The morning call., 1893-04-09
AT KILAUEA.
Two Notable Visits to the Crater.
Christianity versus Paganism.

Two Notable Visits to the Crater.
Christianity versus Paganism.
Who, in all Hawaii, has not heard of the
great Kapioanip Not the present Queen
dowager. dear to the hearts of the Hawaiians
for her goodness OF nature, but with no
ancient high lineage to command their
honor and evereDce-Kapiolari the great
was daughter of the famous High Chief
tain Keawe-mauhili of Hio, and by her
deeds proved herself the greatest chIefess
of her time-greater even than that other
remarkable heather woman, Kaahumana,
who did so much TO emancipate Hawaians
from the thralldOm of superstition. AT one
time Incorporate and dissolute, upon en-
bracing Christianity Kapiolani became a
shining example of civilized virtue and pro-
priety. To her, of all the natives, came the
conception OF the great deed for which her
name is worthy OF most honor. The tabus
were thrown down, the divinity that hedged
the King had been shown to he of earthly
origin, and the gods were relegated to OBJ
livion, but up on the far mountain height
in her temple OF the eternal fire, Pele still
reigned supreme, feared by all alike
1t was in December, 1924, the story runs
that KapiOlani determined 10 break the
spell of native belief In Pele, to visit the
goddess in her temple and defy her power.
Husband. friends, even the missionaries.
chefess was firm in her resolve 10 show her
faith in the God of the Christians. Those
who remember the trials and fatigues of the
trip to the volcano, to-day. by steamer,
train. carriage and on horseback. will un-
derstand something of the personal cost nj
which Kapolant Travelled, on foot, the dis
lance from Kialakekua to Hilo, $50 miles.
TO visit the crater. There was no Volcano
road in those days; no Fern trail; no path
way over the lava bed; but over ragged
volcanic rocks that tore her hands and feet,
through the dense tropical undergrowtlls of
the forest and across the turbulent noun
tain streams, the great Queen forced her
weary way TO fulfill her nuble mission. Ar
irving at the volcano. KapiOl6ni met the
prlestess OF Pele. who warned her not to 90
near the crater, and predicted her death if
she dared violate the tabus of the fiery
goddess.
who are you?" demanded KapiolapI,
"One in whom the goddess dwells." was the
reply. In answer the chiefess quoted pas
sages of Scripture descriptive OF. the great
ness ana power of the supreme God. A
pretended letter from Pele was brought to
her, but her reply was only to quote other
passages and TO speak of the true God. until
the prlestess was silenced and confessed
that Keakua, the deity, had LETT her. Ka-
Dl0iani then went forward TO the crater,
where she was surprised to find Mr.. Good
rich, the missionary. who. hearing of her
expedition, had come to meet her. On the
eastern edge OF the crater shelter was built
for her. and there, looking toward the fam
ing LAKE, the great chiefess spent the night
l venture to say that there are few men or
women living to-day who would care to do
the same. alone aud ignorant of the possible
dangers of that awe-inspring region. But
this poor, half-civilized, wholly uneducated
woman bad the blood Of many generations
of great chiefs in her veins. and her soul
was fired with the spirit that makes mar
tyrs. Who can tell what thoughts we're
hers as she lived through that nightP Did
she sleep at all, one wonders? Did the
matchless nerve that had sustained her
falter at alp No one can say, for she was
alone in this brave deed.
The next morning. with company OF
about eighty OF her people. she descended