Kealii Reichel

Music to soothe your soul.

Madam Pele

Pele the Fire Goddess of the Big Island of Hawaii

There are many legends and stories about the power and wrath of our Goddess, Pele. Most Hawaiians have had at least one sighting of her in their lifetime and many have had more. I myself have seen her twice, and have felt her presence more times than I can count. Once I saw her at the volcano during the 1959 eruption, and another time, in 1974, I picked her up hitchhiking in Puna on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Pele is a shape changer and will appear in any shape she chooses, but seems to favor some more than others. It is common to see her dancing and swirling in the fires and smoke of the active volcano with her long black hair keeping time with her movements, dancing and swirling away from her body as she twists and turns in the fire.

Often she will be seen as a medium sized white dog wandering alone on a moonless night. When she is spotted in the shape of the white dog it is a sign of a death in the ohana (family).

Pele has been seen as an old hag, bent-over with age, and with bits of lava rock and ash clinging to her long, salt and peppered gray hair. She has also been seen as a beautiful young Hawaiian woman, with gorgeous long, blue-black hair flowing down past her waist.

Madame Pele's attire have included old raggedy clothes, muu-muus, holokus and peareus in white, red or black. The pareau being wrapped and tied in the Hawaiian tradition.

People must have respect for Madame Pele, her ways and her aina. The rocks must not be taken from the volcano area. If the rocks are taken away from the area, or from the islands back to the mainland, only hard luck will befall these people until the rocks have been returned to their rightful place.

How Maui Tamed the Sun

Maui had often heard his brothers talking about how there was not enough sunlight during the day. Night after night they would sit round the fire and discuss this problem. No matter how early they got up, still there weren't enough hours of sunlight for all their village duties and for hunting and fishing. So Maui thought about what he could do to solve their problem. Then he
announced to his brothers that he had found a solution: 'I think I can tame
the Sun.'

'Maui, don't be so ridiculous!' they replied. 'No one can tame the Sun. For a start, if you got anywhere near him you would be burnt to a cinder. There is no way of taming the Sun. He's far too big and powerful.'
But Maui said, with great authority this time, 'Look, I can tame the Sun. Get all the women of the tribe to go and cut as much flax as possible - I want a really huge pile - then I will show you how to make a net that will be strong enough to capture the Sun. I will make sure that he won't go so quickly across the sky in future.'
The brothers obeyed him and when they had collected mounds of flax Maui showed them how to plait it into strong ropes. He made long ropes and short ropes, and tied some of them together to make a net gigantic enough to catch and hold the Sun. After many hours of plaiting they finally had enough rope and nets to please Maui.

Then he set off, equipped with his special axe, with his brothers and some men from the tribe and it took several days to reach the Sun's resting place in the East. After a short stop they started their preparations. They found the cave from which the Sun would be rising next morning and they quickly set to work covering the entrance with the net of plaited ropes. When they were sure they had done a really good job they camouflaged the ropes with leaves and branches. They also made themselves clay walls as a protection against the Sun's fierce heat, and smeared the clay all over their bodies. Then they hid.

Maui crouched down on one side of the cave and the rest of the men were on the other side. It wasn't long before they saw the first glimmer of light from the cave. Then they felt the scorching heat. The men were shaking with fear as the light grew more and more blinding and the heat more and more stifling. They were sure that Maui's plan would not work. Suddenly they heard a sharp shout from Maui, 'Pull! Pull the ropes as hard as you can.'
The net fell like a huge noose over the Sun. Although the men were terrified that the Sun would kill them all, they pulled and strained as hard as they possibly could so that the Sun could not escape.

The Sun, who was raging at being held captive, struggled and roared. Maui knew he had to do something more than just hold the Sun in the net so he yelled to one of his brothers to take his end of the rope. He rushed out from the protection of his wall and, with his special axe raised high above his head, he ran towards the Sun. Even though the heat was singing his body and his hair, he started to attack the Sun with his axe.

The Sun roared even louder. 'What are you doing? Are you trying to kill me?' he screamed.
'No. I am not trying to kill you,' answered Maui, 'but you don't understand. You go too fast across the sky, and we are all unable to do our daily work. We need more hours of light in our days for hunting and fishing, for building and repairing our village houses.'
'Well,' said the Sun, 'you have given me such a battering that I don't think I could speed across the sky now, even if I wanted to.'

