The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-02-26

islands was their discovery by CAPT. James
Cook. Unlike their discovery by the Spaniards.
THIS brought them into connection with the
rest OF the world. and hcgnn an era OF uneN-
amrled progrsss. 1t was in the course OF the
great navigator's third voyage around tho
globe that. on Jan. 1S lT7S. lie discovered ths
Island OF Oahu. and soon nfterward saw the
Island OF kaui. on which he landed His ships
remained of kauai and Niihau until Fob. 2.
lifS. when they sailed to tho northward in
prosecution OF their attempt to discover n
passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic
Ocean. Their dlssolute crew had left behind
them loathsomo diseases unknown before.
winch spread through the group and carried
misery and death among tho people. The
Hnwaiians were left In n state of the utmost
wonoer and perrleSity in regard to the char
hcter OF their strange visitors. butthe majority
OF them looked upon Capt. Cook ms au
incarnation OF their benign god iono. who. "a
they supposed. had now returned in fulfil
mont ~ an ancient prophecy. On Cooks re-
turn from the Arctic Ocean in November, lTTS,
he was worshirped by the islanders. long
prayers being addressed to him by priests.
ana a dead hog being offered 10 him. Tho
array in the course Of which lie lost his lie.
while irving TO decoy the aged King on board
one OF his vessels. was primarily due to tho
W tt' 'hbtVI llI us
gnsted even the heather. His body was carried
to n small tample ncnr the place where he fcli.
ana the regular funeral rites were performed
over MIN. The flesh was removed from the
bones and burned. and the bones we're tied up
with rcd feathers and deined. Subsequently,
q rnrt OF tho homes we're delivered to the COM
manders Of the English ships. and on Feb. ~.
l7EM they were committed to the deep. Such
was the impression made on the civil
t1ni p hv Nh~ tI 1-l
Capt. Cook that no foreign vessel touched
mt the islands for over seven years. During
this reriod tho largest island. Hawaii. was
rent Into three Independent petty kingdoms.
while all the other Islands were brought
under the sway OF Kahekili. This chief.
who had rulod over Maui aud Lanai
since the death OF n brother in l7D5. was "A
master OF intrigue. stern and ~tnciturn in man.
ner. and crafty and cruel in disposition. lie
made himself appalling to the eye by having
one side OF his body tattooed so as to appear
almost black. while the other silo was allowed
to retain its natural color. He conquered Mol
okni and Oahu. and died over ~ years Of age
In July. lIa4. After his his death his kingdom
fell to pieces aud became nm easy prey TO
kamehnmehn l.. who had begun by making
himself master Of the great island OF Hawaii.
Between 1886 and 1910. when Kan cha mcha
I. died. at the nge OF 80. u number OF Europe
ans. chiefly Englishmcn. settled in the island.
md 1t ~as largely by their aid that tine Ha-
waiian group was consolidated under one
Government. The short reign Of Kamehameha
ii. vas distinguished by the first organized
attempt to abolish tho tabu system. A great
feast having been prepared. tho King sat
down with n large company OF chiefs OF both
sexes and openly rartook OF food with them.
A multitude OF tho common people looked on
with mingled fear and curiosity. and when
they saw that no harm cnsued they raised n
joyful shout; The tabus are at an end and
the gods are = lie" The effect OF this open and
deliberate defiance Of the traditional :deus
was like that OF displacinC the keystone Of an
arch. The whole structure OF idol worship. as
we'll ms Of the tabus. fell Mt once in ruins. The
high priest himself set tho example OF burn
ing the idols and their sanctuaries. and mes
sengers were sent even rs far as Kauai TO
proclaim the abolition Of the tabus.
Nevertheless. the traditional system was
too deeply rooted to be given up without
II struggle. and a rebellion followed. which.
however. was ultimately nut down. That up to
this time British influence was dominant in
the islands Is evident from the fact that in No.
vember. 1923. Kameha ileha H.. accom- panied
By his Queen. made a visit to England. where.
III juno 1917. Uotn uleu. 1nelT remains were
sent back to thoir native land In n British
frigate. Before passing to the decisive chap
ter In Hawaiian history which opened with
the arrival OF american missionaries. We should
not omit to note that on Fob. u. 1904. 4 grand
council " chiefs was hold on bonrd the British
ship Discovery for tho purpose OF placing
Hawaii under the protection OF Great Britain.
The chiefs reserved. however. the right to
regulate all their own internal affairs. On the
25th OF the same month Lieut.. Puget hoisted
the British flag on shore and took possession
OF Hawaii In the name OF his Britannia Males.
ty. A salute was then fired. and the natives
shouted "Kanaka no Bcritane" I'VE are men
Of BritainL The ~cession. however. was never
ratified by the Home Government.
vi.
Early In this century n strong interest in tho
Hawaiian people was awakened In New Eng
land by several Hawaiian youths who had
been taken to the United States as seamen.
and especially by u young man commonly
known as UUookiah. lie WAS brought in 1903
to New Haven. where no received an clluca-
tion. In 1917 tho Foreign Mission School was
instituted at Cornwall. Conn, for the instruc-
tion OF young men from heather lands. md 1t
soon numbered nre young liawaiians among
it's pupils. The first company OF American
UlltslOHdTlch ~ " uiith inlaAuS cLl
, bar.;ed Mt Boston in October. 1919. 1t con-
sisted OF two clergymen and five laymen. with
their wives. besides three Hawaiian youths
from tho Cornwall school. who were to act as
interrreters and assistants. The first pupils
OF these missionaries were the chiefs and
their ~favotite attendants. At first their teach
ing was entirely In English. hut hv degrees
they devoted their time and energies to the
task OF mastering the Hawaiian language and
or reducing it to writing. until they made it
their chief medium cf instruction. The
first printing In Hawaii WAS done on Jan.
Z. 1922. whom eight Iages OF q Hawaiian spell
ing book were produced. The King and other
chiefs came in to SOC the wonderful machine.
and a new i'm pulse was given to tho desire for
knowledge among them. Much pains hnd
been taken by tho missionaries In settling
upon the host method Of expressing tho
sounds OF tho Ian gunge. There are. 1t seems.
eighteen sounds in the Hawaiian tongue. hut
an alphabet Of twslyo letters WAS finally de-
cided upon. the voweis to have tho same pow
ers as In the Italian language. All tho lead