The Hawaiian gazette., 1903-07-21
KAHUNA
TALKS OF
HIS TRADE
Says Rev. J. Kekipi
Is Chief of
All.

The chief of all the kahunas in Ha-
wall is the Rev. ]. Kekipi OF Homo
lulu, according to Makaio, the Puma
kahuna who was brought to Oahu
| Prison Saturday to serve term of two
years for manslaughter in the third
| degree. The same authority is re-
sponsible for the statement that every
member of Kekipi's church, 1000 in
number, enjoy the same powers as him.
self Kekipi's church is reputed to be
a native branch Of the Christian Sci
ence movement. Recently a conven-
ton Of the church was held in Homo
| lulu at Observation-Disclosures Cha
pei, which is a small church situated
ner of Alapai and King streets.
Makaio looks to be anything but a
kahuna, as is pictured by popular be-
or grizzled. He is only twenty-four
years of age and said yesterday that he
had been in the business since he was
eighteen. Then he has round good
natured face which would be pleasant
if the kahuna business wasn't so ever
lastngly serious and his hair is short
and very curly. Yesterday when an
Advertiser reporter called he was al
ready attired in the blue and white
prison stripes. But he didn't mind it.
He said he was ready to die or go to
prison, but that it couldn't shake his
faith in the efficacy of prayer. Just
at present Makaio is the only kahuna
to serve two years in prison was all
legged to have been committed in Puma
few months ago. Moses Hoakimoa,
a well known native, fell i'll at his home
in Puma. A white physician was called
in and prescribed for him. The sick
mans wife wasn't satisfied with the
treatment and called in the kahuna.
He prescribed liberal doses Of prayer.
The widow says that he also told her to
beat her husband over the head with
a heavy bible in order to drive the red
devils out. Makaio denies this and
says the woman simply wanted to get
rid of her husband. In any event while
Hoakimoa was lying very near death
at his home, this wife with the aid of
neighbors Strengthened him up in bed,
and beat him on the head with the
bible. AS a result the old man died and
| the kahuna was arrested. He was
tried and convicted and Judge Little
sentenced him to two years in prison
for manslaughter, the jury recommend
| ing mercy.
! Kaiama, a prison guard, acted as in
| terpreter when the kahuna was brought
| into the warden's office for an inter-
view. The prisoner was willing, even
anxious to talk.
Eyes. I am in the kahuna business"
he said through the interpreter. Il
cure the sick by prayer"
How about this man that ded?"
was asked.
His wife killed that man." was the
reply.
"She says that you told her to hit him
over the head with a bible to drive the
devils out"
NO that Is not so. She did not keep
the rules l made for her. They We're:
don't drink, don't gamble and don't
so with some other men, What I told
her was to place the bible on the spot
where her husband is sick and then to
pray to God. She was to put it on his
breast. not hit him with it. The man
died, because she beat him over the
head with the bible"
did you tell her to?"
mo"
HOW HE LEARNED THE TRADE.
Where did you learn kahunaism"
"At the church, the Christian church,
from Rev. Kekipi. am a brother in
the church and learned to cure with
the bible"
Have you ever cured anybody"
PLENTY"
How many?"
More than nifty"
How did you do it?"
by praying with the bible. putting
my hands on 1t. and then telling them
to keep rules. I tell them to place the
bible on the part that is sore, and say
your word II of fire, hammer and
sword"
Continued on Page ~