Terrible Death
("Make Weliweli", Ka Hoku o ka Pakipika, April 10, 1862)
On March 18, 1862, Keawe died at Waipuhia, in Puuala, Kaupo, East Maui.
On the 17th, there was a ti-drinking party1 at Davida’s house in Waiha. That night is when Keawe died. There are two theories: that he died because he was drunk from the ti liquor and jumped from a cliff, or alternately that he was killed by his fellow drinking partners.
These reasons are why I am addressing you. If in truth Keawe died from due to being drunk on ti, I warn you all against distilling ti into liquor and focusing on this temporary life. If his blood was spilled by the force of one’s hand, then the one who spilled blood should have his own blood spilled.
D. P. AUMAI
News of Hawaii
("Na Mea Hou o Hawaii Nei", Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, April 12, 1862)
We have received a letter from D. P. Aumai reporting of a man who suffered a terrible death.
Here are the contents: On March 17, there was a ti-drinking party at Davida Kaili’s house at Waiha, Kaupo, East Maui. At nighttime he disappeared. There are two theories: he died because he was drunk and fell from a cliff, or he was killed by his ti-drinking companions.
On the night that Keawe died, his wife, Makuakane, went to collect water because the land was dry. Water was what the residents there needed the most.
On the morning of the 18th, Kahalewai found Keawe’s body at the bottom of the cliff at Wahipoho. Keawe’s head was battered. His malo was wrapped around his neck, which was blue. His body was bruised. Kahalewai took the body back home.
I have two admonitions to all of you considering distilling ti to use for parties: This is the reason that Keawe died. Secondly, to the one whose hand spilled blood: In time, the one who spills blood will have his own blood spilled.
The death of our friend Keawe in this horrible manner is a lesson for all residents of that district of our kingdom and something that should quell the hubris of men, women and children alike.
Below is the text of the original articles:
Make Weliweli
Ma ka la 18 o Maraki 1862, make o Keawe, ma Waipuhia, ma Puuala i Kaupo, Maui Hikina.
Ma ka la 17 he aha inu ki ma Waiha, maloko o ka hale o Davida keia inu ki ana. Mai ia la a po, ia po iho, o kona make noia. Elua mea i manao wale ia, ua make oia no ka ona i ke ki, a o ke kumu ia o kona lele ana i ka pali a make; eia ka lua ua make maoli i ka pepehi ia e ko lakou mau hoa inu ki a lealea.
No loko mai o keia mau kumu ko’u manao e paipai aku ia oukou. Ina he oiaio, ua make o Keawe no ka ona i ke ki, ke papa aku nei au ia oukou mai ho-a oukou i ke ki, a hana iho no keia ola pokole ana. Ina hoi i make oia no ka lima ikaika a hookahe koko, ea, o ka mea e hookahe i ke koko, e hookahe ia no kona koko.
D. P. AUMAI.
NA MEA HOU O HAWAII NEI
Ua loaa mai ia makou he palapala na D. P. Aumai, e hoike mai ana no kekahi kanaka i make mainoino.
Eia ua manao la, “Ma ka la 17 o Maraki, he Aha inu ki ma ka hale o Davida Kaili ma Waiha, Kaupo, Maui Hikina. I ua la nei a po iho, o kona nalowale no ia, elua mea i manao wale ia: ua make oia no ka ona i ke ki o ke kumu ia o kona lele ana i ka pali, a make oia no ka pepehi maoliia e na hoa inu ki.
I ka po i make ai o Keawe, ua hele kana wahine mare o Makuakane i ka hoolilolilo wai, no ka mea, he aina papaa la, o ka wai ka mea i makemake nui ia e ko laila poe kupa.
I ke kakahiaka o ua po nei a ao ae oia ka la 18, ua loaa ke kino kupapau o Keawe malalo o ka pali o Wahipoho, ia Kahalewai. Ua pukapuka ke poo; ua paa kapuu a-i i ka malo, ua hele a uliuli; ua poholehole kona kino, ua lawe aku no o Kahalewai i ke kino kupapau a ma kona hale waiho.
No loko mai o na manao olua ko’u manao e paipai aku ia oukou, e ka poe e manao ana e ho-a i ke ki a hana iho i mea lealea, o keia ho-a ana o oukou i ke ki a inu me ka lealea, oia ke kumu i make ai o Keawe. Eia ka lua, no ka lima hookahe koko; a hoomau hala ia, o ka mea e hookahe i ke koko e hookahe ia no kona koko.E lilo ka make ana o Keawe ko kakou hoa aloha iloko o keia make mainoino, i kumu e ao mai ana i na kanaka kupa ma ia mokuna aina o ka kakou Moi a i mea hoi e alalai mai ana i ka haakoi lua ole o na kane a me na wahine, a me na keiki.”
Footnotes
- That is, drinking okolehao, or distilled liquor from the root of ti plants.