'If we release you,' said Maui, 'will you promise to slow your journey down?'
'You have so weakened me that now I can only go slowly,' answered the Sun.
Maui made him solemnly promise to do what he had asked and then hereleased the ropes. Maui's brothers and the men of the tribe watched as the Sun, slowly and stiffly, began to lift into the sky. They all smiled at Maui - they were proud of him.

To this day, the Sun travels on his long lonely path across the sky at a very slow pace, giving us many more hours of sunlight than he used to do

Menehune/Little People of Kauai

Hawaii is said to be populated by a tiny magical race of beings called the Menehunes. They were believed to have actually been the first inhabitants of Hawaii. All the beautiful trees and plants of Hawaii were said to have been planted by the Menehunes. They are very jolly little creatures and take pleasure in doing good things that help the people and islands of Hawaii. The native peoples of Hawaii were said to have been fed and nurtured, when they first arrived there from Tahiti, by these little people. The native people of Hawaii say that the Menehunes have taught them many things. These little people use seagulls to fly around the island of Hawaii. They ride around on their backs. The next time you see a seagull he may have a Menehune on his back! See if his feathers are ruffled. The Menehunes wear tiny horns around their necks. They use these to call the seagulls if there is ever any trouble. There are many stories and descriptions of these little people and their adventures.

One belief is that the Menehunes are very shy and do most of their good deeds during the night when they can't be seen. They also will only allow very special people to see them. A Menehune must give you a special juice which will allow you to see him or her. Either this or you must be a descendant of these little people and have some of their blood to be able to see them. However, many people have been said to have heard the hum of their voices.

They are also said to be protectors of Hawaii and its inhabitants. A long time ago a huge wave was coming towards Hawaii and the King of the Menehunes saw it and began to blow on his horn. The Menehunes came running from all over the island and formed a line by holding hands. The Menehunes are powerful little magical creatures and this terrified the wave so he broke up and became the Kaneohe Bay.

The people of Hawaii don't have to worry about sharks either because the Menehunes protect them from these ferocious creatures. The Menehunes patrol the islands on the backs of seagulls looking for sharks. When a shark gets too close to the islands a Menehune who spots him will blow his little horn and Menehunes from all over the islands will get into their tiny canoes and paddle out to where the shark is. They will beat him with their paddles until he takes off. Most creatures know better than to challenge the powers of the magical little Menehunes.

King Kamehameha

A great lawyer, diplomat and leader, King Kamehameha I united the Hawaiian Islands into one royal kingdom in 1810 after years of conflict. Kamehameha I was destined for greatness from birth. Hawaiian legend prophesized that a light in the sky with feathers like a bird would signal the birth of a great chief. Historians believe Kamehameha was born in 1758, the year Halley’s comet passed over Hawaii. Given the birth name Paiea, the future king was hidden from warring clans in secluded Waipio Valley after birth. After the death threat passed, Paiea came out of hiding and was renamed Kamehameha (The Lonely One). Kamehameha was trained as a warrior and his legendary strength was proven when he overturned the Naha Stone, which reportedly weighed between 2.5 and 3.5 tons. You can still see the Naha Stone today in Hilo.

During this time, warfare between chiefs throughout the islands was widespread. In 1778, Captain James Cook arrived in Hawaii, dovetailing with Kamehameha’s ambitions. With the help of western weapons and advisors, Kamehameha won fierce battles at Iao Valley in Maui and the Nuuanu Pali on Oahu. The fortress-like Puukohola Heiau on Hawaii’s Big Island was built in 1790 prophesizing Kamehameha’s conquest of the islands. In 1810, when King Kaumualii of Kauai agreed to become a tributary kingdom under Kamehameha, that prophecy was finally fulfilled.

Kamehameha’s unification of Hawaii was significant not only because it was an incredible feat, but also because under separate rule, the Islands may have been torn apart by competing western interests. Today, four commissioned statues stand to honor King Kamehameha’s memory. Every June 11th, on Kamehameha Day, each of these statues are ceremoniously draped with flower lei to celebrate Hawaii’s greatest king.

