The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-05-12

Kspooiole spun Recently Died ~ she
age OF ta7.


Kspooisie spun Recently Died az ths
Age OF ta1.
There died here a few days ago a
woman OF the age OF 12l years. The
figures have been verified by Prof
Alexander. the historian; A. T. Akin
son, superintendent Of census, and Mrs.
p. M. Nakuina, a Hawaiian lady Of
high cultivation, both IN English and
her own language, says q Honolulu
correspondent OF the st. Louis Globe
Democrat. The following account Of
a visit to the old woman three years
ago was prepared by Mrs. Nakuina and
Is vised by Prof. Alexander:
"On entering the house We found her
sitting on the floor. She was attended
by two women. one Of whom was the
wife Of a grandson. She was very
deaf and could not see clearly, though
when I presented a dollar to her she
hello out her hand for it and placed it
in her pocket. This was at the close
Of the interview, but / mention 1t now
to show what the old lady's faculties
were:
Prof. Alexander, after some prelim-
mary remarks. in order not to alarm
the old lady, suggested a number Of
historical questions, which we're put by
myself. From these we learned that
she well remembered the abolition OF
idolatry and the war in that connec-
ton. She stated that she was a mar
ried and an attendant Of Kapi-
olapi I. when 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
20 Aqua.
The old lady said that she remem-
bered Keoua being killed at Hawai-
hae. This occurred in 1891, and Is de-
scribed in Alexander's History Of the
Hawaiian People.
Becoming interested in the subject
Of old events the aged volun-
teered the information that she remem-
bered the digging of the well in Kau
by K~amehameha l., and that she was
a child at that time, running about
like a child Of 6 or " This event oc-
Cured in 1881 and is described in For
nander's history.
Il followed up another method Of in
vestigation. inquiring how many chill
dren she had, tracing their descendants.
This l was enabled to do to the fifth
generation. Allowing the ordinary
thirty years for a generation would
give 120 years. and we can easily allow
for the fifth enough to bring her out
Of the age she claims by an entirely
different method. We were satisfied
that the old lady had spoken the truth.
What a curious link with the past
she is! She must have been a little
toddling child when Capt. Cook came
to the islands. She saw the mon
archy of Hawaii consolidated and she
saw it fall. She remained a monu-
ment to the past"
The following may be accepted as
the history of Kepoolele Aqua:
She was born at Keahialaka, Puma
Hawaii, and was about 6 years old il
1881. The name Kepoolele was that o.
a high chief Of the time. The chic.
(alil) was accused .ofkcsaAa deaths
by sorcery and petition was made t,
the king to have his head cut on, al
he was considered an extremely dan.
gerous person. Hence the name Ke
poolele 1.-THE discovered head. Tn,
name Aqua means you will be eateI
up" which was the almost universe
threat OF prophecy when Kapiolan
placed the women Of Hawaii on a leve
with men by visiting the Hacred pre-
cincts Of Pele, the fire goddess. At tn,
time this ola woman received this sec
ond name she was full grown.