​James Bicknell’s treatise on hoʻomanamana, which he defines as "idolatry," is twelve pages long. According to bibliographer David W. Forbes, this work was probably published about the same time his article on kahuna appeared in The Friend (Forbes, Hawaiian National Bibliography, 1780–1900: 1881–1900 (Honolulu, University of Hawaii Press, 1998: 335). In any case, this is the first page of this treatise. The importance of this work is that it evidences the continuity of Hawaiian religion seventy-one years after a small group of powerful aliʻi decided to abolish it in 1819. 

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, July 20, 1917.
​
End The Ignorant Superstitious Practices.
     Not long ago, this newspaper published news about a family in Kona, Hawaiʻi, who believed the false prophecy of a young girl about the lava flow that would destroy certain places, and so the family left their home to go to the Kīlauea crater to offer their lives to Pele for their lives so that the aliʻiwahine [queen] of the volcano would spare the population.
     This is one of the ignorant behaviors connected to the worship of god images, which are well known and common among many families in this time of enlightenment; the time of ignorance is long past, but here it is, reigning among a certain portion of the Hawaiian people. 
     Those peoples' ignorance  is clear; in their mistaken belief in the false prophecy of sordid spirits, they nearly ended their lives on that road if help had not arrived at the right time. When would the god who led those people have arrived to save their lives?
     Perhaps many people of this kind live among Hawaiians, who believe in hoʻomanamana  and hoʻomanakiʻi [worship of idols]; the Kuokoa will teach them, and they will leave behind their beliefs from the time of ignorance, and believe that there is only one God, and in believing in his Name, will have their sins forgiven, and obtain life in the body and the soul.

 

























Ka Nupepa Kuokoa 18 April 18, 1891.

Here are the Acts of Hoʻomanamana
         ______
J. U. Kawainui, Esq.,
     Aloha: 
     On March 29, we saw a man named Nāʻohenui passing in front of our homes with a bucket and gathering ʻilima (a plant that has flowers that range from bright yellow to orange-red). He went all the way to the beach near where the pōhuehue vine grows (a variety of morning glory that grows on the beach), and plucked some leaves and put them in the bucket. He took it to down to sea, and then turned back and went to the gate of J. W. Lota's house. He stood there for a few minutes, and then began performing the pīkai ritual (cleansing ritual that includes sprinkling saltwater). He did the pīkai on the plants near the gate with the seawater in the bucket, above and below, east and west. He did that on both gates, then, he began doing the pīkai on the street leading to the store of Kiwo. These people are frequenting deceitful Hawaiian kahuna to seek a way to separate the daughter from the husband. 
                                                                                     Keonepuakoai.
                                                                                     Hanalei, Kauaʻi,
​                                                                                     Apr. 2, 1891.                            

Ka Elele, February 12, 1887.

The Hoʻomanamana Case
     At 9 o'clock in the morning of Friday past, February 4, the Aha Hoʻomalu [Police Court] heard the hoʻomanamana case of Paʻahao (f).
     This woman who practices hoʻomanamana is young, and that kind of practice is unsuitable, and her gods she prays to are "Kamohoaliʻi" and "Laukiomanoikahiki," the latter bring the fish-tailed woman [mermaid] of Kepohoni. Some of her false prophecies were made known to the Aha. Namely, she asked John for five dollars, then, within five days, that Chinese person Kana Huka who ran away would be found. But, only three days, the police found that Chinese fugitive outside of Pāwaʻa [Honolulu].
     When she was asked about the fact that her prophecy did not come to pass, she replied, "My God returned to the Cape of Kepohoni." Such duplicity. Their kauwila wood rod for Kamohoaliʻi was brought before the Court, one taro with leaves of the kind called lauloa, and some stones of the "ʻalā" type [waterworn volcanic stones that are dense rather than porous], one silver/money cup containing alcohol. According to them, this cup was a money collecting cup for their gods. If that cup was set aside in the evening without money in it, when it was fetched the next morning, it would be full of money. Many people were taken in by this, believing it to be true, but there these two were, filling it up with money at night while people slept. Such duplicity.
     Mrs. Kāʻili revealed to the Court that [they] were able to get $60 because of their lies at this place. That female kahuna was fined: [she was sentenced to] ten work days and [ordered to pay a] fine to the Court.

Note:  One of the valuable things about this article is that it offers information on the god named Laukiomanoikahiki.

Ka Leo Lahui, February 4, 1875
Lahui Hawaii; Aloha:--
     May it please you Editor, to allow me a bit of room in your body so that you can show before the public those words "Hilea me kona Akua Hoomanamana."
     Here at Puaʻahala, Molokai, a woman named Hīlea, with her gods Pūnohu and Kahala, is healing certain people; many people have turned to this evil handiwork. It is something that embarrasses me to observe, people who were taught knowledge joining in the filth, who had been teachers before, and at this time, are the kava chewers for the gods of Hīlea. In last few days, Hīlea predicted that a school of fish would appear at Honouli, akule [big-eyed scad]. Many people went there because of her words, but they returned with nothing. Hīlea was taken before the Associate Court Judge of Molokai to be fined, and because of false testimony, hiding the misdeed,  the offense was dismissed. The time of ignorance has passed, enlightenment has appeared, when will the dimness afflicting the sight cease? If the eyes are closed at the drinking of kava, here is the time to stop that error, and remember, there one GOD in  Heaven. "To obey is life, to disobey is death."
With aloha, 
Molokai.