The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-05-10
Honolulu Boasts of One of the
Best and Most Unique COL
IeCtions of Fish to Be Found
In the World.
BIHSOP MUSEUM VERY
INTERESTING PLACE
Student of the South Seas
Will Find There Probably
The Most Wonderful Field
For His Studies.


Honolulu, March 2S.-In my last let
ter / dealt with the city OF Honolulu
and some of the interesting things
one sees here. 1 described the his
toric building in which the Hawaiian
legislature meets, devoted little
space to the legislature itself and told
about the Archives. the depositary OF
the treaty and documentary treasures
collected during the Independent ex-
istence OF these beautiful islands I'M
der their old monarchy. In this let
ter I will deal with other interesting
sights In and about Honolulu.
Honolulu has an aquarium undoubt-
eddy containing one OF the most uni
que and beautiful collections of fish
to be seen anywhere in the world. In
size the Honolulu Aquarium can not
rival the famous aquariums in New
York or Naples. both OF which I have
nificent blending of colors the fish
displayed here in the aquarium can
not be equaled. The Honolulu Aquar-
ium contains about eight hundred
fishes of the approximately one hun
dred varieties found in the waters
about here. These range from the lit
tie Kihikihi, a pig-snouted, water-mel-
on seed shaped fish beautifully color
ed in white, black, yellow and a
touch of red. to the dun colored, alto
gether dreadful looking octopus. rest
lessly turning about in its tank and
somewhat resembling rimless
wheel, its great, puffed-out body the
hub and its many long, sinuous, be-
suckered tenacles the spokes. The
octopi in the Aquarium are small
specimens. being about three or four
feet in Diameter Specimens have
been caught in other parts of the Pa
cific ocean measuring fifteen and
twenty feet across; large enough to
carry and devour a man.
What the Archives is with regard
to the diplomatic history of Hawaii.
the Bishop Museum occupies an equal
ly important place, with regard to the
customs and everything else in gener-
al having to do with the interesting
people the missionaries found here,
nearly a hundred years ago. The
scope of the museum not only COM
pletely covers the Hawaiian Islands
but also takes in many other islands
of the Pacific. The student of the
South Seas will find here probably
the most wonderful field obtainable
In which to pursue the study of that
subject.
The museum is divided into sections
and the section devoted to Hawaii
not only naturally comes first but is
the largest. most complete and most
interesting. Arranged around the
walls Of the two-story entrance hall
are portraits of the departed kings,
queens. princes and other notables
OF the Hawaiian kingdom. the only
exception being that Queen Liliouka-
lani. whose portrait hangs there, is
still alive and dwells in Honolulu A
portrait of the islands great conquer
or and first ruler. Kamehameha I. is
one of the most interesting pictures.
1t portrays the Hawaiian Napoleon
as rather a mild-looking old gentle
man. From the upper landing of the
entrance hall one enters the picture
gallery, where more portraits of Ha-
waiian notables are 70 be seen. Here
also is very interesting series Of
paintings of the great volcano Kilenea,
made at the times of different erup-
tons; a clock given by the French
King, Louis Philippe to Kamehameha
III; silver teapot presented to the
regent KAahumanu, by King George
~, Of England; a silver cup present
ed by Queen Victoria to her Godson
the little Prince of Hawaii; and speci-
mems of old jewelry belonging to the
Kamehameha family.
At the left of the entrance hall on
the first floor is the Kahili room, con-
tanning truly wonderful collection
OF Hawaiian feather work. 1t is
doubtful If any other race excelled the
Hawaiians in the production of var
ious articles made from feathers. So
important was the industry in the old
days that kamehameha I strictly for
babe the killing of feather producing
birds. When the feather hunters,
therefore captured such birds the par
ticular feathers desired were plucked
and the birds were then set free.
Feather work was q favorite occupa-
ton OF Hawaiian women of noble
birth and the most interesting exam
pies in the museum were their handi-
work, made for various chiefs and
kings. These include kahil, lei, ahun-
la and mahiole.
The kahili are long poles. at one
end Of which are large feather cylin-
ders. These are probably derived
from fly flaps Several specimens in
the museum have poles fifteen to
eighteen feet long. the largest feather
portion. or hulumanu. of which, is
two and one half feet In diameter and
four feet high. The most interesting
kahili is one that belonged to Kane
hameha l. the handle being construct
ed Of the bones OF his enemies who
tell in battle. The principal part Of
the handle il the right shin-bone of
kaneoneo. noted chief Of Kanai who
was killed u NuuAuu. = battle q