Austin's Hawaiian weekly. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1899-190?, 1899-07-08
The Decay Of the
Hawaiian Race

he nj he
n.w.,,.r p.cs mains of long line of
illustrious chiefs whose
lineage has come down
the ages for many centuries in almost unbroken
chain. The decay of race so arniabe and in
many ways so exemplary, that dates its origin
from Aryan stock, and which, when discovered
in Hawaii retained remnants of the early civiliza-
ton of the Mesipotania basin, appeals vividly to
the pathetic and sentimental sensibilities. That
the Hawaans in the short space of seventy years,
after having degenerated from an ancient civiliza-
tiOn through superstition and the influence of
priest craft should have embraced christianity
and modern civilization is but another evidence
of their antiquity and contact with an earlier
civilization. In less than century they have
been lifted from savagery to high intelligence
and education which compares favorably with
any of the peoples of the world; yet the stiinu-
ating aggressive modern civilization seems to
have had a strange effect upon the race. For
forty or fifty years the chiefs of the royal line have
practically been without issue and the throne has
passed successfully from brother to brother, or
brother to sister, and in the of the Princess
kaiulani the succession passed from aunt to niece
King Lunalilo was the only exception to this rule
and after his death the succession passed by popu-
lar consent from the direct Kanehamella line
for lack of heirs, with one exception, Queen
Emma) to the Kaakaua dynasty a collateral
branch. y
1t cannot be claimed that the stimulus of
civilization was the cause of this barrenness of
issue although it might have had something to do
with it, Speaking in scientific parlance, it was
probably due to the influence of "inbreeding"
during several centuries. The lines of consar,-
gulnlty were never drawn among the Hawaiian
chiefs. The same natural phenomena is taking
place among the royal families of Europe andit
had not been for the prolific, late Queen of Den
mark, with her many daughters. furnishing con-
sorts for the crowned heads of Europe the con-
dition would have been much worse than it is
But what of the next generation?
In minor degree the same influences are prob
ably the cause, partially at least, of the dm-
mutton of the Hawaiian people. For nearly ten
centuries, as nearly as can be estimated, they were
confined to an isolated and limited area without
the stimulating contact with other races Vision
ary as were many of the schemes of the late King
kaakaua, whose consort was the lamented Queen
Dowager kapiolani, his suggestion for "hoonln
ka lahnl was by no means chimercal. 1t was
based upon sound philosophy. He proposed the
founding of industrial seminaries, at government
expense. and that girls be imported, preferably
from India, to be educated in English and Hawai-
ian and all the domestic virtues that would fit
them for good wives; that at the proper age these
girls be offered in marriage to Hawaiians; that
pending their marriage, or in the event of their
remaining single, they be employed as factory
hands, as government wards. Thus he contend
ed, by infusing new and kindred blood into the
race the turning point will gradually be reached
and my people increase instead of diminish with
out in any waA changing the Hawaiian character
istics That his theory was sound finds evidence
in the tact that native women married to either