The Hawaiian gazette., 1893-05-23

The paper read by DIR. n. b. Emer-
son at the recent meeting of the Ha-
waiian Historical Society deserves
more than passing mention. Repre-
senting as it does the result OF months
of laborious research among ancient
Hawaiian archives, the investigation
of numbers of old traditions, talks
with many old chiefs as to their earli-
est recollections and stories told them
in their infancy by their progenitors,
the paper is one Of the most valuable
yet written on an almost unknown
subject, viz: 1.-THE Ancient History of
Hawaii" While the paper purports
to be n description OF the earlier voy-
ages of the ancient Hawaiians, it con-
tains, in addition, much matter OF
interest concerning the prominent
persons named and the customs of the
ancient races who formerly peopled
these islands and those to the far
south.
The doctors researches extend to a
period as far back as the twelfth CEN
fury, which, accepting the evidence Of
folklore and traditions of the period,
was an era of long voyages between
widely separated groups Of islands,
and Of venturesome expeditions in
search of remote lands; an era that
developed navigators whoss deeds of
skill and daring would favorably COM
pare with those of the great Columbus
himself.
Commencing with the story Of Ka-
rika and Tangiia, two Polynesian
chiefs who made much trouble in the
southern archipelago some twenty
five generations ago, and which is
more than interesting from the light
it sheds on the conditions of human
life of that period, the doctor goes on
to state that the same spirit of adven-
ture, activity and unrest which OBJ
tanned at Tahiti and other islands
south of the Hawaiian, also existed
in the latter, and that the earlier
voyages of the ancient Hawaiians
were really undertaken in return for
visits made them by their Polynesian
kindred.
OF the earlier navigatOrs DR.. Emer-
son gives priority, both in Importance
and time, to Paao and his older brother,
LOnopele, Samoan priests, both men
of authority and weight, highly
skilled in the arts Of heather life.
Paao was exceptionally skilled in nav
igation, astronomy and divinatiOn.
Quarrels between these two brothers,
in which each brought about the
death of the others son, resulted
in Paao fitting out an immense
canoe and starting in search Of
new lands. a long, minute and highly
description of this voyage
up to the final landing in the district
of Puma, Hawaii, then follows. Here
Paao built a temple in honor Of his
idol KukailimOku, which he had
brought with him, but afterwards
fixed his residence at KOhala, where
he built the large temple Of MOokini,
the ruins of which remain 70 The
present day.
Then follows a description Of the
condition of affairs in Hawaii at that
time, showing that the line Of royal
chiefs had become so mixed with the
piebian classes by inter marriage ard
otherwise that the royal race had be-
come almost extinct and no chief
with enough of the blood royal in MS
veins was con-idered worthy to occupy
the throne Of Hawaii
1t was to correct this state OF affairs,
and TO secure for Hawaii ruler with
blue blood in his veins, that PaaO,
after a few years, made a vo, age to
he south, in which he went as far as
Tahiti. LOnOkaehO, great chief and
1ahuna Of Tahiti, was PaaO's choice
or the position, but he declined in
ayor Of Pill Kaaiea who proved an
acceptable king to the people Of Ha-
vail and established his seat Of gov
'rnment in the valley Of WaipiO.
After commenting on the character
md influence Of PaaO, and the fact
hat it argues well for the vitality Of
King Pills stock that twenty-one gen.
ratIons after him It was cana bic Of
producing such lusty scion as Kane
Iameha l., the paper goes on 10 give
history Of other famous navigatOrs Of
hat period, notably Paumakua, a
anne Of historic celebrity, claimed az
n Oahu king, and who is said To have
iSited every land known to the an
tents. He 10 is who is said TO have
rought back with him from one Of his
slant voyages two white priests and
white wizard.
The latter half OF the paper Is de-
Oted TO a description Of the voyages
lade between Hawaii and the south,
to a period about the six
zenith or seventeenth century, after
Ihich the &c graphical knowledge Of
ne Hawaiians refrigerated, and their
ieas became vague and mixed, and
ahiti came 10 mean 10 them no more
nan any other foreign country.
DIR. Emerson Is 10 be congratulated
pom the great interest his paper has
reused, and the fact that IL viii soon
e published In pamphlet form cannot
u TO be a source Of pleasure to those
no were prevented from hearing the
4 rrfuoI -aaI