The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-08-15


.whfffs and pass it around. The tobacco
is home grown and very strong. The
native pipe is home made and brass
tipped.
They are expert musicians, singing
and playing various instruments per-
fectly. 1t is treat to hear them as
they go about on the eve of some holt
day serenading from house 10 house
Their hula kui is a muscle dance OF
such an indecent nature that ii was
placed under tabu by the government.
Bathing and surf riding are daily
pastimes: in fact, they frequently spend
half the day in the water. In 1910 the
native schooner Keola capsized twenty
five miles from shore and two wahines
(women) swan the entire distance one
carrying her husband on her back un-
til he died.
When riding horseback, which is
popular among the native women, they
sit astride or man fashion, The ease
and grace with which they sit their
mounts has won the American ladies
to their way of riding and it is seldom
one sees woman riding in the old
cramped and uncomfortable position
customary at home.
On holidays the native women for
merly wore pau (riding habit, pro-
nounced pah-ou) of bright colored cloth
about eighteen inches wide and flowing
nearly to the ground from the waist on
either side. A company of half a dozen
wearing different colors presented a
striking appearance.
When doing the family washing they
sit tailor-fash1on. using a large stone
if one be at hand.
POI EATERS.
The chief articles Of diet are poi and
fish. The latter, of which there are
varieties, is frequently
eaten raw. The favorites are shrimp
squid, crabs, shark and eel. Poi is
made by cooking and peeling the tuber-
Gus root of the kalo or taro plant and
pounding it with a stone in a large
wooden trough until smooth. This is
called paiai and is allowed to stand
few days to sour, after which it is
with water to the consistency
required, whether for one, two or three
finger poi. It is carried to the mouth
by a peculiar dexterous movement.
This requires practice. Poi is consid-
cred fattening and before it sours is
much liked by foreigners.
The Hawaiian loves display. He is
in his glory when arrayed in uniform.
He would hunt for months for enough
yellow feathers TO make a wreath for
his hat or neck. These feathers were
found one under each wing of the 90,
a black bird which formerly existed in
great numbers in the islands
The generous nature of the native is
shown by the erection of the Kapiolani
home, Lunalilo old peoples
home, Kamehameha schools and the
Queens hospital, by Queen Dowager
King Lunalilo, Bernice Pau
ahi Bishop and Queen Emma respec-
lively These institutions were estab-
lished for poor Hawaiians and are
largely patronized apd appreciated.
When a native dies th4 friends gather
at the home and wall and chant in a
sing-song manner for a few minutes,
then dance, sing and play for time,
alternately pulling their hair and wall I
ng, then dancing and roasting, not UNI
ike the. wake as we sometimes see
t described A peculiar waving mo- I
ton of the. arms and hands accom-
oanies the waiiing and chanting. In
he early days this would continue day
md night for two months in case of
'oyalty, and the men would shave one
side of the face and head.
No one entered more enthusiastically
ntO the celeDfallOn Oh the anniversary
If the birth of the republic of Hawaii
md of American independence on July
Fourth than the native Hawaiian. He
appeared gorgeously decorated in
American flags and flowers.
They have been indifferent to the
orm of government Except as in
luenced by politicians) since the ex-,
inction of the real Ali or royal family
the KamehamenaS)
General J. F. B. Marshall says that
n 1913 Admiral Thomas. amid the
Wild rejoicing of the people, again
loisted the Hawaiian flag"
Mr. Blount said in his report to the
ecretary of state in 1898: Not a sim
;le cheer greeted the Hawaiian flag
IS it was raised aIoft. The native men !
tood around in groups, or singly,
rnoking and chatting, and nodding to
riends. The air of good-natured indif-
erence and idle curiosity with which
Continued on Page 100