The Hawaiian gazette., 1903-07-28

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The above in brief is the religion OF
the peculiar sect of which Rev. ]. ke-
that 1t is a new religion in the islands,
for it has hourished with varying sue
cess for more than fifty years, but the
Rev. Mr.. Kekipi is the man whom the
Puma kahuna now IN Oahu Prison
charged with being the head kahuna
of all. The Rev. ]. Kekipi denies the
insinuation however and says that his
religion is directly opposed to kahuna-
| ism and further that he never taught
the boy as the latter alleges. In fact
Mr.. Kekipi charges that the boy learn
ed his trade from John Akina at koo-
lau, who it is claimed has been chas-
| ing after false gods.
There is to he convention of the
"Hoomana Naauao" in Honolulu
today and delegates from all over the
islands are here in attendance. These
are semi-annual affairs but this is the
first convention held in Honolulu for
some time. Last month the church
celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of
it's founding.
Rev. j. Kekipi lives directly in the
rear of his little church on Hustace
lane, off King street near Beretania.
He Is q man upwards of seventy years
of age, gray headed and with a white
moustache. and with kindly, twinkling
eyes. He can hardly speak a word of
English but there was no lack of mate
rial among his congregation yesterday
for interpreting. The interview with
the churchman was a little out of the
ordinary. He talked but little, but the
interpreter who is an ardent co-reli-
zionist filled in all the blanks. She is
Mrs. Baker and lives near the old
preacher. Mrs. Edmunds of Hilo also
added her mite to the conversation. She
claims to have been cured of leprosy
by her faith in God and the bible.
There is no question but what the
members of the sect do believe. They
have an unwavering faith in the bible
and in God. 1t permeates their whole
being-it shines from their eyes as
they talk. They almost make one be-
lieve they have discovered the great
truth.
I'VE call our religion 'Hoomana Ma
auao,'" said Mrs. Baker, speaking part
of the time for herself and part for
Rev. Mr.. Kekipi.
There is no word in English for
it. Some people thought it was Chris
tian Science, but there is a wide diff
ference, though it is something like.
wish though that Matthew was here
to explain. 1t is like the Protestant
religion too. We believe in the bible
like they do, but We believe in every
word of it. We think every word is
true and we try to follow that out
So we don't believe in doctors-but in
healing ourselves. When n child is
sick where there can be no sin, then
we know from the Bible that the in
EQUITIES of the father will be visited
upon the son even unto the third gen.
Grafton.
"Kahunaism? No We have cut that
entirely out Hawaiian families al
ways have their gods, some do yet
the shark. n tird or n fish, but We no
longer have any of that"
How many members have your"
Here we have $50 in this church
alone" said Mr.. Kekipi. But there
are other churches in all the islands,
and also one at Koolau and Eva and
Waialua on oahu. Tomorrow we have
a meeting of all the churches. Ten
delegates come from Hilo and thirteen
from L.ahaina on today's steamer and
more will come"
our religion Is a religion for poor
people. for people that can't afford to
pay doctors" continued Mrs. Baker, |
speaking part for herself and part for
the minister. "Our faith cures with |
out medicine and many poor people |
come to U.S. One lady had tumor in
her stomach. She came to Honolulu to
see the doctors and they said she would
have to die-that nothing could save
her. Then she came to us, Mr.. Keki-
pi told her what to do, after finding
out what sin she had committed, and
told her to fast fifteen days. The tumor
came out In chunks. I would not be-
lieve 1t. but I saw this myself Her
name? II was Mrs. Dudoit of Lahaina,
and she came down for this meeting
tomorrow, In this religion fasting
counts above anything else Some peo-
pie have been known to fast for forty
lays with us. 1t depends upon their
faith On one day Mrs. Dudoit tasted
and the next she could eat provided 1t
Hid not interfere with her praying.
This just happened in June. last
Fasting is the principal thing"
continued Mrs. Baker. "In our reli-
son we have the same bible as the
but we believe every word
II IT, and We believe that We can heal
through the bible without medicine. No,
We do not place the bible on the sore
part. The most OF the people of our
'eliglon are the sick and poor"
q. tr,,a H., do