Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-04-13
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HoNoLulu, April l2,--Much has hee
written and said lately Of the prediction
of Kanahas of high aud low degree for cou
salting kahunas. That such a phase Q
the old Howaiian superstition 10 still in ex
istencc Is fact, but the average native
implicit faith in the power Of the Kahun,
10 not 40 great as it was.
| The lAt,er-dsy kahuna. in fact, bear,
about the same relation to the respecte,
and reyered prototype of his earlier days
| the advertising elairvoyant does 70 the old
time astrologer. When the term "kahuna
| is used the modern Hawaiian refers in re
spectful tones TO such prophets and healer
as "Hewahewa," who fiourished in the tim
of kamehameha the first; Paao, the grea
kahrna, who came from the mystic land o
kaiki, and Pnaa. the last kahuna Of note
who died in Waimanalo. near Honolulu, il
1868.
The kahanas exertel their powers in diff
fercnt ways, and formerly every chieftait
of note had bis pet Kahuna. In the mattel
of comforting with the kahunas as to tn,
| advisahility of instituting n certain under
taking or as to what the outcome of sucl
an undertaking would be, the process wa,
much the same as the Oriental plan of con
sulting the oracle. There were kahunas
who removed the evil spirits and who mad,
the sick well. and, more influential than
either of these, the kahuna who prayed tn,
kahans to death.
With the advent Of the missionary in III,
islands and the abolition of idolatry. tn,
kahuna industry received setback, and
the priests and prophets of the order have
been slowly but surely losing their grip
until at the present time the Kxhunas tha,
remain command the fear and respect OF
but few, and are rejected by the many as
mountebanks.
Asthat branch of Kahunaism which dealt
with praying person to death was
the enc which inspired the natives with the
most dread, it may be of interest to state
the different modes employed by the alleged
destroyers of life and happiness. The Kan
akas are firm believers in guardian spirits,
and one branch of the life-destroying oper-
alton was for the kahuna to send his guard
ian spirit to hover around victim and en-
compass his destruction. This was called
'Hoounauna."
Another method known by the natives is
'Iloopio," consisting in the Kahuna making
mystic marks on the ground near where the
selected victim passed in his daily ramblcs.
The crossing over these marks, aided by
the prayers of the kahuna, were considered
sufficient in most cases to make the man or
woman whose death was desired to turn up
his or her toes. Another means of accom-
plishing the desired end was for the Kahuna
to obtain some garment of the victim or
some article owned by him or her and Groom
over il until the original possessor sickencd
and died
II Is said that the Kahunas were wild and
weird in their methods, their gesticulations
and bowling when an extra healthy victim
did not take kindly to the scheme of pray
ing him into the grave being something ter
rible to witness and hear. The most recent
victim of frenzy and fanaticism on the part
Of the kabuna is one in connection with a
double murder on the island of Lanai about
a year ago.
One of them was fairly dubbed to death
by an aged beldame, the other being burned
alive in building. SO great was the influ-
rnce Of the hag that the terrified kanakas
who witnessed her acts were afraid to inter.
fere to save the lives of the victims.
The Kanaka custom of locating gods and
godnesses in volcanoes, lagoons and quiet
nlets is favorable to the perpetuation OF
Kabunaism. For instance, in Pearl Har
Dor, where before long it Is expected thu
United States will have a coaling station
Ksahupahu, the shark god of Eva, has its
home. Then again at Kaula, below the
island of Kauai, is the abiding place Of the
shark god known as kuhsemona, while the
volcanoes and extinct cratcrs are supposed
to be peoplcd by Nine. Pele and her many
assistant deities.
Recently an unbelieving white man wa
taken by native to witness a kahupa Sc
anee. What followed proved that tht
kabuna was something in the nature of ,
juggler. He placed portions green tar,
leaves in four outside wrappers of ii an
had each rolled up tightly. Then the
kohuna disrobed aud laid himself fiat OF
his stomach. He directed those arount
him to place the packages on his bar,
back.
After while be told them in the Kanak
tongue to turn them over. This was done
and after few minutes he said, "'Pau.
which is equivalent to "The jig is up.
Opening the packages the white man wa
sstonished TO find the leaves cooked. Aske'
what he thought of the operation, he said
Pretty good. But have seen iugglers 4
tricks of that kind" The Kanakas Iet
him in disgust.
When the Kanaka feels bit out of sort
he imagnes that be has not been diligen
enough iu his divoti0ns to some particula
| god. He Immediately proerres bunch ol
| ava or something in the nature of a CON
| fofting drink, and after short prayer T.
his mountain or river diety, he murmur
apologetically, "IIere's your food" o
Here's your drink" as the case may be
Then he devours the solids or liquids him
self. If the Kanaka's health is Improve
the god is appeased. IF sickness sii
creeps over him he turns to the kahnns
One of the guild is Immediately hunted u
and approached with bunch of ava or
pig.
Then the Kanaka dilates upon bis intirm
| tics, and the KahnDa begins preparing &
drive ont the sickness or evil spirit. tn
patient Is stripped ard laid fat, and with
| bunch OF ii leaves the kahuna ruhs him n
| over, nurmnring meaningless words I'll
| while. II the Ksnaka gets well the Kahn
| mas influence is Increased. II the Kannk
dies he was n doomed man anyhow, and til
| X iIiuna did his best Such Of the Kama
kas as pstrouize the Kahuna nowadays d
II eovertly, aud the Kahunas keep unde
cover.
Although the Kahuna now has to mingl
other pursuits with his minis,rations in or(lt
10 have sufficient supply of fish and y,
TO keep body and sonl togeteer. there az
still some Hawaiian families in good stant
| ing sho cling to the Old superstition an
ray handsomely for services rendered
Within the last yeas the ex-cabinet minists
had the services Of kahnna in the hope q
keeping alive an aged relative. II is als
common talk that Sam Parker, expriu
minister Of Liliuokalaui, has consulted III
kabnnss on more than one occasion.
| Recently, when voted out Of the minis.r
he drew around him the Kahunas in Or,le
TO ascertain what the future had in store
The Kahunas prescribed for him diet {
mashed spiders. and Parker took the med
cine Ike lamb. In spite of this dose
however. the American flag still flies ovs
the government building. Again. one day
when Mr.. Parker received an injury wbic
resuited in an an abscess on bis leg, he WI
prescribed by the kabnnas a pouitice O
spiders, which be applied to the wounds
spot. and suffered 80 from blood poisonin
that Il required the constant attendance o
a couple Of English doctors to save his lii,