Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-24
THE HAWAIIAN PEOPLE.
Probably Of Aryan Stock-Came>From
the Mainland of Asia.

From the Honolulu Advertiser.
The Hawaiians are probably of Aryan
stock, migrating from Asia Minor. through
India, Sumatra and Java to the southern
Pacific islands, and from thence gradually
spreading out to New Zealand, Samoa,
Tahiti. and other islands of the Pacific. To
the present day names of localities, or men
and of things are in nnumerable instances
Identical in the four last named groups of
islands, and the general structure of the
several languages is similar that per-
son familiar with one readily understands
and learns the others. The direct knowledge
which we have of early Hawaiian history
Is due to the fact that an order of priest
hood was maintained who committed to
memory and handed down from father to
son the acts and genealogy of the chiefs.
So Systematically and accurately was this
done that the chiefs of Hawaii are able to
give their genealogy and recite the deeds
OF their ancestors for upward of forty
generations. Although the earlier periods
are mixed with NEUROLOGICAL exaggerations,
certain facts are well established The first
arrivals here were in the sixth century,
under chief Nanaula. followed by others
from Tahiti and Samoa. They came in
large double canoes, holding from fifty to
one hundred people and brought With them
their priests, gods, dogs, swine, fowl and
seeds.
For four centuries no communications
were held with the south, when a series
of warlike incursions took place from
Samoa in the tenth and eleventh centuries,
led by Nanamoa, a warlike chief and Faao,
his high priest. During the next one hun
dred and fifty years number OF warriors
overran and conquered the country. Voy-
ages back and forth between the groups OF
islands, separated by the two thousand
miles of ocean, were frequent, the men
being bold and intelligent navigators, sail
ing by the stars, In canoes capable or with
standing the severest storms. Near the
close of the twelfth century communication
with the south again ceased In 1855 the
islands were visited by the Spanish. who
did not, however, make their discovery
known to the civilized world by Capt. Cook,
the English navigator.
In 1898 Kamehameha conquered the group
after ten years of war, first uniting the
country under one head. Kamehameha
was alike remarkable for military genius
and administrative ability. The Hawaiians
for centuries were terrible fighters, knowing
no fear, neither giving nor expecting quar-
ter Their history is full of adventure,
war and romance. Kamehameha maintain
ed his kingdom in peace until his death in
1919, and the dynasty founded by him con-
tinued rulers of the country until 1874.
when. by popular election, the late King
Kalakua came to the throne.
In 1919 Kamehameha ii abolished the
system of tabus and decreed the destruction
OF the temple and idols. He was sustained
by the High Priest Hewahewa, and within
q few weeks idols, temples, affairs and a
priesthood which had held prince and sub
ject in awe for centuries, were swept away,
leaving the people without religion; an
event for which history offers no parallel.
The American missionaries arrived short
1y after, and how heather nation was
within a few years converted 10 CHRISTIAN
ity is matter of history. Under the guild
ance of the missionaries the language was
reduced to writing. a constitution and laws
created. education was made compulsory.
The independence of the kingdom was rec
Ognized by the great powers and within
fifty years a country of the most advanced
civilization was evolved from barbarism