Queen Lilioukalani

Early life of Lilioukalani

Liliʻuokalani in her youth.

Liliʻuokalani was born on September 2, 1838 to High Chiefess Analea Keohokālole and High Chief Caesar Kaluaiku Kapaʻakea. In accordance with the Hawaiian tradition of hānai, she was adopted at birth by Abner Pākī and his wife Laura Kōnia. Liliʻuokalani’s childhood years were spent studying and playing with her foster sister Bernice Pauahi, the Pākīs' natural daughter.

The Premier Elizabeth Kīnaʻu had developed an eye infection at the time of Liliʻu's birth. She gave her the names Liliʻu (smarting^[1]), Loloku (tearful^[2]), Walania (a burning pain^[3]), and Kamakaʻeha (sore eyes)'. Liliʻu's brother changed it when he named her Crown Princess, calling her Liliʻuokalani, "the smarting of the royal ones".^[4]

Liliʻuokalani received her education at the Chiefs' Children's School (later known as the Royal School), and became fluent in English. She attended the school with her two elder brothers James Kaliokalani and David Kalākaua. Liliʻuokalani was one of 15 children.

Crown Princess

Liliʻuokalani and Queen Kapiolani at Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.

In 1874, Lunalilo, who was elected to succeed Kamehameha V to the Hawaiian throne, died and left no heir to succeed to the throne. In the election that followed, Liliʻu's brother, David Kalākaua, ran against Queen Emma, the widowed Queen of Kamehameha IV. Liliʻuokalani sided with her family on the issue and a quarrel developed between the Kalākaua family and Queen Emma. Liliʻu denied that Emma had any claims to the throne other than those derived from her dead husband. The Kalākaua family strongly stated that Kaleipaihala was the ancestor of Queen Emma rather than Keliʻimaikaʻi because this would give the dowager Queen no claim as the great-grandniece of Kamehameha the Great. Each party viewed themselves as the greatest chief and the rightful heir the throne of the Kamehamehas.

Liliʻuokalani was created Crown Princess in 1877.

In the election that followed, Kalākaua won a majority of the vote of the Legislature and was anointed the new king of Hawaii. Queen Emma never forgave Liliʻu and her position in the family which was chosen to reign over the Hawaiian people. Liliʻu said: "It did not trouble me at all, but I simply allowed her to remain in the position in which she chose to place herself." One of the first acts of Kalākaua was to name his brother heir-apparent. He also granted other royal titles to his two surviving sisters, Liliʻuokalani and Likelike. With Liliʻu's younger brother's death in 1876, the position of heir-apparent became vacant. Princess Ruth Keelikolani offered to fill the spot of her adoptive son; this suggestion was placed before the king's counselors at a cabinet meeting, but it was objected on the grounds that, if her petition was granted, then Bernice Pauahi Bishop would be the next heir to the throne, as they were first cousins.

At noon on April 10, 1877, the booming of the cannon was heard; this announced that Liliʻuokalani was heir apparent to the throne of Hawaii. From that point on, she was referred to as "Crown Princess" with the name Liliʻuokalani, given to her by her brother. One of her first acts as Crown Princess was to tour the island of Oʻahu with her husband, sister, and brother-in-law.

Reign

Royal Monogram as Queen

Liliʻuokalani inherited the throne from her brother Kalākaua on 29 January 1891.^[6] Shortly after ascending the throne, petitions from her people began to be received from the two major political parties of the time, mainly Hui Kala'aina and the National Reform Party. Believing she had the support of her cabinet and that to ignore such a general request from her people would be against the popular will, she moved to abrogate the existing 1887 Bayonet Constitution,^[7] by drafting a new constitution that would restore the veto power to the monarchy and voting rights to economically disenfranchised Native Hawaiians and Asians.^[8] The effort to draft a new constitution never came to fruition, and indeed it was the proximate cause of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.^[9]

