The suburban citizen., 1902-07-12
WITCHCRAFT IN HAWAII
IMMENSE BUSINESS DONE BY KAHU.
MAS AMONG NATIVES.

of Hawaiians-Ex0rcisms That Look
Like Murders-Traps Set For spoOks-
Killing n Mischievous Spirit.
| Witchcraft, or kahunaism, as it is
known in the Hawaiian Islands, is far
from being obliterated since annexa-
ton. Though the attempt Of the last
Home Rule Legislature to legalize the
practice Of kahunas failed, that failure
| has not diminished the business done
by the witches among the natives.
Even at this late day in honolulu
cases Of wltchcraft are sometimes re-
ported to the authorities by newcomers
to whom the black art has very much
the appearance of crime. Not long
ago the police were notified of case
of murder at Waikiki, which upon in
vestgation turned out to be nothing
more than the act of highly respected
| kahuna. He had been driving off some
evil spirits by burying the patient in
the sands of the beach, and the
stranger who witnessed the perform
ance thought murder had been com
mtted, and the murderer was trying
to hide the evidences OF his crime.
The Hawaiian is superstitious and q
firm believer in witchcraft. He be-
lieves that the witch or kahuna has
the power to relieve him from the at
tacks of the spirits.
In common with many other races
the native believes that the body has
two spirits. While the body sleeps
one of the spirits leaves it in charge
of its fellow and wanders at large,
often causing considerable mischief
which the kahuna is called in to rem.
edy. The Hawaiian still believes that
this habit which spirits have of wan
dering around in the dark may lead to
his injury. The kahuna poi auhane,
as he is called, is looked TO for relief,
for the natives have firm belief in his
power to destroy and capture spirits.
| The kahuna is paid for his work and
the Hawaiians saw no reason why his
profession was not entitled to legaliza-
ton.
The kahuna makes witchcraft his
|
prepared plan in his chase after spirits.
He is supposed to have the power to
summon at will, by means of his black
art spiritual messengers to do his bid
ding. These messengers are spirits of
men and women, who during life ex-
celled in the arts of the kahuna.
Among those commonly employed are
Kuamu and Kapo, who were women,
and Kaonohiokala Kumukah and Pal
amOa, who were men.
The services of these spiritual mes
sengers may always be secured, but
some kahunas are believed to have spe-
cial messengers, owing allegiance only
to them Such special emissary Of
the spirits is known as an unihipili
Kahunas generally operate early in
the evening, when people have just
gone to sleep, and their spirits have not
bad time to wander far from their
homes. He sits alone in his house with
the client who wishes his spirit taken
care Of
Tasting Of the ava he pours out
libation to the familiar spirits that are
to act as his messengers, and then
mutters the dread prayer with which
he compels their attendance. These
messengers are sent out to bring to the
house the spirit suspected of evil prac.
tices and some of its friends, the latter
being invited to disarm suspicion.
Three cocoanut cups are filed with
ava and placed side by side in the
open doorway of the house. behind
which the kahuna is seated, his client
being hidden from view in a corner.
AS the spiritual messengers return,
bringing with them spirits from differ.
ent homes, the kahuna describes the
members of the party until finally
his description fits the spirit that his
client is seeking to have destroyed
Then the old ava drinkers incline
their heads to imbibe their favorite
beverage, and finally the victim fol-
lows their example and bows his head
to the cup, in drinking Quick as a
fash the kahuna seizes him in his
right hand and crushes him between
his hands. A faint squeak is heard,
and the Hawaiian believes the trouble
some spirit 10 be dead.
The kahuna opens his hand and dis
covers a drop Of blood which is mixed
with potatoes or poi and swallowed by
the kahuna and his client, The next
day the native whose spirit was so
destroyed is told OF the fact by the
kahuna.
Another method of dealing with spir-
its as practlced by the kahuna is to
imprison them, when caught. in a
drinking gOurd TO await a ransom
! from the owner
The natives believe also that the
/ spirit sometimes in a fainting fit sud
denly leaves the body and the services
of the kahuna are then enlisted to
force the reluctant spirit to re-enter
its home. In such cases the kahuna
after capturing the spirit, raises the
nail of the large toe to force the spirit