Bundle containing things to worship a god.

     Last Saturday, at the stream of Maʻemaʻe [Nuʻuanu, Oʻahu], a hoʻomanamana bundle was found that was believed to be a thing to cause the death of the person who had evil intentions. [It contained] a moana fish [goatfish], kava, a "a-puna olalo/olulo" [apu na olulu? a cup for the idol?], and other things inside. Oh friends, stop performing those kinds of practices. This is a time of enlightenment, and the things of enlightenment are wanted, not those of ignorance. To obey is life, to disobey is death. 

Published in Ka Lei Momi on 29 August 1893.

Note: the "a-puna olalo/olulo" bit stumped me. Any insights are appreciated.

Bundle containing things to worship a god.

To you, Kuokoa:—Aloha to you.
     When I and my friend J. S. Lono were going to church, when we reached the bank of Puloku, there was a hoʻomanamana bundle at its edge floating in the water. I fetched it, opened it, and there was a small dog that had been baked, which was wrapped in yellow cloth. My friend said that this was a hoʻomanamana bundle of the olden times. It is right for you to show this to friends who are interested in our news about this hoʻomanamana of olden times, the Pagan period. 

     M. Kekalohe
     Waiheʻe, Maui, Sept. 20, 1880.

Published in Ka Nupepa Kuokoa on 9 Oct. 1880.

A bundle containing things to worship a god was found at the Dillingham Bridge
[Oʻahu]. 

     
     Here are the things inside of that hoʻomanamana bundle: a jug of Brandy, a young kava plant, waterworn stone, Piʻialiʻi taro, sugarcane, red earth, banana, young coconut, all wrapped up in red cloth. 
     Oh the multitude, the descendants of Waʻawaʻaikinaʻaupō (Ignoramus), put an end to this kind of pagan pursuits, seeing that our knowledge within the last 74 years has sufficed, listen to this.

Published in Ka Leo o ka Lahui (The Voice of the Nation/People) on 17 August 1894.

Revered or reviled, reptiles are a global phenomenon. Across place and time, they have held and continue to hold a prominent place in the religions and cultures of many peoples. Nearly as ancient as the world itself, reptiles made their appearance long before humankind. Whether land or water dwellers, or a bit of both, they have slithered, crawled, climbed, and glided their way through our imagination and into our belief systems. 

I am currently writing a manuscript on moʻo (Hawaiian reptilian deities), a topic I researched for my M.A. in Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (2010). Predominately female, moʻo deities are interesting examples of mana wahine (female mana). They embody the life-giving and death-dealing properties of water, the element with which they are associated. Replicating the elusive nature of lizards, which they resemble, knowledge about moʻo lurks here and there, sometimes found in unexpected places.  Moʻo, as a class of deities, vary greatly in size. They can be as huge as a mountain or as small as a house gecko. Some moʻo have alternate forms. Those who masquerade as humans are often described as stunningly beautiful. Tradition holds that if you come across a body of freshwater in a secluded area, and everything is eerily still and quiet, you should not linger there because you have stumbled across the home of a moʻo. And if the plants of that place are yellowed and the water is covered with a greenish-yellow froth, then you know the moʻo is at home. If that is the case, you should leave quickly lest the moʻo make itself known to you to your detriment. It might eat you or it might take you as a lover. Either way, you are doomed because the moʻo will consume you—completely. 

You can find my lecture by clicking on the black button here below (just scroll down the page it sends you too until you see the link for my talk).

     A  bundle containing things to 
               worship a god.

          On 16 of this Oct., John Kekua found a hoʻomanamana bundle at ʻŌhiʻa, Waikapū [Maui] at the home of Pala (m). [It contained] 1 [piece of] Kālaipāhoa wood, 1 piece of Kauila wood, 1 piece of Sandalwood, 1 ball of red dirt, 1 ball of clay. These are things were preserved carefully in a silk handkerchief, a god that he [Pala] worshipped. At exactly 12 o’clock that evening, it was set on fire. Your cherished things you kept so nonchalantly season after season were burnt, what a pity! Your kava-drinking friends, Pala, have passed; the ignorance of pagan religion is being scrutinized. Oh dear! Do not repeat those practices of former times, it is done, friend. 
          On 18 Oct., another one was found at Kekiʻo, Waikapū; a bundle of the same kind mentioned above [belonging] to the seer John Kekua, belonging to Mrs. Nāwēlau. This bundle was Kalaniʻula [The red heaven] and it was destroyed by fire at exactly 8 o’clock. Many visitors saw the death of this Dragon. Here is Satan who is being supported by these things done on his behalf. Oh, mother, do not imitate the time of our ancestors who have passed.
J. Nomoloa.

This article was published in Ka Nupepa Kuokoa (The Independent Newspaper) on October 31, 1885.