Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1884-08-02
pEERIEss REpoRr

Aihil 'altiNlH - tiAN w viz lAN'NA tNtllfl n
able pamphlets of recent times. The
pundit who explores the labyrinths OF
Hawaiian tradition for our esteemed
contemporary the pae Nina will doubt.
less employ his scalpel to advantage in
his discussion OF the native version.
The English version demands two sorts
Of treatment satirical and serious.
From the first standpoint We could
make no better beginning than print
the entire version That is however
impossible, and we must be content
with the brief extracts and briefer com.
mcnt
In its notice OF the work under re.
view, the Gazette says that not much
light has SO far been thrown upon
Hawaiian genealogies. 1t is perhaps
better not But We think it the Gazette
re.reads the work, twill find a striking
likeness between the report and the
election literature OF 1880 and 1882.
The report opens with the following
interesting statement: "On the fourth
day Of February 1882, it pleased his
majesty to commission me pre,ident OF
the board called to my assistance
Manu- kahunaaiolc as historian and
!. a. Nahaku as secretary, who consti
tute the three members OF the board.
Then follow the ten rules of the
board The Sth rule is as follows
"The secretary shall be duly au,ho
rized to draw moneys from the Hawaiian
Treasury for the uses of the board by
drafts signed by all the members of the
board
Although Sth is what the distin.
guisl ed Davy Crockett would call
"the Alpha and Omaha" OF the matter,
nine other rules of more OF less impor.
lance serve to cloak the exact purpose
Of the legalized raid upon the treasury,
authorized by the rule mentioned.
After the rules is given a catalogued
list of nine ancient and one hundred
and twen,y.eight modern meles. The
ancient legends so far as mere titular
examination of them goes are exceed.
ingly interesting especially No.4-O
Haul ka lani ka maui honua IS, time
1850 which seems to imply that some
Of the families in whose interests the
board OF genealogy are popularity sup.
posed to have been working mus, have
existed as far back as 1880. Some
more OF the ancient meles are put down
as in the time of fele. As that pas
sionate but warm-hearted goddess is
believed to have granted an interview
to distinguished princess in very re-
cent times. the inference is that these
Pele legends have been placed in the
wrong category.
After the list of the meles appears :,
list of nine genealogical books, OF which
numbers s and 9 were written by, or
written for, or belonged to, Mr.. d.
Mllo which distinguished parsonage
has, according to the list, "only lately
added to the above collection the i'm
portant works which bear his honored
name and :" ii is recommended that
the government purchase these books
and OF those containing mele, and that
the sum of 80, 900 be devoted for this
purpose and for the purposes of the
preservation OF antiquarian matters"
The report goes on to say th.t seven
persons, whose names are given. have
presented to the board their respective
genealo5ies, examination OF which is as
yet unfinished No spcciie, sum is
asked for the further unhniiging OF
these genealogies,
One of the particular features OF
importance " has been the "discoyery
of the remains OF some OF the ancient
chiefs. 1t is much to be regretted,
however, that, owing to indisposi
tion,' (of whom not stated, some one
was prevented from carrying on the
work in person, and the pleasant task
of "re,entombing, certifying and linden
tilication (Which is either a pardon
able misprint or an objectionable new
word) was undertaken by several gentle
men of Kau in presence of his majesty
on the eleventh of March, 1854.
Much interesting intelligence follows
but lack of space forbids extended
quotation. 1t is, however, important
to know, in the language OF the report
that 1.-THE later kings and chiefs such
as those of Pelcioholani these latter
were again reported to have been
thrown into the sea) kaumuali, Alapai
wahine and Kamanawa, were but
recently deposited in the same cave al
lao, Wailuku, Maui and negotiations
are now pending with Col. Claus
Spreckels, the owner OF the Ahupuaa
Of Wailuku, to portion out the locali,,
and to have the place strictly tabooed.
1t is to be hoped that the demoralizinl
influences OF "markct" will moi
induce the colonel to get up "corner
in royal remains; but that the board o
genealogy will be given lease of the
premises cheap for cash. 1t is explained
that the board sis now on trail ir
which they hope 10 be successful ii
| finding cave near Wainanalii OF
kaloko, where the remains OF the grea
kamehameha are supposed TO bS
deposited. That is topic upor
which jest would he imper,inent i
such finding could be authenticated
native and foreigner alike would ilocl
10 do homage even to the crumblec
dust OF that great king,
Leaving genealogy, the report inoS
dips into science Al the risk of bcin,
I l.