The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-02-26

The women Of each nation have been
the theme Of poetry and prose for so
long that we seem TO know them as
well as we know the multiplication
table or our A. B. c.
The housewife of Germany, the bril-
liant woman Of the French salon, the
Turkish hour of the ha-em the in
dependent American girl, the Egyp
tan siren, the soft.eyed Italian with
her southern fire, and so on through
the list we go until we come to the
indolent Hawaiian, her love of ease
and poi equally divided.
But now that we have annexed her,
is it fair to dismiss the Hawaiian wom-
an as a type all lightness, carelessness
and laziness, living only for today, with
no thought of the morrow?
Has she, perchance, won her repu-
tatoion because of the climate of per
petual summer" a land where even
the rairs are known as liquid sun.
shine" and the breezes caress with
a velvet touch?
In the first half of the nineteenth
century there lived a Hawaiian chief
ess who might well be held up to the
world as an example of courage, faith
and nobleness Of purpose. Her name
was Kapiolani, which means Captive
of Heaven"
When first seen by the missionaries,
/ KapiOlani was seated on a rock, in the
sunshine. rubbing her dark skin with
coconut oil until she shone like polish
ed bronze. She was perfumed accord
| ing to Hawaiian ideas of refinement
| Even to this day a strongly scented
belle IS preferred.
Kapiolani, upon acquaintance, was
found to be superstitious and intern
perate. She was large, and stately in
carriage, with handsome eyes, and
| beautiful, even white teeth, which
made her smile very attractive.
| She lived as other women of her
rank had lived before her. In love she
was less captive than a capturer, a
number Of husbands being due her
high estate.
Since no such person as Madam
Grundy had been heard of at that time
Kapiolani could do as she pleased with
out fear of criticism, and she was un
der no restraint as to morals, nor un
der any expense or trouble as t.
!, clothes
The simple tapa tied about her wais
and wreaths of flowers around he
neck, falling over her to form cors
age, composed her custume for fuI
dress,
When the dreamy days became me
notonuos, Kapiolani would summo
dancers, and night of wild merrimen
would effectually satisfy her ideas of
good time Only her superstition
fears could make Kapiolani tremble
she was submissive slave to the de
crees of the priests.
And this was Kapiolani when tn
missionaries first met her: ignorant
careless-just big, fat, good-nature,
and unthinking. But like the ugly
!. rough, dingy shell of the coconut hiC
ing the clean, snowy fruit, this unir
viting exterior hid the white soul of
noble woman, and the missionarie
, found it,
Kapiolani was high chiefess. He
example could do much toward libert
ting her people from degradation, 81
and a bondage worse than slavery. TIL
missionaries made of her first a frient
then a pupil eager to learn, and at las
convert.
The gods of the Hawaiians wer
many Every object from which harl
could come, such as sharks, volcanoe
wonderful monsters and giants, wa
worshiped.
The priesthood was hereditary an
formed a large and powerful bod
# Priests owned much property in pc
1. pie and lands, which were heavily Ia
q ed for their support
There was no such thing as huma
ity, or regard for the rights of infel
ors. In sickness, or fear Of sorcer
- the aid of the priests was to be pu
chased only by gifts in proportion
the rank of the applicant.
q. Tabu or kapu, as it is called in II
" waiian, originally meant sacred An
h. thing reserved for the exclusive use
the gods, or priests, had the kapu sit
to guard it, The slightest breach
any of the kapu acquisitions was pu
. ishable by death.
These kapus were either for linn
ed time, or permanent. Particular ti'
/ fruits and vegetables were ,sometim
- kapu to both men and women for 81
eral months The kumu, particular
delicate and delicious fish, was ka