THROUGH HAWAII. 
63 
noon was spent in conversation with Keopuolani, 
queen of Mauhi, and mother of Rihoriho, king of all 
the islands. 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 advan¬ 
tages of Christian education. Taua, the native teacher 
from Huahine, appeared diligently 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 walk¬ 
ed down to Keopuolani’s, to attend the usual morn¬ 
ing exercises, in the large house near the sea. About 
fifty persons were present. In the afternoon I accom¬ 
panied 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 instruction, 
a party of musicians and dancers arrived before the 
house of Keopuolani, and commenced a hura ha raau, 
(dance to the beating of a stick.) Five musicians ad¬ 
vanced 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, crown¬ 
ed with garlands of flowers, having also wreaths of the 
