The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-05-19
A Hawaiian Legend.

II the native nau possessed q written
language Tor any greatlength of time, there
would be some means afforded for Analysing
the various ancient superstitiOns which
they undoubtedly cherished in remote
times. AS it is we can only conjecture as
to the real foundations of many singular
tradition S which have been handed down
from comparatively primitive days by word
of tongue, undergoing with each repetition
inevitable alteration, addition or omission,
until, after pa ; nv through many gentr =
tion-, we at this day are only able to gather
some fragments of the mutilated original.
Almost every locality on these Islands has,
according go tradition, been the scene of
some remarkable or supernatural event.
On the Island Of Kauai, in the upper part
of the Hanapepe Valley, a small str, sm of
water dashes over a precipice of more than
one hundred feet into n great gorge or mar
row deep valley. This waterfall is called
Hanawai. The scenery in the vicinity is
grand and impressive. There is something
rather dread and solemn about the place.
Except the splashing OF the water as IL
takes its fearful leap into the air and is
dashed to spray upon the rocks below, there
is no sound nor sig. t of civilization To diSpeil
the spirit of wild ~grandeur which still seems
to reside there, as if a diety OF long past
times had taken refuge in some neighbour
ing cavern, and continued to exert his sway
in that somewhat inaccessible and seques-
tered place, although no longer able to
maintain his hold over an enlightened
people who have discarded the super
stitions which give a multitude of
gnomes, elfs or gods an opportunity
to thrive. 1t vas perhaps in the days
when the magma deity which is still
presumed to haunt this place eXerted wide
aud terrible influence over the minds of
the KauaianS that a fearful tragedy occur
red. according to tradition, at this fright
full precipice. Long before the time of
Kamehameha the Conqueror, so runs the
legend, a mighty chief who had subdued
all the inhabitants of Kauai dweIt with his
] fl OlIV in his hale niIp nm in tho mountain M
not very far above the falls of Hanawai.
Near by lived an old kahuna, the daugh-
ter of a former ruler of the island who had
been vanquished in battle and slain by the
then reigning chief. This old kahuna
cherished n secret, bitter resentment
against the hand that killed lFer father and
usurped his authority and confscated his
tiro lands in the valley. For a long time
she had meditated a plan of aVenging her
fathers death and destroying the great
chief, who now occupied his place, together
with all his family, but this design she had
carefully concealed and resorted to every
possible mode of deception to make the
reigning chief believe that she had en-
tirely forgotten her fathers cruel fate. In
this she succeeded and eventually became
a favorite of the great chief, so as to become
intimate with all his habits. At length
there was n great Iuau given in honor of
some important event on the smooth pla-
teau or prominitory partially bordered by
the frightful precipice. From all parts OF
Cne lSldnu, muiLlIuueS OF men ana women
had gathered. An abundance of food was
provided, and after all had eaten heartily,
the young and 1.-the began the ancient
games and dances, keeping them up until
the sun be- an to descend into the sea.
Then the plays were gradually suspended,
large quantities of ava were brought in
calabashes and all joined in repeated liba.
tions and freely imbibed the stupefying
liquid. The stupefaction soon became
quite general and contrary to his
general CUSTOM, the great chief drank
to excess, and together with several
of his sons was soon quite insensiblp.
When most all of the assembled multitude
were in an unconscious condition the old
Sentiment with the hope of revenge, came
forward from a neighboring jungle where
she had concealed herself to watch an op-
portunity for vengeance. Her black with
cred form, her long bushy hair almost
white with age, the ferocious and demon
iacal expression of her features and her at
titude as she crept ~stealthily towards heI
intended Victims, gave her all the reaI
terrifying appearance that. imagination
could attribute to the Prince of Dew s. She
approached the spot where the stupefied
chief lay, she raised her blood-shot ewes to-
ward the sky, and, with frightful convuIsive
grimaces uttered an invocation to the spirit
of her dead father, calling him from the
repose of the tomb to come with the
spirit powers which she controlled anu
hurl his murderer and family over the
HGISuDuIiIS ulSoAilOi pIeCIpICe 10 certain
distraction. Instantly after the incanta-
ton was uttered a terrific sound like the
clash OF thunder was heard, n cloud came
sweeping down from the summit of the
nearest mountain and obscured the light oil
the moon and stars which were shining
br lliantiy. Out of the cloud into the
shadow which it cast over the scene ad-
vanced the spiritual form of the dead father
and vanquished chief accompanied with the
CHASTITY multitude of his slain followers
With the rapidity of lightning they seized
the PROSTATE insensible chief aud ali his
children and relatives ard hurled then
head!ong over the precipice. The frantic
kahuna, like one possessed of a demon, ut
teTing a piercing scream, ran to The brink
of the chasm and sprang over after those
whom the spirits had precipi' ated to de.
structiOn. Next morning when the as
sembled people had recovered from the
effects of ava drinking they were filled
with awe and horror for many of then
claimed 10 have witnessed the supernatural
tragedy. They FASTENED to their respective
places of abode and ever after avoided the
awful spot where the spirits had destroyed
their chief; and for years the place was
haunted with gnomes, ghosts and terrible
spectres.