Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-08-03
QUAINT BURIAL OF A uHHN.
Interesting Description Of a Notable
Hawaiian Funeral.
For the Reflector.

HONOLULU, July l7.--You have
read Of the death Of Kapiolani, queen
dowager Of Hawaii, in Honolulu June
"a and her funeral July 2. What
happened during the time of mourn.
ing among the natives or "Kanaka as"
was Of more than novel interest to
one Of the foreigners recently from
Abilene, and it may prove Of interest
to others, especially as the passing Of
the Hawaiian people as a separate ma.
tion was typifed in the imposing
state funeral Of Kapiolani, the widow
ed queen Of King Kalakaua; for, al
though the ex'queen, Liliuokalani,
still still survives, she was at best
only an elective sovereign and has
never laid deep hold on the Hawaiian
people.
Kapiolani was a direct descendant
Of the only monarch whom the great
Kamehameha was unable to subdue.
In addition to being the last Of the
crowned heads who reigned "by di.
vine right" she had endeared herself
to all the Hawaiian people by her
noble character, her generous aid to
the unfortunate lepers, and long
life Of constant efforts to benefit the
women OF her race.
Her death, therefore, was the occa-
sion for spontaneous outburst Of
grief among the natives throughout
the islands. They gathered from the
remotest villages as the news spread
and almost literally lived near the
dead queen until the last opportunity
for loving tribute was passed. The
men eagerly bid for the honor Of wav.
ing the "kahilis," their unique badge
Of royalty over the royal bier day and
night. The women began to put the
kahils together for they are made Of
costly feathers taken from rare birds
now extinct and must be carefully
preserved as only certain two feathers
were plucked from each bird and
there is solid cylindrical mass Of
them attached by small sticks to a
pole, one can easily realize the cost
and sacrifice In procuring them
Some Of the poles are made Of human
bones joined together--boues Of their
conquered enemies.
The dead queen lay in state first ID
her modest home, then in the historic
old native church which Is built Of
white coral. The floral gifts at both
places were as numerous and tasty as
a flower loving people in a land Of
flowers could provide. The royal In
sigma Of crown and kahilis, Of purple
arches and feathered rotes which
were thrown over the bier and worn
by the officers in attendance we're In
great contrast with the simple dress
OF a simple people. The constant,
rhythmic waving Of six kahilis over
the bier gave an added wierd effect to
the dirges played by the band and to
the piteous wailing Of the people as
they clung to each other or stood up
in church to give their last testimony
Of grief. Five hundred chosen natives
drew the catafalque to the royal
mausoleum and 1t was surrounded by
sixty kahilis borne aloft amid the last
despairing walls Of dying people;
six hundred women in their black
"holokus" familiar to American wo-
men as mother hubbards), some Of
them bareiooted, marched In process
sion behind the servants and retainers
Of the queens household.
1t is vouched for that the shores OF
the sea abound with a peculiar red
fish whenever there is an i'll omen to
the Hawaiian people; at the time Of
the revolution and at the death OF
Princess Kaiulani the shores were
bloody red, II is matter Of curios-
| ity how the red fishes behaved at this
last great and pathetic display Of
Hawaiian customs and national feel.
ing. When the strains Of "The Star
Spangled Banner" were boldly pealed
forth as the royal feather kahilis were
carried back from the tomb, methinks
the fear Of such irreverent Yankees
must have scurried the red fish into
the depths Of the sea.
0RLEANA FISHER MCCLELLAN.