50 NATURAL HISTORY OF HAWAII. 



The Future State. 



They had a ratlier iiideiiuite notion as to the exact nature of the future state. 

 However, they believed that the two usual conditions, misery and happiness, 

 existed. If the soul after journeying- to the region of Wakea ^ was not favor- 

 ably received, it was forced through despair and loneliness to leap into the 

 abode of misery, far below. Precipices from which the souls of the unhappy 

 departed were supposed to plunge on this wild leap are occasionally pointed out 

 at various places about the group. One at the northern point of Oahu, another 

 at the northern extremity- of Hawaii, and a third on the western end of Maui 

 are w^ell known to those acquainted with Hawaiian superstition. 



Heiaus. 



In order to propitiate their gods, or better accomplish their worship, the peo- 

 ple through fear or at the command of the king or priests, erected numerous 

 temples or heiaus. To many students of the race this blind fear of their gods 

 and their chiefs, and their unreasoning acceptance of the tabu, are subjects of 

 continual wonder. Their principal temples were of two general forms, the 

 older being composed of rough stones laid up without mortar in the form of a 

 low, truncated pyramid, oblong in shape, on top of which were placed the altar 

 of sacrifice, certain grass liouses, the idols of the temple and the other grotesque 

 wooden images and objects used in their worship. The later and more common 

 form of heiau was made by erecting four high walls of stone, surmounted with 

 numerous images, enclosing a space occupied, as before, by the various images, 

 oracles, sacred places and altars of worship. These temples were numerous in 

 the more thickly settled regions on all the islands and were usually built near 

 the shore. On Hawaii, in the region from Kailua to Kealakekua, particularly, 

 they were very numerous and close together. The principal heiaus were dedi- 

 cated to their chief gods, but many smaller ones were built, as fish heiaus, rain 

 heiaus and the like, and were dedicated to the special god of the builder. 



Where temples were found in large numl)ers a corresponding num1)er of 

 priests were to he expected. Of these there were many orders and sub-orders. 

 They and th<Mr rights were constantly made use of by the chiefs for the purpose 

 of terrifying the people. Through them the tabu was coupled with idol worship, 

 and their combined cruelties, terrors and restrictions made an integral part of 

 the general system of government. 



Warfare. 



War among the ancient Hawaiians was one of the chief occupations and 

 witli them, as with other races, war was the "sport of kings." In making 

 preparations for war the king, however, in addition to the council of his chiefs, 

 had the advantage of the advice and skill of a certain class of military experts 

 who were instructed in the traditions and wisdom of their predecessors. Being 



1 The hdiiip (if the re]iiite(l father of the race, a jihTce provided with houses, food, consorts and 

 pleasures. 



