The state herald., 1910-02-04


Il years a subject of much in
terest among scientists. and
active efforts are now being made to
systematically gather and preserve
the data. which is now rapidly disap-
pearing. concerning these peoples of
the Pacific islands. Little is known
of their origin. but their almost abso-
development independent of any out.
side influences, and thus all the more
characteristic and remarkable.
The Hawaiians were of the highest
type of the Polynesian family, and
their development was probably fully
of the islands by the whites. as that
attained by the Aztec Indians of Cen
trail and South America, whose won
derful works of architecture and cary.
ings have fascinated apthropologists
for many years. Moreover while the
Aztecs had metals to work with the
absence of these substances In the
Pacific islands make the accomplish
ments of the Hawaiians. for example.
all the more remarkable.
The work of the Hawaiians in engi.
neering and construction. probably at.
fords the most striking evidence of
the remarkable character of race
which. through ignorance and confu-
sion with other peoples, has often
been thought OF as low type savages
and cannibals. Allowing for the diff.
ference in size Of population. the con
struction OF the great pyramids Of the
Egyptians does not greatly over.
shadow the accomplishments OF these
islanders.
The construction OF temples, or he
iaus." to the numerous deities, the re-
mains of which are to be found In
every part Of the Hawaiian islands.
probably constituted the larger part
OF the works Of the ancient Hawa.
iians. These temples were very num-
erous. Between 400 and 500 have
been definitely located. and there
were probably great many. all
traces Of which have been lost They
were built OF stone. either as great en-.
closures. or In the form OF truncated
pyramids. and some OF the larger ones
covered from two to Ave acres OF
ground. Walls fifteen to twenty feet
thick. and thirty feet In height. built
OF close rubble work and from 100 to
900 or GOO fect In length. were not
uncommon. Some OF the platform
type were solid rock structures fifteen
90 twenty feet or more In height. Ce.
nent was never us-d In these struc.
lures. but In some OF them the stones
were dressed so that the masonry
would compare favorably with modern
work Of the kind. Blocks OF stone
weighing many tons sometimes enter.
ed into tho construction OF these build.
ings. though smaller stones were gen.
orally used.
or all the hundreds OF temples
known. probably no two were OF the
same shape or size; but the skill with
which they were laid out shows unus.
uai engineering ability. Some were
perfect squares or parallclogrnms.
Some had one or more sides curved.
and In these cases the curves were
always perfect. Walls were In some
cases built In terraces. and always In
perfect alignment. while many OF
these interesting structures ARE still
10 be found In more or less complete
condition. probably tho greater part
Of them have been destroyed. the mn.
toriai In many Instances going into
the construction OF roads. fences. or
modern buildings
Scarcely less In magnitude than the
hoiaus. arc the great aca walls built
IN hundreds OF places along the shores
Of all OF the islands for inclosing flah
ponds. Tn. walls. occasionally mile
or moro In length. were sometimes
built across the entrance OF hhai.
low cove or inlet; MT other times built
IN n great Homicirclc enclosing from
one to over 800 acres OF shallow
water. Tho walls are sometimes eight
ior ten feet high. and often wider nj
the base. They are built Of loose rock.
and must have Involved nm inostlm.
able amount Of labor. considering the
fact that oftlmos the material was
brought from n long distance. and
that the natives had no bcnata Of bur.
den and knew nothing OF machinery.
The remains of irrigation ditohea
on very considerable scale mr.. atill
10 be seen In many parts of the Isl.
ands. and bear witness 10 the ability
and industry Of tho aboriginal iiawa.
Hans, IN many localities may also