The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-09
OLD KANAKA SUPERS7I7IONS.
Pccuiiaritles OF n Relief that IL Now Pass.
ing Away.

Pcculiaritles of n Relief that IL Now Pass.
ing Away.
From ne chirugo Dniiy Tribune.
HONOLULU. March 1a.-Much has been writ
fen and said lately Of the predictions OF Ka-
nakas OF high and low degree for consulting
Kahunas. That such a phase Of the old Ha.
waiian superstition lie still in existence Is a
fact. but the average natives implicit faith
in the power OF the Kahuna Is not SO great as
1t was. The lntter.dny Kahuns. in fact. bears
about the same relation to the respected and
revered prototype Of his earlier days rs the adj
vertising clnirvoyant does to the old-time
astrologer. When the term "Kahunn" is used.
the modern Hawaiian refers in respectful tones
to such prophets and healers as "Hewahewa."
who fourished In the TING Of Kamehameha
from the mystic mi Of Kgiki and Puan. the
last nssr k Hanaini Of n R0 tsI Wh0 died in W"imanalo.
Tho Kahunas exortcd their powers in differ
emit ways. and formerly every chieftain OF note
had his pet Kahunn. In tho matter. of confer
ring with the kahunns as to the ACCESSIBILITY
Of instituting a certain undertaking or rs to
what tho outcome Of such an undertaking
Oriental plan of consulting the oracle, There
were kahunns who removed the evil spirits
a ana n Map th mad sit ins 81 Ell these wsi, ths s9 Ka;h %ose who in3
prayed the ,kanaka to death. With the advent
Of tho missionary In the islands and the aholi-
ton OF idolatry. tho kahina industry received
o setback. and the priests and prophets OF tho
order have been slowly but surely losing their
that remain command the lear and respect OF
but a few. and are rejected by the many as
As that branch Of Kahunaism which dealt
which inspired 'SsSG% natives ss" With VII the enc m Eas
ent modes employed BY the alleged destroyers
OF lie and happiness. The Kanaka are Arm
Of the iife-dsstroying operation was for the
kRhuna to send his guardian spirit to hover
49,, T Z yia Ma. s saii. SHs@f X his dsstras:
other msshodS tno sSi,t6H by tho G NATIVES IS HOO
pio.", consisting in the kahuna making mystic
victim passed IN his daily ram6les. The cross.
Ing oyer these marks. aidei BY, the prayers OF
MOI S eases to m Mette the Ssn man or w snniE,e Whos se
death was desired turn up his or her toes.
Another means Of accomplishing the desired
end was Tor the knluna to obtain some gar
ment OF the victim or some article owned by
him or her and Groom over It until the original
1t 10 said that the, Kahunas were wild and
weird in their methods. their ,gesticulations
noa t nGwl tlad Eh to tho fa s sshem ns 81 prn yifaim h d,a
Witness It ssI ana fh" hear '''' The most recent ts vieti9 s4
huna is one In connection with q double MUIR
der on the Island Of, Lana about a year ago.
an aged beidame. the other being burned alive
IN a building. SO great was the influence Of
the has thu that ,t the terrified led, k 4 ma a who wit,
save the lives OF the victims.
The kanaka custom OF locating gods and
Kahunpis!n. For instance. in Pearl Harhor.
States viii SiiI have sac a ccealins station. kaahu H"'fSa
again at Kaul!a. below the island Of Kauai. is
the abiding place OF tho shark god known Ms
Kuhaemona. while the volcanoes and extinct
@rrsters are SUPPOSED to be psopled by Nine.
When a kanaka feels a bit out Of sorts he
imaEines that ne has not been diiiEent enough
in im n,s hsfsfi1 pro to ssm :" bp pnriie of avn s Sr som he
thing in the nature OF a comforting drink. and
after a short prayer to his mountain or river
your food or Here's You sdrink." as the se case .
may be; Then hsdeyoars the solids Or liauids
him he turns to the Kahunu. One Of the Child
Is Immediately hunted up and approached
with q bunch OF AVA or a pig. Then the
dilntss upon his intrmlties, and the
liaR begins preparing PREF to ,f drive out the
and laid fiat. and with u bunch OF ii
leaves the KahYna rubs, him all over, muir
R RanaRs %ssT Meti tss ESTds sHs in Mhits; i Is the h.
creased. II the kanaka dies he was u doomed
nan anyhow y and the hGhHna did his best.
nowadays do it covertly. and the Kahunas
keep under cover.
taEen By q native int eI to Witnrs. a " Rabun ms siaS %as
What followed proved that the Kahuna was
something In the NATURE OF a JugglI. Ho
placed portions Of green tnro leaves N four
wrappers Of II and had each rolled up
lightly, Then the Kal,una IIsrohrd ana lad
hose around him to place the packages on his
kanaka tongue to turn them over. This was
lone, and aItera few minutes he said Pau"
which Is equivalent to Tho liz is up." Open
!ng the packages the white man was aston
shed to find the leaves cooked. Asked what
he thought Of the operation. he said: Pretty
good: But have. seen iugglcrs do tricks OF
that kind" Tho kanRkas lett him in disgust.
pursuits with hi Illustrations in order
10 have ~ sufficient supply OF fish and poi to
keep body and soul together. there are still
Hawaiian families IN good stand ng who
cling to the old superstition and pay hand !
for services rendered. Within the last |
year an ex-Cabinet Minister Ind the services
of a kahunR In the hope Of keeping alive an |
aged relative, It Ia also common talk that
arker. ex-Frime Minister Of Liliuoka-
one occasion; Iecent!y. when voted out Of
IN order to ASCERTAIN what the future had in
The kahnnas prescribed for him n diet
IF mashed spiders. and Parker took the neli-
zine like q lRmb. In spite OF this fearful dose. |
however. the American flag still hles over the
building. Again. one. day, when
MIR. Parker received an injury which resulted
n an abscess on his log. he was prescribed by
he Knhunasa poultice OF spiders. which no
applied 10 the wounded spot. and suffered so
slant attendance OF II couple OF English doe
Ia save his life.
I