The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-06-30
THE FAIRIES or MAUNA KtA.
BY LILLIAN LYMAN.

were even seeds, there dwelt on the
snowy summit of Mauna Kea beau
tiful, happy race of little people,
with childlike forms, and silken
locks, and voices like the tinkling
of bells, which were never raised in
angry strife. A happy life they led
away up on this cold mountain top,
far from the haunts of man. But
how came these little folks here!
Why did they live thus apart from
other beings? When they first came
to these islands they tried to find
their way into the hearts and homes
of the natives; but what cared the
savages for these little creatures,
whose lives were rs pure as the
snow? They cared more for war
and all that is evil. The little fairies
found that they could not live in the
plains and villages with mankind as
long as they were so vicious and dis
solute, so they fled to the mountain
Businesses here to build for them
selves q home. For down the noun
tain side grew the lofty and beauts
full koa, kou, kauwila and fragrant
sandal wood; here also was the
sweet leihua and ohia, with their
dark, glossy leaves and bright flow
ers and fruit. The iwipolena, with
its scarlet feathers; the 90, with its
glossy black and royal yellow plu-
mage the elcpaio, the ulaai ha-
wane, and many other birds, gay of
plumage and sweet of note, fitted
from bough to beugh, filling the air
with delicious music. Around the
trunks of the trees twined the fra
grant male and iaia-sometimes
reaching the very top of the trees,
then hanging from branch to branch,
making thick bowers for the delicate
FERNS which grew in nodding clus-
tiers beneath their shade. Here
crew the tree ferns, and morning
and evcning-glories peeped shyly
out and nodded their heads, as if to
say: This is our home; man has
no right here" Further up the
mountain side the trees were less
numerous, and in thick clusters the
misunderstanding ohelos, pohas and
raspberries grew. A little stream
ran mcrrily down, leaping over the
rocks and ravines, bubbling and
foaming, now and then stopping to
rest under the shade of some friend
lv trees. Bright flowers, in wild
profusion, bordered the waters
edge and along the path, for here
was the road that led to the home of
these little people.
Come with me; leave the world,
with all its pomp and gaiety, far be-
hind, and let us imagine ourselves
living in the days when these beauti-
full islands of ours were filled with
heather, whose dark deeds and
crimes filled the land with shame.
We are walking by the side OF the
stream hand in hand, now and then
turning to admire the beautiful
panorama at our feet. From the
mountain side below come the sweet
notes of the denizens of the forest,
and the music from the brook has
charm which we cannot resist,
but we part the underground and
tramplc down the lovely ferns, led
on by some unseen hand, until we
come to the source of the stream. l
see before me now the entrance to a
cavern, on either side of which stand
tall trees like grim sentinels. Now
and then through the branches we
catch glimpses of the blue sky, while
far above are the snowy peaks OF
Mauna Kea, beneath which is the
home of these little fairies. We
stand transfixed, gazing at the scene.
In front is the cavern. Delicate
ferns imbedded in moss veil the face
of the grim old rocks through which
the water trickles, making soft music
as it falls drop by drop. Cropping
our way along until we come to 4
door in the rock, it opens and we sc
through to find ourselves in broad
passage. The ground is covered
with snow, its walls glisten and
CLEAN with sparkling stars; up, up,
we go. Hush! Methinks l heal
the sweet strains of music it comes
nearer and nearer,
make my soul as white and pure
As the heavenly blossom
That blooms upon thy BOSOM.
Does it come from invisible beings
No, the sounds grow more distinct
Where are we? In beautiful gar.
den lit up with red, blue and greer
lights; fountains send their waters
high in the air to fall again in drops
like jewels, and rare flowers dis
pense their fragrance. We pass
through the garden to find ourselves
in large and brilliant hall whose
walls are blazing with precious gems
dazzling in brightness; the floor il
inlajd with pearls; tiny winged