The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-02-22

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'Bishop" goes strangely with these
Hawaiian names, but thereby hangs the
tale.
An only child, Bernice Pauahi--for
Hawaiians bear the mothers name-was
bethrothed by her parents to Prince Lot,
who ascendC1 the throne as kameha.
meha V. Ae high chief and high chief
tainess her parents were surrounded by
wealth and retainers. Their fine res
idence stood in the middle of a garden
overslIadowed by trees. Now it has
fallen to the estate of hotel, and
grandeur knows il no more, though ma
ture is more lavish than ever. In those
days this spacious mansion was called
Aikupika. Now it is the krlinton Hotel.
At birth Bernice Pauahi was adopt
ed by Kinau, wife of Governor kekua
naoa, mother of Kamehameba ~. and
". and of the Princess Victoria Kama
malu. On the coming of the baby,
Princess Victoria, her edopted sister re-
turned to her own parents and was sent
to the royal school, reserved for the
children of the chiefs of the islands, and
conducted by the missionaries. Mr.. aud
Mrs. A. s. Cooke. Coming under mis-
sionary influence at the early age of 8
years, and remaining at this schoo'
until the completion of her education,
it is not strange that the
young chieftainess should have fallen in
love with white man, who returned
her affection. Such union, however,
was so contrary to the desires of Ber-
nice Pauahi's parents as to be impos-
sible, if contaminated with their con.
sent, consequently the young people
followed their incliDations and were
married ciaudestinely. On June D,
1850, Bernice Pauahi became the wife
of G. r. Bishop, collector general of
customs at Honolulu, and related by
marriage to Judge Lee, whose widow was
well known in New York as Mrs. Il. l..
Youmans.
Enraged at the Illustration of their
cherished plan to place their daughter
on the Hawaiian throne rs the Queen
of Kamehameha ", Mrs. Bishops
parents refused to speak to the young
bride. For long time they refused to
allow her money or retainers, but, find
ing that no Fault could be found with
Mr.. Bishop as a husband, they at last
withdrew their opposition and, on
dying, left their large fortune to theii
daughter.
Prince Lot, it is said, loved Bernice
Pauahi, and refused to marry anyone
else. Stricken with dropsy, he AS Ka.
mehameha ", lay on his death bed
without having named an heir: You
must appoint your successor urged
the kings ministers. Among those who
surrounded Kamehameha V. was the
long loved Bernice Pauahi. Der
nice" said the king, twill y'u take the
CROWN
"Why not give it to your cousin,
wwhai!' Put that sot on the throne
and bring my people to grief No. No
you take iif'
Mrs bishop declined. She was the
wife of an American, and did not wish
to occupy such an anomalous position.
In the discussion Kamehameha V.
died. Lunalilo was elected king. Liv-
ing only thirteen months, he was sue
ceeded in 1874 by Kslakaua. Had Mrs.
Bishop accepted the crown she would
have been blessing to her country,
and perhaps saved the monarchy for
many year to come.
Prominent in all good works, Mrs.
Bishop was n social leader by. birth,
wealth and character. Combining a
handsome person with kind heart and
gracious manners. she was beloved by
All WIN hIltW ntT. hS llIh DttNttn
native and foreigner, she occupied a
unique position.
Mrs. Bishop died on Oct. 10, 1884, af-
ter few months illness. All business
houses were closed and flags we're lower
ed at half mast. For two weeks the
body lay in state and, on Nov. I'd. the
funeral was attended by high and low,
foreign and Hawaiian.
In addition to the fortune obtained
from her parents, Mrs, Bishop inner
tied the remaining property of the
Kamehamehas through her cousin,
Princess Ruth Keelikolani, who died
without living children. "God has
blessed me with a large fortune"
said Mrs. Bishop to native friend. at
has descended to me. The people gave
it to my family. | have no issue.
shall give it back to the people that
they may reap the benefit" Thus it
was that Mrs. Bishop founded the Ka.
mehameha schools for Hawaiian boys
and girls, and thus it happened that
Dec. 10 becomes founders day and is
celebrated with various ceremonies and
games, beginning early in the morning
with the decoration of Mrs. Bishops
tomb.
On reaching the royal cemetery at 10
o'clock, laden with flwers, we found
that some one had been before us. "Can
it be that the Kamehameha boys have
beef here in advance of the timer" said
the sweet faced lady who had been my
guide and who was related by marriage
to the honored dead.
IF boys decorated the tomb, they are
born artists" said, gazing with ad-
miration on the most beautiful arrange
ment of flowers l had ever seen in a
cemetery. Near by stood native
woman, wife of the keeper of the
grounds. "These decorations are by
order of Liliuokalani," she said. 'The
flowers came from her garden on Tan
talus. The set pieces We're made by her
gardener. l did the rest early this
morning" In her holoku Mother Hub
bard) and large hat, the speaker was the
last person should have thought cap
able of creating floral poem, but this
is Hawaii. have already declared my
faith in artistic gifts of the natives.
Here was an illustration, Nothing that
we sid equaled this Hawaiian womans
work. Nature endowed her with love
of flowers and a deft hand. With cul-
tivation, what might not be the result
of such inherent aptitude?
Soon a long omnibus stopped at the
cemetary gate. 1t bore Kamehameha
girls, who walked to the tomb in couples.