The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-31
The efory or Princess -Origfn OF the
Order of KapiOiant.
from the Boston Courier.l


The several current press notices OF The
royal order Of Kapiolani. recently present
| cd 10 the author OF "Kalani OF Oahu" by
King Kalanea, falling to describe the religo-
| romantic incident which imparts intrinsic
value 10 the name, | send brief epitome
Of the story for publication. the htera,
meaning Of kapiolani Is "prisoner OF
Heaven Princess Kapiolani, OF Haven,
was daughter Of the last King OF Ililo, ana
among the first converts OF the missionaries.
when first seen by the white clergy kapio-
lani was in nude state. publicly amounting
herself with cocoanut oil, while undergo
irr some heather rite OF her tabu crced.
From this state OF pagan degradation tue
beautiful princess soon became one OF the
most devout Christian converts, glowing
with Nous zeal to accomplish something
which might break through the supersti-
lions of her people. Twenty-siX thousand
idols had been destroyed by fire, by order
Of King Lihoiho and the High Priest.
Hewahewa, and vet the degrading tabu
remained unbroken. Ii was time for some
other overt act to be thought Of. In state
OF drunken frenzy Liholiho had broken
the tabu by enting with the women. y
brave act for a young King, but not OF SUI
ficient importance to affect the tabu.
KapioIani now came to the rescue, and,
with moral heroism equal to any act OF
her sex, she determined to brave Pcle in
her own fiery stronghold of Kilauea, testing
the divine power of her new-found God by
deiying the goddess and breaking her tabu
in the presence of multitude. News OF
ner intended sacrilcge was proclaimed all
over the island, creating feeling OF con-
sternaton, not only for the welfare OF the
princess, but lest the very island should be
destroyed. Many game TO plead that she
would abandon the rash act; and none
were more terrified for her safety than
Nalhe, her w;rrior-husband.
Followed by eighty of her terror-Stricken
friends, Kapi0Iani walked hundred miles
through the mountain wilderness on her
pilgrimage of terror. Approaching the
scething crater, KapiOlani was met by a
shriyelled old priestess OF Pelc, hearing. 4
fierv middleton from Pele-hOt from the
dread Mailman man (house OF everlasting
fire)-in which Pclc threatened not only
death to all corners, but destruction OF the
island.
The multitude stood appalled,, and beg
ged the princess 10 desist from her rash
act. But. quoting some new-learned pas
sages from Scripture to the Kahuna wa
hine-woman priest-Kapiolani talked
calmly and resolutely to the cratcr's
verge, where the sea of molten lava
ragged like q storm-lashed ocean, demon
strating the wrath OF Pele. Gathering
a handful Of sacred Ohelo-berrieS, ever
cousecrated to Pele, she ate them in dc
rision of the tabu rite, instead OF cast
ing them into the crater as a peace
offering to the goddess. Gathering up
stones, she threw them into the fiery flood
instead of the accustomed berries. stand
ing there in the presence of the most awful
natural phenomena on earth, confronting
the most terrible conception OF pagan
deity, Kapiolani calmly addressed the null
titude as they stood appalled, at their own
fears:
"Beholdl my people, the gods Of IIa-
wall are vain gods. Great is Jehovah, my
God. lie kindles these fires. Fear not
Pele; she is powerless. Should perish,
then fear her power. Should God preserve
me, then break your tabu. knowing there
is but one God, Jehovah" In commence
ration Of this brave act Of Kapiolani he Nui
the great), the Kings present wife was
named, and his royal Order OF Kapiolani
was proclaimed, for the "recompense of
distinguished merit to the State. for hui
manity, genius, science, and art, services
rendered to Ourselves or Our Successors