The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-10-21
DR.. ENERSONS NEW BOOK
OLDEN LIFE AND
TRADITIONS.
Hero Becomes Victorious by the En-
ercise of Sturdy Traits of Character
Dear to Hawaiian Ideals.


throughout DR.. Emerson's new book,
the story of lwaiwa, are unlike any
thing seen in all literature. as are the
tales of courtship and rivalry between
lovers. The hero becomes victorious
by the exercise of the sturdy traits of
character dear to the Hawaiian ideals
of the old day. There is an atmos-
phere as ancient as the world all
through the story, while the descrip-
tions of scenery are made from the
Hawaiian point of view, in such a way
as to show the reader how the ancient
Hawaiian loved his beautiful land,
what thoughts were inspired i'm him
by the glories of land and sea, and
what horrors superstition wrought on
his sensitive mind There is much in
the book that illustrates in new
way the meaning of the tabu or TIA
boo, as well as the inner meaning of
the old religion. with its multiplicity
of gods and its queer world of reward
and punishment.
The story breathes of the mountain
and the ocean and is a faithful study
of the manner of life and traditions of
ancient Hawaii during the golden age.
The following is verbatim from the
opening chapter:
1t was a gala day at Kohala; the
people from far and near had gather
ed to celebrate with games and con-
tests the annual festival of the maka-
hiki.
"rhe burden of the year had been
lifted by payment to the King and
lord of the land of the annual taxes,
which stood piled about the rude al
tar of stone that marked the dividing
line between district and district.
"The procession of eXacting officials,
priests. constables and stewards, car
rying decorated staffs, idols and em-
blems of Office, had passed through
the land as an army of locusts. stay
ed by until all demands were satisfied
until it's NAV was gorged-and had
then moved on laden with its plum
der.
This might be itemized somewhat
as follows: Item-Fine mats of the
grass like mallaloa rush in varigatCd
patterns. for the Kings special use,
on which to serve the royal fish and
poi. or couch his sacred form in the
heat of the day; item-Coarser mats,
braided from the pandanus leaf, SER
viceable to cover the floor, to build up
the bed. or for general domestic use:
| item-Three cornered mats, tightly
woven from selected young leaves of
the pandanus of extra toughness, to
serve as sails for the canoes of the
| King. Keawe-mu-a-Umi tmeaning
Keawe. the great son of CmD: item
! Sets CkuanD of strong tapa cloth for
| bedding. five ample sheets in each set,
stitched together along one edge. the
top sheet of each decorated in color,
/ blue. pink. yellow, brown, with pat
terms new coined by the savage mind:
! item-One choice robe of tapa (no-ho-
/ lowai) of a delicate yellow, gauZy as
| lace i'm texture. scented with woodland
perfumes Of male, mokehana and
ginger root. destined to wrap the big
| shoulders of the sovereign himself, or
| his favorite wife: item-Figured loin
cloths (maIO) fine and soft i'm texture,
! hand-stamped in colored patterns re-
sembling selTate leaves of fern, ocean
waves. fish scales. stars and crescent
moons. on background of white yell
! low or pink. These delicate fabrics
are nicely folded and packed in a pol
| ished travelling trunk carved in cy-
! lindrica fashion out of Il section of
| kou log-most handsome of woods
with cover of the same material, both
held in place and made handy FOR
transportation by strong, close wo-
ven net OF the tough, aerial roots OF
parasitic trailer. supplemented 10y
cords of olona, the Hawaiian flaN. The
odor which distills from the contents
of this choice caslet, when its cover is
lifted, is most rayishing to the senses;
item-In another container of similar
but less delicate construction, are or
naments and utensils carved in ivory
bone and what not. Here are massive
whale teeth, yellow with ago, solemn
as a crucifiX, carved in apparent Uni
tation of the human tongue, 20 be
suspended about the neck by sCliC
braids of human hair. black as night
once the pride and growth of many ;
dusky maiden's scalp ornanient'
which the king himself will not dis
dain to wear on occasions OF state q
boastful show"