Hawaiian Religion: Hīlea (f) and her Hoomanamana Gods (1875)

Hīlea f, and her Hoʻomanamana God

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.

Published in Ka Leo Lahui (The Nation's/People's Voice) on 4 February 1875.

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