The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-05-26
ORIGIN OF HAWAI- ANS
NEVER DEFINITELY SETTLED
Pioneers Were Bold Navigat-
ors Who Sailed By Sun
and Star.
T AIRED SMITH. Superintendent of

7 AIRED SMITH, Superintendent of
the agricultural experiment sta
II ton for Hawaii, has received a
number OF copies OF the report
of VIM. c. Stubs on the agricultural
resources and capabilities of Hawaii,
for general distribution throughout
the Territory. Professor Stubs is di-
rector Of the Louisiana agricultural
experiment station and was sent here
last year by the Department of Agri-
culture to report on tie resources of
the Islands. The origin of the people,
geology of the Islanls, their fora and
the plants introduced since their dis
covery are all treated at great length.
In dealing with the question of the
origin of the Hawaiians, Mr. Stubs
says:
"The origin of the inhabitants of
these islands has never been definitely
solved. The botanical auinities of the
plants and the chronological resem-
blances of the animals, including the
people, all point to the islands of the
south and southwest. Prof. Alexander.
in his History of the Hawaiian Peo-
ple,' states that the inhabitants of
all the groups of islands in the eastern
Pacific from New Zealand to Hawaii.
and also to Easter Island, scattered
over a distance CT 1000 miles, may
be considered as one race, which is
commonly called the Polynesian race;
for they all speak dialects of the same
language, have the same physical fea-
tho
the same general system of ''tabus,"
and similar traditions and religious
rites. They have in common the names
of the principal gods, stories of the
origin of fire. about the deluge, etc.
The Polynesian language is a member
of a large and widely spread family,
including those spoken in Micronesia,
the Philippine Islands. the Malay ar
chipelago and Madagascar It is
thought that the Polynesians original
ly came from southwestern Asia, but
it is positively known that their pro-
genitors were emigrants from the In
dian archipelago.
Came from Samoa.
1T is fairly well determined that the
Island of Savaii, in the Samoan group.
is the point of departure for all of the
Polynesians of the eastern Pacific.
The Maoris of New Zealand. closely
resembling the Hawaiians, have ira
dition that their ancestors came from
Hawaiki. The Marquesans claim that
their ancestors came from Hawaii in
the west, stopping at Fiji, vavau and
Tonga The dialects of all of these
islands are similar to the Hawaiian.
The first settlement of the Hawai-
ian Islands was made long ago, since
human bones are found under coral
reefs and ancient lava flows. Judge
Fernandez thinks the islands were in
habited as early as 500 A. D. Whether
the earlier settlers were driven from
other islands in war or left them de-
signedly, whether they were seeking
new islands or were driven out of
their course by storms to known ones,
will never be known. The original
Hawaiians were great navigators, per-
forming voyages oil many months du-
ration in large canoes. sailing with
outriggers to the windward. well pro-
visioned. etc. They sailed by the
stars at night and by the sun in the
day. Thus the settlement of all of the
islands of the Pacific may be account
ed for
After separation from the world
for manv generations. intercourse
with the South Pacific islands was es-
tablished. and many of these famous
VOYAGES have been celebrated both in
song and story. Most of these vow
ages were made to Kahiki (Tahiti).
but the intercourse ceasing over five
hundred years ago. the Hawaiians lost
definite ideas of the locality of these
islands. and so in time Kahiki came
to mean any foreign country.
Former Division of Classes.
The Hawaiians were divided for
merly into three classes, with wide
and permanent distinction between
them: Cd The nobility, consisting of
the kings and chiefs: ca the priests.
sorcerers and doctors. and ca the
common or laboring class. The first
class we're the sole owners of the land
and all that grew upon It. They were
also owners Of the fish of the sea. and
of the time and labor OF the people.
The latter owned nothing absolutely.
The feudal system was practiced here
In an intensified form. the common la
borers not receiving more than one
third OF the products Of their toll. The
second class were the learned men
and kept alive the knowledge Of as
tronomy. history. medicine. etc. Wars
we're common and very destructive.
The van7uished were either DESTROYED
or branded on the forehead as slaves
and made TO serve the remainder of
their life. Marriage was practiced BY
ell, but the tie was not strong. the
husband dismissing his wife at pleas
ure- Polygarny was pracffced BIZ an
who could AFFORD It. Descent came
through the mother only. hence, every