The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-03-14
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, falling to de-
scribe tho religo-romantc incident
which imparts intrinsic value to the
name, | send brief epitomc of the
story for publication. The literal mean
ing of Kapiolaniis "prisoner of Heaven"
Princess Kapiolani, OF Hawaii, was
daughter OF the last King OF llilo, 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
going some heather rite OF her tabu
creed From this state of pa!an degra-
dution tho beautiful Princess soon be-
came one of the most dcyout Christian
converts. glowing with pic zeal to ac-
complish something which might break
through the superstitions OF her people.
Twenty-six thousand idols had been do
stroyed by fire, by order OF King Liho-
Tho and the High Priest, Hewahewa,
and yet the degrading tabu remained
unbroken. 1t was time for some other
overt act to be thought Of. In state
OF drunken frenzy Liholho had broken
the tabu by eating with the women. A
brave act for young King, but not of
sufficient importance 20 affect the tabu
Kapiolani now came TO the rescue,
and, with moral beroism equal 10 any
act OF her sex, she determined to brave
Pclc in her own fiery stronghold OF
Kilauea, testing the divine power OF her
ncw-found God by defying the goddess
and breaking her tabu in the presence
of multitude. News OF her intended
sacrilcge was proclaimed all over the
island, creating feeling of consterna
ton, not only for the welfare of the
Princess. but lest the very island should
lie DESTROYED Many came to plead tha
she would abandon the rash act; anC
none were more terrified for her safety
than Naihc. her warrior-husband.
Followed by eighty OF her terror
stricken friends, Kapiolani walked
hundred miles through the mountain
wilderness on her pilgrimage OF terror
Approaching the seething crater. ka
piolani was met by shrivclcd ole
priestess of Pele, bearing fiery male
dicton from Pee-hot from the dreaC
Halman-man, (house of everlasting
fire. in which Pcle threatened no
only death to all corners but destruction
OF the island.
The multitude stood appalled,. ant
begged the Princess to deslst from he
rash act. But, quoting some new
learned passages from Scripture to tn
Kahuna wahinc-woman priest
Diolani talked calmly and resolutely t
the cratcrs verge, where the sea q
molten lava raced like storm-lashc
, ocean demonstrating the wrath OF PelS
Gathering u handful of sa;red ohel
, berries, ever consccratcd TO Pele, 81
! ate them in defision of the tabu ritz
/ instead of casting them into the CRATE
as n peace Offering to the GOODIES
\ Gathering up stones, she threw the
q into the fiery !ood instead of the accu
toned berries. Standing there in Il
y presence of the most awful natural phi
nomena on earth. confronting the mo
terrible conception of pagan deit
Kapiolani calmly addressed the multi
tude as they stood appalled, at the
own fears:
! "Beholdl my people, the gods
!, Hawaii are vain gods. Great is Jeh'
! yah, my Col. He kindlcs these fire
|, Fear not Pcle; she is powcrlcss. Shoul
,, perish, then fear her power. Shou
= God preserve me, then break your tab,
I knowing there is but one God. Jeh
l. YAH" In commemoration of this bra'
. act of Kapiolani, Ke Nui (the great
n the Kings present wife, was name
u and the royal Order OF Kapiolani W
IS proclaimed, for the 'recompensc OF d
" tinguished merit to the State, for i
n manity, genius, science and art, $,
10 vices rendered to Ourselves or Our 81
II cessors. "-BOStOn Courier.