oahu" by King Kalauea, failing to de-
scribe tho religo-romantic incident
which imparts intrinsic value to the
name, send brief epitome of the
story for publication. The literal mean
ing of Kapiolani is 'prisonar of Heaven"
Princess Kapiolani, of Hawaii, was
daughter o. the last + ing of liilo, and
among the first converts of the mission
aries. When first seen by the white
clergy Kapiolani was publicly amounting
herself with cOcOanut oil, while under
gong some heather rite of her tabu
creed. From this state Of paran deora-
dution the beautiful Princess soon be-
came one Of the most dovout Christian
converts, glowing with pio 8 zeal to ac-
complish something which might break
through the suporStitions of her people,
Twenty six thousand idols had been de-
stroyed by fire. Ivy order of King Liho-
liho and the High Priest, Hewahewa,
and yet the degrading tabu remained
unbrokcn. 1t was timo for some other
overt act to be thought Of. In state
o. drunken frenzy Liholiho had broken
the tabu by eating with the women. A
sufficient importance 20 affect the tabu
Kapiolani now came to the rescue,
and, with moral hcroism equal to any
act OF hrr sex, she determined to brave
Pele in her own fiery stronghold of
Kilauca, testing the divine power OF her
new-found God by defying tho goddess
and breaking her tabu in the presence
Of q multitude. News OF her intended
sacrilego was proclaimed all over the
island, creating Il feeling of consterna-
ton, not only for the welfare of tho
Princess, but lest the very island should
hc destroyed, Many came to plead that
she would abandon tho rash act; and
none were more terrified for her safety
than Naihc, her warrior-husband.
Followed by eighty of her terror
stricken friends, Kapolani walked q
hundred miles through the mountain
wilderness on her pilgrimage OF terror.
Approaching the sccthing crater, Ka-
| piolani was met by shrvclcd old
| priestcss OF Fclc, bearing fiery male
| diction from Pcle-hot from the dread
Hallman-man, (housc of everlasting
fire. which Pele threatened not
only death to all comers but destruction
OF the island.
The multitude stood appalled,, and
begged the Princess to dcs;st from hcl
rash act But, quoting some new.
learned passages from Scripture to the
Kahrna wahine-wOman priest
?iolani talked calmly and resolutcly tc
the cratcr's verge, where the sea O
molten lava RACED like storm -lashcC
ocean demonstrating the wrath Of Pele
Gathering handful of sacred ohel,
berries, ever COnsccrated to Pele sh,
ate them in dcrision of the tabu rite
instead of casting them into the crate
rs peace Offering to the goddess
into the fiery !iood instead of the a"cus
toned berries Standing there in thu
presence of the most awful natural phe
nOmena on earth, confronting the mos
terrible conception of q pagan deity
Kapiolani calmly addressed the multi
tudc as they stood appalled, at theil
own fears:
"Bchold! my people, the gods o.
Hawaii are vain gods. Great is Jcho
vah, my Col. IIo kindlcs these fires
Fear not Pclc; she is powcrlcss. ShoulC
| perish, then fear her power. Should
God preserve me, then break your tabu
knowing there is but one God. Jcho
Vah." In commcmOratiOn Of this brave
act of Kapiolani, Ke Nui (thc grcat)
the Kings present wife, was named
and the royal Order of Kapiolani wa
proclaimed, for the "rccompensc of dis
tinguishcd merit to the State, for hu
manity, genius, science and art, ser
vices rendered to Ourselvcs or Cur Sue
CcsSors. "-BOSt07s CO1I7TC1.