Images of Old Hawaiʻi

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Eclipse

An eclipse is the obscuring of light from one heavenly body by another. “The old time Hawaiians viewed eclipses of the sun and moon with astonishment and great fear, believing them to be a token of the displeasure of their gods; and hence presaging the death of a high chief or some other public calamity.” Hawai‘i averages an eclipse a decade; that’s about 100 in Hawai‘i in its approximate 1,000 years of human habitation. Hawai‘i has had two total eclipses in the last 300 years, one in 1850 and another in 1991. The next total will occur at 5:49 on the morning of May 3, 2106.

A total solar eclipse is coming to the US on August 21, 2017 – in the Islands, folks will be able to see two different types of eclipse phenomenon. 5:50 am, August 7, 2017 will start a partial lunar eclipse (Earth’s shadow darkening about 25% of the setting Moon); then, again at sunrise (5:50 am, August 21, 2017), while folks across a swath on the continent will see a full solar eclipse, in the Islands, a partial solar eclipse will start – with maximum coverage (about 27%) at 6:35 am. (Do not look directly at the sun – get protective “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers.

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

‘History Presents No Parallel’

“History repeats itself” … however, here, “history presents no parallel.” “(D)estruction of Idolatry and the abolition of the Tabu system … is one of the most remarkable events not only in the history of the Hawaiian but of the world. It is without a parallel, either in ancient or modern times.”

“It was altogether an unheard of event in the history of idolatrous nation, for any one to cast aside its Idols, unless others were adopted in their place, or their idols were cast aside for the people to embrace Christianity.” “Hawaiians cast aside theirs, and did not take others in their place, nor were influenced thereto by the messengers of gospel truth, for as yet the missionaries had not landed on these shores, and it was not known that they were on voyage hither.” (Rev Damon)

by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Puaʻa

The Hawaiian Islands supported some edible land animals, such as birds and bats, when first settled. The settlers brought with them, however, domesticated land animals – pigs, dogs and chickens – that they carefully bred and raised as a supplementary food source. Pigs were raised in great numbers for food and for religious and ceremonial purposes; they were used chiefly in important feasts (ʻaha ʻāina] or as offerings in religious rituals, as well as tribute from the makaʻāinana (commoners) to their chiefs.

Pua‘a (Pigs) constituted the male-associated, ‘higher’ category of sacrifice animal; dogs too had their role as offerings to the female deities. More chiefs than commoners consumed pork and dog meat, the right to the fattest and largest number of pigs and dogs being a privilege of rank. Taboos in eating (ʻai kapu) required that pork be restricted to men and to boys of 10 or 11 years who were old enough to eat in the menʼs eating house (hale mua).

by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Kong Lung Store

Kilauea Plantation began in 1877 with the planting and purchasing of mill equipment. Plantation life throughout the islands was centered on a landscape of buildings that reflected the system of tight control over workers and production. Typically, beyond the fields and mill, there was a plantation store, housing, medical, recreational facilities for the workers.

Lung Wah Chee was among the first group of Chinese immigrants that arrived on Kauai in 1876 to work for the Kilauea Sugar. In the 1890s, Lung Wan Chee (aka LC Achee) operated a general merchandise store on the site of the Parish Hall (Japanese Language School) in Kilauea. In 1902, Kilauea Sugar decided to get out of the retail business and rented Chee their building. In 1941 and later Kong Lung Store contained general merchandise, a barbershop, butcher shop, and post office; it was the only store in Kilauea at that time.

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Intensified Agricultural Systems

Intensified agricultural systems may be defined as those which involve either a significant reduction in fallow length (intensity of cropping) or the construction of permanent agronomic facilities that allow continuous cropping.

Archaeological, ethnohistoric and ethnographic information suggest these intensive systems may be classified into (1) those utilizing some form of water control for the continuous cropping of taro; (2) short-fallow, permanent field systems in dryland areas; and (3) arboriculture (the cultivation of trees and shrubs) associated with long-term storage of starch pastes.