The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-08-13
KAU RAIN GOD.
Said to Possess the Power of Bring.
ing On DOwnpOurs.
Recent Encounter with an Old Hag.
Superstition of Natives About
the God Near KaaIaiki.

The absence OF ram III Ln0 hdu us
trict has set people wondering if there
is not some method other than firing
explosives into the air which might
prove efficient in the matter Of calling
down much needed waters from the
skies. They have searched in the old
books on their library shelves and con-
suited the kahunas far and near, but
not until the other day did they sue
coed in getting some solution to the
problem, which, if things are as they are
represented to be, will result in reports
by the next steamer from Hawaii of
rains that have flooded the country and
set up an opposition to the ocean.
few days ago one of the respondent
Pahala sugar plantation men was wan
dering about mauka of Kaalaiki when
he spied an old native woman whom
he Immediately took for witch wan
dering about within what seemed to be
the limits of circle. All the while she
kept muttering to herself and gazing
heavenwards in an attitude of suppl
cation At intervals she would place
her hands on a small object, at the
same time uttering a peculiar screechy
whistle
The watcher was all eyes and ears at
once, believing the woman to be out
of her senses, and watching for the eli
max of her uncanny proceedings.
1t began to grow dusk, and the plan
tation man, not wishing to be left alone
in such dismal place with such per-
son, at last made up his mind to ad-
dress her, which he did in a rather
shaky manner, as follows:
"Old lady, what are you doing out
here in this dismal place, performing
such queer acts?''
Her answer came slowly but distinct
ly: II am of an age that knows none
of your kind, and my practices are be-
yond the comprehension of such as
yourself; but let me tell you that by
your rude interference you have spOilt
all my work and sent the Rain God
flying toward his home beyond the
skies. 1 am only a feeble woman and
cannot punish you, but remember that
through your indiscretion you have
brought on drought which was just
beginning, and which it was in my
power to avert. Go! 1 will have no
more of you. Remember that a dry
spell is upon this district, and the grass,
trees and cane will die on all hands,"
nd n IGOR fIo oh, al =
woman, laughing fiendishly as she skip
ped over the ground toward the hills,
leaving the plantation man in maze of
bewilderment.
There is a popular superstition with
the natives in the district of Kau that
if a person makes pilgrimage to this
Rain God, which has been seen by
very few people, and whips it with an
ohelo branch, there viii be a down
pour of rain.
About year ago prominent Ha-
waiian lawyer of Honolulu, and Prince
Albert, wanted to make a visit to it,
and there was a rivalry to see who
would reach it first. The lawyer, of
course, was winner.
After placing a bottle of gin on the
head of the god, he administered to it
sound thrashing with ohelo branches
and then departed for home.
1t is claimed that Prince Albert had
hardly reached the place when the rain
came down in torrents so great that he
had to postpone his visit for several
days.
1t was suggested by kamaaina later
that had Albert but possessed the good
sense to snatch the bottle of gin away
he might have prevented such weeping
outward drenching.