26 NATURAL HISTORY OF HAWAII. 



that the origin of the Polynesian race has been traced by different writers, in 

 different ways to various places. North. South and Middle America, as well 

 as Papua, i\Ialay. China. Japan and India, have each in turn been declared 

 the cradle of this widely distributed people and each made responsible, directly 

 or indirectly, for their presence in the Pacific Ocean. 



While it is probable that the origin of the race, as a whole, will always be 

 shrouded in doubt, there is little uncertainty as to the more immediate an- 

 cestors of the Hawaiian people. All their various affinities seem to point un- 

 erringly in the direction of the islands to the south of us. Although the Society 

 and Samoan Islands, which are the nearest islands in any direction at present 

 inhabited by this race, are more than two thousand miles distant, they, without 

 doubt, form the stepping stones over which the early immigrants passed — if they 

 are not the actual points of origin of the migrations that resulted in the 

 settling of the Polynesian race on this, the most remote group. 



Evidence of Early Immigrations. 



That the race existed here ages ago, perhaps far beyond the traditions of 

 the people, is believed by some to be proven by certain geologic evidence. What- 

 ever the geological facts may be. and the data thus far secured is by no means 

 conclusive, the traditions of the people are more certain. They throw much light 

 on the antiquity of the early voyages of the race and point far back into the 

 shadowy past. Their genealogies, which were handed down from father to son 

 with remarkable accuracy, also contribute much information that can be ac- 

 cepted as reasonably authentic and historic, and give a fair basis for measuring 

 time, especially during the past four or five centuries. The comparative study 

 of gejiealogical records has brought to light proof of many obscure points that 

 had to do with the history and wanderings of the race as a whole, l)ut their 

 traditions are especially clear witli reference to the ITawaiians themselves. 



Traditional and Historical Evidence of Early Voyages. 



Those who have studied, the history and traditions of the Polynesians as a 

 people regard Savaii, in the Samoan group, as the most likely center of dispersal. 

 It is probable that at least one of the bands of early voyagers that settled on 

 these, then presumably unpeopled islands, came from that group in very ancient 

 times, — perhaps as long ago as 500 B. C. Just why these early wanderers 

 set out on the long perilous journey over unknown seas will never be known. 

 It is suggested that they may have been forced from their early homes by war 

 and driven from their course by storms. But since there was no written lan- 

 guage, the historian, as already stated, is forced to rely for his data on legends, 

 traditions, genealogies and such other meager scraps of information as are 

 available. 



Unfortunately, of the very early period scarcely a reliable tradition exists. 

 We are therefore left free, within a certain measure, to construct for ourselves 

 such tales of adventure, privation and hardship as seem sufficient to account for 

 the appearance of the natives in this far-away and isolated land. We know 



