The Lesser Hawaiian Gods
THE LESSER HAWAIIAN GODS. Read before the Hawaiian Historical Society, April 7, 1892, by J. S. EMERSON, Esq., \ . Vice-President of the Society. THE subject of this paper is The Lesser Hawaiian Gods, es- pecially those gods who have received the worship, and become the patrons, of individuals and of families, and have entered most intimately into their daily life. We shall treat of them under the two heads of Unihipili and Aumakua. It does not in- clude several other classes like the lapus [ghosts], and that myriad of spooks, sprites, and elves, with which the Hawaiian imagination peopled earth, sea, air, and the nether as well as the upper world. The battle of Kuamoo, fought about December 20, 1819, settled the fate of heathenism as the religion of the state in these islands. With the abolition of the tabus and of human sacrifices, the two most important features of the old regime forever passed away. Under the powerful leadership of Kaahumanu, many of the idols were destroyed, and in a remarkably brief period Christianity be- came the recognized religion of the land. But the ancient beliefs of the people, though greatly modified by the changed condition of the country, still continued to exert a powerful influence on their lives. There have always been those who have clung to the faith of their fathers, and who, in secret, have kept up the worship of their ances- tral gods. From time to time the outward manifestations of heathen worship have cropped out. Especially from the year 1863, when Kamehameha V began his reign, up to the death of King Kalakaua in the latter part of the year 1890, has this tendency been more ap- parent.
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