The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-05-07


Boarding School. graduating from the
Lahainaluna Seminary. After leaving
the latter place, he was Police Magis-
trate at Lahaina, but finany returned to
his birthplace, where, as will appear. he
and band of his followers distinguish
| ed themselves.
In 1867 he introduced himself to Rev
j. D. Paris, of Kona (to whom am in
debted for the account of all that hap
pened prior to my arrival on the scene),
saying, Il have come to Kona from Ho-
noIulu and have brought with me lot
OF Hawaiian Bibles for gratuitous dis
tribution, and I want a place to store
them until the Sabbath is past This
was Saturday afternoon. He also begged
that he might store them in the new
church Lanakila, which was at that time
covered in, but had not been finished in
side, or consecrated. The church trus-
tees granted his request, and he imme-
diately took possession. In a few days
it was rumored that Kaona. with
large number of his family and its
branches, who lived near by, had all
moved into the church
The first signs of religious insanity now
appeared, for Kaona and his wife claim
ed to be divinely inspired prophets of the
Lord Jehovah, and God-appointed heads
of the church on earth; and they assum-
| ed to take possession of this property in
| the name of the Lord. All who would
consent to be his followers were to take
oath on the Bible, live in common,
wear white badge on their hats. have a
| Bible hung by their sides like sword
| and follow their leaders to death or vic
| tory. When requested by the church of
fcers to vacate the building, Kaona and
his followers positively refused to do so,
| tl,,
who should interfere or attempt to GUST
| them. Here they continued to live for
| some weeks, singing, praying, chanting
| the Psalms, day and night, and telling
| their dreams, until an order of eject
ment was served on them from the Gov
erness of the. Island Ruth Keeliiokalani
| Being, however. finally compelled to
leave the church, they took possession OF
a tract of land near by, belonging to
| Kanaina, erected a number of grass
houses, and planted "a fiag-pole. There
| they stayed until the rainy season came
on, when they moved again, mile and
half nearer the sea, where they re-
manned until driven out ~ force some
months later
They then planted their fag-pole in
the middle of an open court, erected
grass houses, and held both religious and
political meetings. Kaona claimed to be
the head of all the powers that be,
Church or State, and defied and threat
ened utter determination to any one who
should oppose him or his followers. The
land which they had taken possession of
had been leased in the mean time to Mr.
William F. Ray; he showed the lease to
Kaona, and requested him and his fol-
lowers to leave, out all to no purpose.
After trying to have them removed
peaceably, and receiving only abuse, he
took legal steps for ejectment, and Sher-
10 IAI 20 10 too
When he read it. at the same time giving
Kaona a copy, the latter was full of
wrath; Selling the paper ne spit upon it,
and tearing it in pieces stamped it UNI
der his feet, venting his anger On Mr..
| Neville and all civil authority. Affirm
ing that he was amenable to no earthly
power he ordered the sheriff to leave.
and never again to dare to assume au-
thority over him or his followers. de-
claring that IL he did so he would be Sc
verely dealt with. For good reasons,
nothing more was done for some months
in attempting another notice of eject
ment.
In the following year, 1868, Hawaii was
visited by a series of severe earthquakes,
and Kaona, understanding the supersti-
tious character of the natives, made the
most of the events. He uttered his
prophecies, that the end was at hand
that the world was to be burned up aft
er "A certain number of days, and that
only he and his followers would be saw
ed His disciples were sent forth in ev-
cry direction to warn the people-na-
tives and foreigners-to repent, to flee
from the wrath to come, to turn to him
as the Lords true prophet, and join his
followers. All who refused he said.
would assuredly perish, and be forever
excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven.
When Sheriff Neville went to serve the
second notice of ejectment, knowing
what kind of a man he had to deal with,
he was armed, and accompanied with his
deputy and d number of constables. He
rode to the outskirts of Kaona's en-
campment; but before reaching the house
which Kaona made his headquarters the
sheriff and his constables were met by a
shower of stones, and surrounded by a
large force of the fanatics, armed with
clubs, stones and lassos, and yelling like
fiends, XIII the haole, kill the haolep'
In the melee Sheriff Neville was struck
in the head by a stone, which fractured
his skull Gas it was supposedly and felled
him from his horse. The other con-
stables barely escaped with their lives,
except one, who was lassoed, dragged
from his horse and killed Several 9TH
ers were severely wounded, but made
their escape on horseback.
Neville lay where he fell for some
hours no one daring to remove him; he
was still alive, but unable to help him
self. When it was reported to Kaona
that the sheriff was still alive, he called
upon his followers to acquit themselves
like men; and said that whoever would
put an end to that wicked haole should
have the highest scat in heaven. A fierce,
blood-thirsty fellow stood forth and said
II am the man. and club in hand went
out and finished the work of murder.
This bloody work done, the whole COM
munity gathered around their leader,
dressed in white, with their Bibles,
chanting, "Glory TO God In the highest.
who has given the victory over our
enemies!" Then after a thrilling ha-
rangue, tKaona exhorted his followers to
seize and put to death all who would not
join them-natives and foreigners alike
and to set fire to their houses.
When this was known, the whole dis
trict was aroused. All able-bodied men
natives and foreigners-armed them
selves for the protection of their fami-
lies and property. Word was sent post
haste to Hilo, to Mr.. John n Coney, the
sheriff of the Island, who soon arrived
with an armed force, and being Joined
by the armed band in Kona, marched