Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-07-24
BLACK ARTS IN HAWAII.
CHRISrIANIZING THE ISLANDS
PROVED VAIN.
Who ''Kaknma" Is and His Tremendous
Power o. tho Community-super-
stItNIns and Traditions Re-
main Fast Rooted.

Hawaii is supposed to be thoroughly
Christianized, and to affirm the exist
ence here of a pronounced institution
of heathenism is seemingly to contro-
vert good DIR. Anderson, writes cor
respondent OF the Chicago Times in
Honolulu, who, q score of years ago.
said that this nation is as much en-
titled to be called Christian as Is the
United States. But it is found here as
elsewhere in pagan countries that
Christianity does not at once expel
and supersede the ancient faith. YES
tiges of the old religion remain to
color and corrupt the new. Evangel-
ism, however successful, must be fol-
lowed by a slow process of elimination
of false conceptions inherited and per-
haps innocently entertained. And, UNI
fortunately, in these islands one of the
most remarkable instances of national
transformation ever Witnessed fails as
yet to produce a pure Christianity.
The mistakes of good men and the am
billions of bad men have conspired to
retain and propagate harmful super
stitions, The American board seri-
ously erred twenty odd years ago in
placing the churches under care of
native pastors. and the people have at
different times suffered misfortune by
accession of kings who have sedulous-
" sought distinction as chief sorcerers
OF the kingdom. The church presents
aspects of unusual zeal and efficiency.
There are in ministery and member
ship exceptional cases of notable piety.
But in the concealed life of church and
community there is a baneful faint of
idolatrous belief and practice. I'M
ages and affairs have wholly disap-
peared, but there are in many COM
munities some who are as much heath
en- as were their fathers in the days of
the first Kamehameha, and there is
everywhere a larger class of half in
structed Christians who pray to God
for the pardon of their sins and rely on
sorcery for the healing Of their dis
eases.
SO it comes about that the most pow
erful personality in Hawaii to-day is
Kahuna. / am inclined to think that
he is more feared than the devil and
more sought after than the Saviour of
men. He is under ban and leads o
somewhat hidden life. Few will ad-
nit that they have dealings with him,
but he is a potent factor in the affairs
OF the kingdom and a principal pro-
moter of the decadence of the race.
The office is with some hereditary,
tracing back TO the ancient priesthood
and with others it is acquired by a
display of more or less charlatnaism.
The power OF the Kahuna is based on
the belief extensively entertained that
the Jehovah of Scripture is but one
among many gods, and that He con-
Germs himself mainly with the souls of
men. Other deities, gods of the sea
and air and streams deal with the
bodies of men. They are as rule
malevolent and busy themselves in
making trouble. There are also med
dlesome demons that delight in getting
inside of people and in other places
where they are not wanted. Human
ailments are an expression of Gods
displeasure or of a demons malice,
and it is the Kahuna's office, in part,
TO appease the disgruntled god, or
master the disturbing demon.
A friend of mine tells me of young
man in his employ who was taken
with severe pain in the groin. 1t
was proposed to call a physician.
mo, this isn't doctors trouble 1
promised fifty cents a month for mis-
sions, and haven't paid it, and de-
mon has gotten inside of me to punish
me-" II was case for the Kahuna,
who, being well rewarded, released
the young man from both his pain
and his promise.
The Kahuna usually charges at
least IS or SO in advance, and exacts
a good fee at the conclusion of his in
carnations If he can persuade the sub
ject that they are successful. He will
bless fetch to be worn next the per-
son. or kill and eat with the patient a
white chicken or red fish, or use some
outrageously offensive agent to drive
away the devil that can not be
wheedled into good behavior. A first
class Kahuna claims to have certain
superior demons, "Aumalua, in his
employ, who are terror to lesser spir-
its. They are sent on his errands, and
natives will tell you that they have
seen them in spectral drapery fyin g
through the night.
Great use is made OF charms, usual
ly of wood cut in fantastic shapes.
There was formerly a certain tree
growing on Molokai, into which god
entered ages ago, and the wood Of
that tree was a powerful fetch,
"Kalaipahoa. 1t is a symbol of re-
venge and is believed to have the pow
err Of destroying life. Scrape it and
blow the dust in the direction of an
enemy, with appropriate imprecation
and he is doomed; unless he is posses
sed of the counter fetch, "Kauila. "
I have seen a great variety Of fetiches,
procured, l am sorry to say, from dy-
ing Christians, who in final hours
have fully espoused faith they have
long professed, and abandoned the
idolatry they have secretly cherished.
When patient is deemed possessed
of powerful devil that cannot be
conquered or placated, the Kahuna