78 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
Hawaii. The forenoon was spent in conversation 
with Keopuolani, queen of Maui, and mother of 
Rihoriho. She, as well as the other chiefs present, 
appeared gratified with an account of the attention 
given to the means of instruction at Oahu, and 
desirous that the people of Lahaina might enjoy 
all the advantages of Christian education. Taua, 
the native teacher from Huahine, appeared dili¬ 
gently employed among Keopuolani’s people, 
many of whom were his scholars; and I was 
happy to learn from Messrs. Stewart and Richards, 
that he was vigilant and faithful in his work. 
At sun-rise next morning, Mr. Stewart and I 
walked down to Keopuolani’s, to attend the usual 
morning exercises, in the large house near the sea. 
About fifty persons were present. In the afternoon 
I accompanied the Missionaries to their schools on 
the beach. The proficiency of many of the pupils 
in reading, spelling, and writing on slates, was 
pleasing. 
Just as they had finished their afternoon instruc¬ 
tion, a party of musicians and dancers arrived be¬ 
fore the house of Keopuolani, and commenced a 
hura ka raau, (dance to the beating of a stick.) 
Five musicians advanced first, each with a staff in 
his left hand, five or six feet long, about three or 
four inches in diameter at one end, and tapering 
off to a point at the other. In his right hand he 
held a small stick of hard wood, six or nine inches 
long, with which he commenced his music, by 
striking the small stick on the larger one, beating 
time all the while with his right foot on a stone, 
placed on the ground beside him for that purpose. 
Six women, fantastically dressed in yellow tapas, 
crowned with garlands of flowers, having also 
wreaths, of native manufacture, of the sweet- 