Threatened by the queen's proposed new constitution, American and European businessmen and residents organized to depose Liliʻuokalani, asserting that the queen had "virtually abdicated" by refusing to support the 1887 Constitution. Business interests within the Kingdom were also upset about what they viewed as "poor governance" of the Kingdom, as well as the U.S. removal of foreign tariffs in the sugar trade due to the McKinley Tariff. The tariff eliminated the favored status of Hawaiian sugar guaranteed by the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875. American and Europeans actively sought annexation to the United States so that their business might enjoy the same sugar bounties as domestic producers. In addition to these concerns, Lili'uokalani believed that American businessmen, like Charles R. Bishop, expressed an anxiety concerning a female head of state.^[10]

Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom

Main article: Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom

On 14 January 1893, a group composed of Americans and Europeans formed a Committee of Safety seeking to overthrow the Hawaiian Kingdom, depose the Queen, and seek annexation to the United States. As the coup d'état was unfolding on 17 January the Committee of Safety expressed concern for the safety and property of American citizens. In response, United States Government Minister John L. Stevens summoned a company of U.S. Marines from the USS Boston and two companies of U.S. Navy sailors to take up positions at the U.S. Legation, Consulate, and Arion Hall. On the afternoon of 16 January 1893, 162 sailors and Marines aboard the USS Boston in Honolulu Harbor came ashore under orders of neutrality. Historian William Russ has noted that the presence of these troops, ostensibly to enforce neutrality and prevent violence, effectively made it impossible for the monarchy to protect itself.^[11]

The Queen was deposed on 17 January 1893 and temporarily relinquished her throne to "the superior military forces of the United States".^[12] She had hoped the United States, like Great Britain earlier in Hawaiian history, would restore Hawaii's sovereignty to the rightful holder.

Queen Liliʻuokalani issued the following statement yielding her authority to the United States Government rather than to the Provisional Government:

I, Lili'uokalani, by the Grace of God and under the constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Queen, do hereby solemnly protest against any and all acts done against myself and the constitutional government of the Hawaiian Kingdom by certain persons claiming to have established a Provisional Government of and for this Kingdom. That I yield to the superior force of the United States of America, whose Minister Plenipotentiary, His Excellency John L. Stevens, has caused United States troops to be landed at Honolulu and declared that he would support the said Provisional Government. Now, to avoid any collision of armed forces and perhaps loss of life, I do, under this protest, and impelled by said forces, yield my authority until such time as the Government of the United States shall, upon the facts being presented to it, undo the action of its representative and reinstate me in the authority which I claim as the constitutional sovereign of the Hawaiian Islands.

— Queen Liliʻuokalani, Jan 17, 1893^[13]

Abdication

Liliʻuokalani was arrested on 16 January 1895, several days after the failed 1895 Counter-Revolution in Hawaii led by Robert William Wilcox, when firearms were found at the base of Diamond Head Crater. She denied any knowledge at her trial, defended by former attorney general Paul Neumann. She was sentenced to five years of hard labor in prison by a military tribunal and fined $5,000, but the sentence was commuted to imprisonment in an upstairs bedroom of ʻIolani Palace, where she composed songs including The Queen's Prayer (Ke Aloha o Ka Haku) and began work on her memoirs.

During her imprisonment, she abdicated her throne in return for the release (and commutation of the death sentences) of her jailed supporters, including Minister Joseph Nawahi, Prince Kawananakoa, Robert Wilcox, and Prince Jonah Kuhio.^{[citation needed]}

Before ascending the throne, for fourteen years, or since the date of my proclamation as heir apparent, my official title had been simply Liliuokalani. Thus I was proclaimed both Princess Royal and Queen. Thus it is recorded in the archives of the government to this day. The Provisional Government nor any other had enacted any change in my name. All my official acts, as well as my private letters, were issued over the signature of Liliuokalani. But when my jailers required me to sign ("Liliuokalani Dominis,") I did as they commanded. Their motive in this as in other actions was plainly to humiliate me before my people and before the world. I saw in a moment, what they did not, that, even were I not complying under the most severe and exacting duress, by this demand they had overreached themselves. There is not, and never was, within the range of my knowledge, any such a person as Liliuokalani Dominis.

—Queen Liliuokalani, "Hawaii's Story By Hawaii's Queen"^[20]