The Eddy current., 1899-04-15
nAwAn,s oLnnar woMAn.


HAWAifs OLDEST WOMAN,
Rspooisis Apps aeesntly Disd ~ ths
Age % taI.
There died here a few days ago a
woman OF tho age Of is1 years. The
figures have been verified by Prof.
Alexander. the historian. A. r. Atkin-
son. superintendent Of census. and Mrs.
q. NJ Nakuina. a Hawaiian lady OF
high cultivation, both IN Engliah and
her own language, says Honolulu
correspondent Of the 81. Louis Globe
Democrat. The following Account Of
visit 10 the old woman three years
ago was prepared by Mrs. Nakuina and
Is ylaed by Prof Alexander;
"on entering the house we found her
sitting on the floor. She waa attended
by two women. one OF whom was tho
wife OF a grandson. She was very
deaf and could not see clearly. though
when presented a dollar 10 her she
held out her hand for Il and placed u
IN her pocket. This was at the close
OF the interview. but mention Il now
10 show what the old lady's faculties
were:
Prof. Alexander after some proiim-
mary remarks. In order not 20 alarm
the old lady. suggested a number OF
historical questions. which we're put by
myself From these we learned that
she we'll remembered the abolition OF
ldolatry and the war IN that cOnnec-
tion. She stated that she was n mar
rled woman and an attendant OF Kapi-
olanl I. " hen that queen descended In
to the crater Of the Kilauea volcano,
and broke the tabu against women
being In that locality. The old lady
said that In consequence OF this mo-
mentous event her own name was
changed by her people from Kepoolele
10 Aqua.
THE old lady said that she remem-
bered Keoua being killed 81 Kawsi-
hac. This occurred In 1891. and II de-
scrlbed In Alexander's History OF the
Hawaiian People
Becoming interested In the subject
OF old events the aged woman yolun-
teered the information that she remem-
bered the digging OF tho we'll IN Kau
by Kamehameha l., and that she was
child at that time. running about
like a child OF or 7. This event oc-
CURED in 1881 and Is described IN For
nander's history.
II followed up another method OF In
vestigatlon. lnquiring how many chill
dren she had. tracing their descendants
This was enabled 10 DO TO the hfth
generation Allowing the ordinary
thirty years for n generation would
give 100 years. and we can easily allow
for the nfth enough TO bring her out
OF the age she claims by an entirely
different method. We we're satisfied
that the old lady had spoken the truth
What a curious link with the past
she isl She must have been little
toddllng child when Capt, Cook came
to the Islands. She saw the mon
archy OF Hawaii consolidated and she
saw II fall. She remained n monu'
meni 10 the past"
The following may be accepted al
the history Of Kepoolele Aqua:
She was born at kenhlalakn, Puma
Hawaii and was about Q years old II
1871. The name Kepoolele was that o
n high chief OF the time. The chic
(allD was accused OF causing deathi
by sorcery and petition was made {,
the king TO have his head cut on. nj
he was considered an extremely dan
gerous person. Hence the name Ke
poolole tthc discovered head. Tn
name Aqua means You will be eatel
up" which was the almost unlyersa
threat OF prophecy when Kaplolan
placed the women Of Hawaii on a leye
with mon by visiting the sacred pre-
clnots OF Pele, the fire goddess. AZ IN
time this ola woman received this sec
end name she was full grown.