Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-08-08
Bishop Museum Credited With
the Finest Potynesian Col
lection in the World

. IE2StS Ci HdWalianS HldHe sbl tue III
! rector. Dr. William T. Brigham. who
has been in charge of the institution
=, Isinee its foundation, DIR. Brigham is
we'll known to scientists fer his works
|. len the volcanoes OF Hawaii.
Though nearly so years of age, he
Is full of energy. and if you are for
tunate enough TO carry letter of in
Itrcducticn to him he will not only
. show you ali the treasures of the mu-
scum. but he will give you a mass OF
Information about early Hawaii and
its people which he has gathered dur
ling his so years OF residence on the
islands. The doctor is violently anti
Japanese, and he is not partial to
the native Hawaiian, as he declares
little good can be expected of race
whose language has no words for Vir.
tue, homer or home.
Nucleus Of Collection.
The nucleus of the museum was the
large and priceless collection of mats.
calabashes, feather work. tapa and
relics that were beaueathed by Mrs.
Bishop as the last of the royal line of
the Kamehamehas. To these have
tbeen added many treasures given by
1.-THE late Queen Emma and fine collec-
ltions of 5000 species of shells, of Ha-
Iwaiian plants, birds and insects and
Irich exhibits OF chronological speci-
linens not only from Hawaii. but from
all the principal islands of Polynesia.
THE rare treasures OF the museum are
lin the KahiIl room. These are Kahilis
or large feather standards used at fun
lerals Of royalty, aud the famous robe
i of the first Kamehameha, made en-
tirely of feathers from the orange and
black mamo bird, which is said to be
valued at a million dollars. These birds,
as well as the yellow and black 90. the
scarlet liwi and others, were protect
ed by stringent DEGREES, and the fea
Tiers were used exclusively in the
making of these royal cloaks and stan
dards. The rich yellow of the mamo
cloak is contrasted with the more COM
mon cloaks of the co bird. The Brit.
| ish museum has a smaller mamo cloak
! than this, which was given to Queen
Victoria.
Old Hawaiian Treasures.
| The Hawaiian Ian is rich in arti.
cles that illustrate the early life of
the people of the islands. DR.. Brig
ham devised the ingenious plan of tax
ing plaster casts of living Hawaians
who were good types of their race.
Then from these casts were made the
| figures that now represent the wor-
ship and the industries of the people. |
Thus, for instance, we have natives
/, pounding the taro to make poi, the |
national dish, and others cutting from
stone the Founders used in this work. |
Others are shown spinning and weav-i
ing and making weapons and fishingt
tackle One of the most striking !,
groups is that Of a kahuna, ornedi- |
cine man, praying before big Gala. .
bash, in order to draw down a curse !
upon his enemy. So superstitious are |
the natives that even in these days If !
man learns that kahuna is pray-i
ing for his death he takes leave of !
his friends, settles his estate. turns
his face to the vail and gives up the
ghost.
Among the valuable specimens in
this room is a unique collection of
kappa, or tapa cloth, made from vege-I
table fibre. or all the islanders of the
Pacific, these Hawaiians made the
finest tapa, and DR. Brigham has gath
cred here wonderful specimens Of
their skill. Most of this cloth was
made from the paper mulberry. a
shrub that was cultivated by all Poly.I
nesians. The bark from the lower
branches of these trees was stripped
off. dried and then laboriously beat.
en-, and the fibre welded together intoi
sheets The pattern carved on thel
beater gave the figure to the tapa3
cloth, and the coloring was done byi
vegetable dyes, The museum cOn-i
tains also many fine specimens of the
old basket work, which has now be
come extinct. Tie collection of hooks, i
nets and other fishing implements is4'
the most complete in the world. Thel,
Kamehameha rulers were all noted
fishermen, and their finest implementsl
were handed down to Mrs. Bishop 1t
is curious commentary on the deca-j
dence of the modern Hawaiian that he3
has permitted the Japanese to monop-
ollie fishing for the markets of the
islands.
Grass House for Heather Temple.
Perhaps the most interesting exhib-
its in the Hawaiian hall are the Target
central cases, one containing an an
cient grass house and the Others a re-
plica Of an ancient sacrifcial temple. II
The grass houses have well-nigh disap.d
peared from the islands, although over
80 years ago they were universal in
the more remote parts CT the islands.
This house was found In Kauai tfea
Garden Island, and it was evidently
made by skilled workmen. The framed
is Of timber. with strong rafters. the1
whole being bound together by tough
braid and matched with peli grass.
The only opening usually provided f.
was the door, although sometimes
small hole was made in one gable.
The door of plank was seldom over
three feet high small circle Of
stones on the ground floor provided
a fireplace. and at one end this floor
was raised slightly and. covered with Il,