The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-02-25

Through the courtesy OF James r
Morgan, one OF the most prominent
citizens OF Honolulu and the president
OF its Chamber of Commerce, was
welcomed at the LunaiIo Home for the
Aged Hawaiiarls. Mrs. Z. a. Weaver,
the matron Of the home. formerly oc-
cupied a similar position in the san
Francisco AImshouse. In speaking Of
her the inmates use the term mother
I was ushered into q reception room,
and X. y. Keaonakoa. a very aged
Hawaiian, sent for. This old man is
i one Of two living natives who are still
familiar with the use Of the ancient
Hawaiian instruments. The younger
natives who have musical ability pre-
fer the more modern instruments, such
as the banjo, mandolin, guitar and
ukulele. with the death OF these two
old men the art Of playing according
to the ancient custom VIII probably
die out Mr.. Keaonakoa learned the
use of these instruments from his
grandfather, who was retainer Of one
of the old chiefs Of the Hawaiian do
main. The three primitive instruments
upon which ne played were the eonch
shell. the Hawaiian jewsharp and the
nose flute.
The conch shell was used 10 call to-
gether the Hawaiian forces. This was
common in the early history Of the
natives, as the character of the coun-
try IS such that it was necessary to
use an instrument whose tones had
great carrying power. so that the
sound would echo from hill to hill, and
thus gather the scattering clans. It
reminds one Of the slogan of the Scot
/ fish chiefs o. old or of the old shofar
/ Of the ancient Hebrews
/ When Kamehameha I. landed on the
island in about the year 1875 ne, with
a force Of warriors who had come in a
fleet OF 200 canoes, fought the battle
Of NuuanU- They drove their enemies
up the famous Pail road and 50 sur
rounded them that they hurled them
selves over the cliffs from the top. In
this famous engagement the conch
/ she'll played a very important part.
! The hurry call, the call for assembly
and others Of a like nature were large
u instrumental in the final result or
this battle. King Kamehameha l., the
great antecedent OF long dynasty OF
kings. was a Hawaiian cnIeTtaln VINO
lived in the islands in 1880 and Who
aspired to the sole leadership OF the
/ government Of the Sandwich group.
He gradually gathered about himself
| sufficient fighting men to form an
army, with which he subdued the rulers
OF the various islands, one after the
other. The natives On Oahu tine
island upon which Honolulu is pulD
/ arose against the government Kane
/ hameha then returned and with a force
Of men containing some whites fought
the famous battle Of Nuuanu, mention
/ ed above.
THE NOSE FLUTE.
The next instrument on which Kea-
! onakoa played was the jewsharp
tfukeke4. This instrument is a fat bow,
with three strings. The end Of the bow
lis nlaced. next 10 the mouth Of the per-
former. who vibrates the strings with
2 match or other small piece OF wood,
the notes. if one may call them such,
i being sounded in almost perfect
rhythm.
The nose flute (hanoihu) is perhaps
the most interesting OF the primitive
Hawaiian instruments. the sounds be-
ing produced by the forcing Of air into
an opening, through the nostril. The
flute Is held in practically the same
position as cur modern clarlonet. IL
is made Of a bamboo stick opened al
one end There are three per10TatIons-
one a few inches below the rnouthpiece
and two al the other end keaonakoa
held the flute in such position that
the thumb Of the left hand was pressed
against the left nostril, thus closing IL
while the fingers were used TO operate
/ and hold the upper end OF the lnstru-
ment Ny surprise was starting wflef
heard bird tones emanatfng from
simple piece of bamboo. played by ar
: old and wrinkled Hawaiian However
such was the case, and as ] afterwara
learned. this result was accomplished
originally, By close association Wlth
the wild birds OF the then SandWlcE
island forests. and the final repToduc'
I ton Of their calls upon the primitive
0 instrument mentioned
? After playing Tor me IoF perhaps MAJ
/ an hour, Keaonakoa interrupted him
: self and delivered the following little
a speech OF welcome. which Mrs Weavel
Translated for me:
TEL this young girl" said he, II
his nelodious Hawaiian tongue, 'tha
We welcome her. and are glad 70 SCI
her. since she comes from 50 far away
70 visit the Home OF Aged and InTlrn
, F4awaiians: the home that was glvel
to US by our beloved King, Lunalilo
we are glad 70 have her meet m
mother (meanlng Mrs Weaver. WI
takes care OF Us" Then the old maj
: broke into a peculiar chant tn
chant was the only means Of trans
: -.frrfng family history before the Ha