The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-09
The Funeral of Robert
Hoapi|i Baker.
BURIAL At KAWAIAHAl
Solemn and Most Impressive Cere
monies Held at Militant Hall
Yesterday Afternoon.


pill Baker yesterday afternoon was an
impressive and memorable eere-
mony. Before half past one people had
begun to gather at Militant Hall, where
the body was TO lie in state from two
to four. The mauka end of the hall
had been admirably decorated for the
occasion with palms, ferns, leis, and
! punches and clusters of flowers. The
| lectern was draped with the Hawaiian
| flag, and over this were scattered and
hung IN profusiOn leis of the fruit of
tho lauhala tree To the right, the
corner was filed with palms and beau
tiful ferns banked high, and the space
| to the left and around the organ was
treated in the same way. In front of
| the reading desk, q large rug occupied
the center Of the floor On this. and
just in front of the lectern, stood the
largest Of the three stationary kahilis
The standards OF these were made of
many sections OF wood, apparently
koa, ctnningly fitted together. The
superstructure az this large kahili con-
1 n
ends, draped at the bottom to the staff
with alternate cores of blue and white
silk and surmounted with a round
| plaque of small white feathers.
The other two stationary kahilis
stood at the opposite corners, the idea
being 20 have one of them on each side
OF the head of the coffin, the foot of
which came down to the large kahili.
| These two smaller ones were of or
ange-colored feathers, shading to yell
low, and with black tips, and they were
hung with bows of old gold ribbon
Royal purple and old gold were used
in decorations sufficiently to emphasize
the royal birth OF the deceased; and
these two rich colOrs, which always
blend superbly, were rendered more
effective by the background of green
palms and ferns. The massing of COL
Ors vas very well done, though evil
IDENTIFY without special effort after eff
feet. Near the two kahilis that were
toward the congregation, and also
around their bases, were gathered and
craped quantities OF flowers in ali Sorts
Of varieties OF arrangement; long leis
and ropes or pink carnations, baskets
OF purple asters and other flowers, leis
made OF pond lilies, and other special
Ily beautiful ones Of plumaria, and
wreaths and circles and other group
ings OF flowers and leaves. Arranged
without particular effort in ehe direc-
4 tiOn OF art, the floral offerings were
nevertheless effective and handsome.
Quite a number OF Hawaiians had al
ready gathered in the hall at 1:35,
when the coffin containing the body
was brought in. This was placed on
standards on the rug, as already de-
scribed. 1t was covered with some
white, rich substance resembling vel
vet and bore in the center a silver
plate telling the identity of the de-
ceased. It was effectively draped with
old gold and royal purple, as well as
red and green, the colors being intro
duced by means of feather wreaths the
thickness of ones thumb. The chief
part of It's decoration was a royal cape
OF feathers of many colors.
After the coffin mad been put into
place and the cover over the deceas-
eds head and shoulders removed. the
kahili-bearer5 ranged themselves -four
on each side, and held their kahilis
aloft These were smaller and slighteT
than the others, but very pretty. and
appropriately designed They were
made of feathers combining purple
old gold and white, and they were
borne upon slender standards like whiI
stocks, joind of wood and silver alter
nately. These eight men were natives
Or whites, and were dressed alike
in black, as were also all present, ex-
cept a few white women.
The hall was very well filled by
o'clock, at which time the ceremony
really began. Promptly at that hour
the men by the side of the coffin began
to sing, and for the next two hours
hey sang one song every ten minutes
This singing was the most impressive
part of the whole burial service. The
, men sang well and with plenty of feel
ing. and the songs, verses and choruse.
alike were of the sweet, sad wistfu
strain of Aloha De-" with just a trace
OF wildness and weirdness about them
Nothing can quite express human feel
ing as music can, and these songs in
the way they were rendered were alto
gether the most memorable features oil
the cers mony During the choruses
and also between songs the bearers
lowered their kahilis so that the end:
met. and waved them back and forth
, few times over the coffin, according
! to certain rules of movement, anC
then restored them to their upright
: position.
Hawaiian women in their black holo-
kus and black hats occupied the front
rows of the body of the hall, and behind
/ them the chairs were taken by people
of many different nationalities, though
r Hawaiians were very much in the maj
ority everywhere. Gradually during
the two hours the hall became more and
s more full, until towards the end, wher
= the hall was crowded TO its limit, and
the doors and windows were occupied
by as many heads and bodies as cOuk
find room. At the left side of the coffir
z between the organ and the door sal
r the mourners, the widow in her heavy
8 veil in the middle of the front row. A
:, the foot of the coffin. on the left, sal
Mr.. John Cummins, and on the right
Hon. A. 5. Cleghorn, who did not come
in until late in the afternoon. There
/ was no wailing during the ceremony