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Kēlā Mea, Kēia Mea
By Ronald Williams Jr.
Within the dozens of Hawaiian-language newspapers published during the 19th and early 20th centuries were often found engaging columns titled Kela Mea Keia Mea. These features carried small tidbits of news and interesting happenings from places throughout the islands. With that same mana'o, this modern-day column is published with the idea of bringing to the readers brief bits of interesting and sometimes lesser-known histories. These "news bites" have been collected during the course of research in newspaper, manuscript, correspondence and other archival collections around Hawai'i. The sources are both Hawaiian language and English. It is hoped that, like its many predecessors, this column might inform, entertain and perhaps even spark discussion. Me ka ha'aha'a no.
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Hawaiian Islands. May 1841. Several prominent graduates of the school at Lāhaināluna have recently formed a Historical Society to record, preserve and teach about traditions and histories of things past. At a recent meeting, David Malo presented on the history of the reign of 'Umi. His work on the topic produced a forty-eight-page manuscript.
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Honolulu. March 28, 1865. A letter arrived in the islands this week from Mormon leader Brigham Young addressed to "His Majesty L. Kamehameha the Fifth, King of the Hawaiian Islands." Sent from "Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory," the letter seeks to explain the coming of missionary Francis Hammond and several other families from the Utah Territory to the Hawaiian Kingdom. Young writes that Hammond and the others "will therefore endeavor to teach Your Majesty's subjects, who may listen to them, practical salvation."
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'Iolani Palace. Honolulu. September 25, 1887. "Hala ia Pua'lii o Hawaii." Yesterday's Nupepa Kuokoa informed that His Highness Prince Edward Abner Keli'iahonui, brother of Prince David Kawānanakoa and Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole passed on Wednesday afternoon at the Palace. The Prince has been attending St. Matthew's School in San Mateo, California, but recently took ill and was sent home to the islands. He was born at Ka'ala'a, Honolulu, on May 13, 1869, to David Kahalepouli Pi'ikoi and the late Princess Victoria Kekaulike. He was baptized by Bishop Staley and attended Punahou prior to heading to St. Matthew's.
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'Iolani Palace. Honolulu. March 2, 1892. Her Gracious Majesty Queen Lili'uokalani, always a strong believer in the importance of education, will be hosting the final lecture in a series on Literature and History given by Mrs. Florence Williams. We are told that Mrs. Williams is the first native librarian in St. Croix, Virgin Islands. An expected seventy to eighty ladies will gather in the Throne Room of the Palace to learn more about the French Emperor Napoleon.
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Honolulu. December 15, 1893. At the Provisional Government Counsel meeting yesterday Cecil Brown called attention to "the necessity of the ex-queen being made a prisoner of state." Attorney General W.O. Smith, Brown and President Dole discussed the matter before deciding to wait on such action for the time being. Dole expressed his commitment to Brown's idea that "at the first intimation from the Representative of the United States of an intention to restore her to the throne, she would be taken into custody."
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