Daily camera., 1899-04-26
HAWAn'S OLDEST WOMAN,
kspooisie Apun Recently Died at tAa
Are of l1.


Age of l2..
There died here a few days ago a
woman OF the age of 127 years. The
hgures have been verified by Prof.
Alexander, the historian A. T. Atkin-
son. superintenden of census. End Mrs.
h.. NJ. Nakuina, a Hawaiian lady of
high cultivation. both in English and
her own language, says a Honolulu
correspondent of the st. Louis Globe
Democrat. The following account OF
visit % the old woman three years
ago was prepared by Mrs. Nakuina and
Is yised 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 grandson. She was very
deaf and could not see clearly, though
when / presented dollar to her she
held out her hand for 1t and placed it
In her pocket. This was al the close
OF the interview, but ! mention it 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 number of
historical ques tions. which were put by
myself. From these we learned that
she well remembered the abolition OF
idolauy and the war in that connec-
ton. She stated that she was mar
ried woman and an attendant of Kapi-
olani /. 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
to Aqua.
bered Keoua being killed at Hawai-
hae. This occurred in 1871. and is de-
scribcd in Alexander's History Of the
Hawaiian People.
Becoming interested in the subject
of old events the aged woman volun-
teered the information that she remen
bered the digging of the well in kau
by kamehameha l.. and that she was
child at that time. running about
like child OF or I. 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 | was enabled to do to the fifth
generation Allowing the ordinary
thirty years for generation would
give 120 years. and we can easily allow
for the NTH enough to bring her out
Of the age she claims by an entirety
different method. We were satisfied
that the old lady had spoken the truth.
What curious link with the past
she is! She must have been little
toddling child when Capt. Cook came
TO the islands. She saw the mon
archy OF Hawaii consolidated and she
saw IT 'aIl. She remained monu-
ment to the past
The following may be accepted as
The history OF Kepoolele Aqua.
She was born at keahialaka Puma.
Hawaii. AMI was about 6 years old in
1881. The came Kepoolele was that of
high chief of the time. The chief
taliD was accused OF causing dcs this
by sorceTy and petition was made 20
the king to have his head cut of. as
he was considered an extremely dan
gerous person. Hence the name Ke-
poolele ,thc discovered head, The
name Aqua means You will be eaten
up" which was the almost universal
threat OF prophecy when Kapiolani
placed the women Of Hawaii on a Level
with men by visiting the sacred pre-
cincts OF Pele. the fire goddess At the
time this ole woman received this sec
ord name she was full grown.