The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1885-01-14
The STORY of KnIslsalnnln.

EDrroE GAZETTE: writer in the Gazette Of Jan
uary 9TH kindly reviews the ''Story of Kalelealu-
aka" which appears in the last number of
Thrum's Hawaiian 4igdnde and AHHHal He calls
attention to the evident fact that this story Sc
riously departs from the truth of history and ex-
presses regret that it has been so shaped as to
set at defiance the accepted chronological order
Of the Kings Of Oahu" He further says, "this
story is we'll known, and such unnecessary perver-
sions of history as arc found in the legend under
notice are calculated to mislead those who are
seeking TO unravel the snarl of early Hawaiian
history
1t isto be regretted if any unwary student of Ha-
waian History, has been led astray by this nuoent
looking legend. II would be great public mis-
fortune If the Board of Gehealogy the foreigner
stranded on our shores should be SO beSuiled by
this story as for moment TO entertain the errO-
neous thought that an entitled hero like Kalele-
aluaka did ever as fact sit on the throne of Oahu
Following the example of the genial Mark Twain
who once trod on Hawaiian soil and became in
fec;ed with the contagious desire TO write about
Hawaiian affairs, we should have stuck up sign
post bearing the inscription mot writ for history
But to prove that have not acted maliciously OF
Intentionally taken Liberties with the truth of his
tory, let me here assert that had no more to do
with the shaping of the legend under nsideration
than with the Niebelungenlieder.
The story of kalelealuaka, is told substantially
as II Is found, and it seemed hardly necessary TO
warn the intelligent reader that fabulous legend,
the hero of which floats at will between heaven
even though 1t makes free with the name of such
well known historical landmark that of Ne
kuhihewa.
The valuc of such legend as this lies elsewhere
than in its literal accordance with the truth of
chronology; it is to be found in the light it sheds
on the thoughts, feelings and emotions of the
people whose inventive imagination has conceived
and given shape to the story.
The story of Kalalealuaka abounds in such illu
mination, and for this esteem it as of equal oil
even greater value TO the Hawaiian student than
many mOOleio of undoubted historic truth. The
legend under consideration is beautiful in my
eyes because it smacks of the soil and the sea- and
while it throws a strong light on the habits of a
highly sensuous heathen people, il reveals much
that is admirable and lovely. The affection of hus
band and wife, the devotion of father to sou, the
earnest thrift and persistent industry of the far
mer, the elastic ambition of the budding you'll
which impels him, VikiLg-like, to cross the oceaI
in search of new adventures, lend a charm to tht
story which needs not to be enhanced by the su
pernatural
This legend, although not of highly poetic
sort, gives the lie to the assertion have seer
made, that the ancient inhabitants of this beauti
fnl group of islands, as they looked on some fai
scene OF nature, thought only Of the utility Of tn
roots that were hidden beneath the soil, or of tn
availability of the fruits that nature had bounti
fully provided for them.
II shows that their minds we're capable of rising
to the height of the nobler sentiments of beaut!
and that they were alive to many of those fine
| feelings of humanity for which to-day they ar
distinguished.
have not been able to assign to a probable datt
the origin of this story leave that to the Learned
writer of the article in last weeks GAZETTE. An
one who wishes to peruse the story of kaleleauak
in the original Hawaiian, can do so by hunting uI
| the back numbers of "Ka Nupepa kuokoa" of thu
year 1864, if my memory serves me rightly. wher
he will find it served up by a writer who sign
himself, J. W. X. Kaualilione.
10 him belongs the credit, as far as 1 know o
| first putting the legend into readable form.
January 10, 1885. n. B. EMERSON