Evening star., 1899-03-29

II.
personal attractiveness and some accom-
rlshments. having been educated for eight
years in England. Her mother was the Prin-
cess Likelke. younger sister of the last two
n.onarchs. She died in 1856. mainly from
superstitious fear connected with an erup-
| ton of Maunaloa. which occurred while she
was enfeebled by malady.
When the news of Liliuokalani's dethrone-
ment reached England kaiulani's guardian,
T. H. Davies. hastened over with her to
Washington, in hope of influencing Presi-
dent Cleveland in favor of the young heir.
1t is known that the princess made q most
pleasant impression upon Mrs. Cleveland.
Returning to England, she continued her
studies. subsequently sOjourning on the con-
tinent. She returned about two years ago
to her island home. where her father had
built her beautiful mansion. She has alb
stained entirely from politics, which she
has left wholly TO her aunt. The govern
ment paid her a moderate pension. Her
own property is small.
Kaiulani will doubtless be greatly mourn
ey by the Hawaiian natives, to whom she
was one of the last representatives of their
former numerous and stately chiefs. She
will also be regretted by the white society
of Honolulu, TO whom she had made herself
acceptable. state funeral has been aC-
corded to her by the government. There
will certainly be a grand display of royal
insignia on the occasion. 1t is in accordance
with reputed Hawaiian experience that a
royal death is accompanied by a heavy rain
storm. which this time duly came. attended
by most copiouS food in the district
around the princess residence. The neigh
boring race track. where Camp Mckinley
had stood, was completely submerged on
the day of her death. | am only stating a
coincidence but have witnessed a number of
similar condolences of royal deaths and
funerals with violent storms. The natives
will undoubtedly look for a rain and thun-
der storm on the day of the princess fu
neral
There is certainly an element of tragical
romance in this case. Here is a young girl
brought up to believe herself destined to
queenhood. accustomed to special Difference
as heir TO the throne and rejoicing in a bril-
liant future, with all the glow of budding
womanhoOd. Then came the crash and the
expected throne was overturned and shat
tered. \ few years follow cheered by social
amenities. but darkened by the great dis
appointment. and now the heavy hand of
death closes the scene. 1t cannot be said that
life for the princess seemed likely to bring
forth much of attraction or high promise.
Even had the throne not been lost, a some
what imperiOus native tendency would have
caused serious friction, and was perhaps
lmfavOrable in any case for future hap
pinsSS. Nor was her domestic environment
altogether desirable, as an inheritance from
her unfortunate mother. One cannot feel
that an early exchange of worlds is sad
in its prematureness as it would be for
most.
Near to the elegant residence of the prin-
clss at the splendid sea beach at Waititi
Wighty-tce). is a favorite place for surf
Siding. Natives paddle out their slender
canoes and poise them adroitly on the steep
front of a roller about TO comb. The comb
ing surf drives them shooting to the beach,
perhaps three hundred yards. 1t is now
common for white people to go out with
the natives for such rides. OF course, the
latter require much knack and skill, as we'll
a aS to be strong swimmers in case of acct
dent. as most of them are. \ party of tour
lists were nearly drowned three days ago.
owing to one of their natives proving de-
ficent in both respects. The canoe was
pitChpoled end over end. The only strong
swimmer bore child ashore, while ;hree
adults struggled unaided. They Were once
washed off the bottom of the canoe by the
surf but luckily got hold again. More pre-
cautions are necdful, ana doubtless viii be
used in the future
The old practice of surf sliding "hee-
nalu,' upon surf boards. was magnificent
sport. 1t has fallen almost entirely into
dsuSe since forty years ago. when horses
became numerous and cheap. Before that
date ! used frequently to see it at Laha-
ma as well as earlier az Kailua. l believe
some adopts still practice it at Hilo. The
natives much prefer running horses. The
board used in surf sliding is from five to
eight feet long and ten to fifteen inches
wide. rounded at the ends and sharpish at
The rider swims out with the board under
one arm. diving under the rollers until out
side where the surf is just beginning to
break. There. by an adroit movement he
stretches himself upon board lust in front
of a big roller. at the same time violently
plying arms and legs to get a move on
while the roller lifts him from behind.
Once in motion. the wave does the rest al
though great skill is needed to keep the
board poised precisely at the proper height
and inclination upon the front of the vio-
leutly breaking roller. The riders will thus
shoot several hundred yards to the shore.
BY early and long practice great skill was
attained in this sport The more expert
would often rise to a standing posture, ball
ancing their boards by their feet at the
right point on the wave. l can remember
in early boyhood daily Watching from my
home through the stems of the lofty cocoa
palms scores of natives flying in together
in the white. roaring surf. Some were
prone. others crOuching on their boards
and some standing erect. Both sexes par
ticipated and modesty was much at dis
count, except when the venerated mission
airy was in sight. The males Wore the n,aJo
or breech girdle when disporting thus in
our neighborhOod. The females did not
stand up their boards
Customs in those early days were Area
dan. At about 1924 the writer's young
mother at kailua once received in her
matched cottage a morning call from
beyy OF royal DANES with their attendants
all fresh from surf-play. The maidens car
ried the garments, while their mstresses
stalked into the missionary's parlor in
stately simplicity, and proceeded to dress
All that was utterly innocent, and 50 in a
certain sense was the nearly entire unre-
straint of domestic morals in those early
days To infuse some degree of conscience
on that point has been altogether the most
difficult part of the missionary's task in
Hawaii To most of the ten commandants
the Hawaiian was easily amenable But
the Importance of the seventh did not read
lily come home to him, not even after the
hdeous ravages of syphilization which pre-
ceded civilization.
Effects of the Recent Storm.
The day the princess died, a March wind