The Story Of A Princess

The several curreut press nouces ot he royal order of Kapiolani, recently )resented to the authorof "Kalani of )ahu," by King Kalauea, failing to decribe the religo-romantic incident vhich imparts intrinsic value to the name, I send a brief epitome of the tory for publication. The litoral meanng of Kapiolani is "prisonerofHeaven." Princess Kapiolani, of Hawaii, was Laughter of the last king of Hilo, and aniong the first converts of the missionaries. When first seen by the white clergy Kapiolani was in a nudo state, niblicly anointing herself with eoeoamt oil, while nndergoing somc heathen ite of lier tabu creed. From this state of pagan degradation the beautif ui prin - cess soon became one of the most devout Christian converts, glowing witb )ious zeal to accomplish something whipli mio-ht, Vreak Hirono'li the stitions of her people. Twenty-six housand idols had been destroyed by ire, by orden of King Liholiho and the ïigh Priest, Hewahewa, and yet the derrading tahu remained iinbroken. It vas time for some other overt act to bc hought of. In a state of dranken freny Liholiho had brokco the tabu by eatng with the women. A brave act for a young king, but not of snfficient imporance to aft'ect the tabu. Kapiolani now camo to the rescue, and, with a moral heroism equal to any of her sex, she determined to brave Pele n her own iiery stronghold of Kilauea, ;esting the divine power of her ïiew'ound God by defying the goddess and jreaking her tabu in the presence of a multitude. News of her intended sacrilege was proclaimed all over the island, creating a feeling of consteruation, not only for the welfare of the princess, but est the very island should be destroyed. Many came to plead that she would abandon the rash act; and none were more terrilied for her safety than Naihe, ler warrior husband. Followed by eighty of her terrorstricken friends,Kapiolani walked a hundred miles the to mountain wilderness on her pilgrimage of terror. Approachmg the seething cráter, Kapiolani was metby a shrivelled old pricstess of Pele, bearing a fiery malediction from Pele - hot from the dread Hallman-man, (house of everlasting fire)- in which Pele threatened not only death to all corners but destruction of the island. The multitude stood appalled, anc ueggcti tne prmcess uesisi irom ner rash aot. But quoting some ncvv-learnéd passages from Scripture to the Kahnna whaine - wornan priest - Kajiiolani talked calrnly and resolutcly to the crater's verge, where the soa of molten lava raged like a storm-las.hed ocean demonstrating the wrath of Pele. Gathcring a handful of sacred ohelo bei'ries, ever consecrated to Pele, she ate them in dcrision of the tabu rite,insteadof casting them into the cráter as a peace offering to the goddess. Gathering up stones, she thrcw them into the liery ilood instead of the aocustomed berries. Standing thero in the presenco of the most awful natural phenomena onearth, confronting the most terrible coaeeption of a pagan deity, Kapiolam oalmly addressed the multitu.de as they gtood appalled at their own fears: "Behold! my people, the gods of llawaii are vain gods. Great is Jehovab, my God. He kindies these iires. Feax not Pelo; sho is powerless. Should I porish, then fear her power. Should God preserve me, then break yourtabu, knowingthercisbutone God, Jehovah." In commemoration of this brave act ei Kapiolani Ke Nui (the great) tlieking's present wife, was uamed, and his ï'oyal Order of Kapioloui was proclaimeu, for the "recompense of distinguisked merit to the state, for humanity, genius, science and art, services rendered to ourselves or our succesaors."