THE TYRANT OV HOAKAU. 3 65 
instructed in the important principles of Chris¬ 
tianity, it is much to be feared, that, unless the 
funds of the Societies are increased, this inviting 
field, as well as several others, must long remain 
destitute of moral culture. 
The valley of Waipio is a place frequently cele¬ 
brated in the songs and traditions of Hawaii, as 
having been the abode of Akea and Miru, the first 
kings of the island ; of Umi and Riroa, kings who 
make a prominent figure in their history. It is 
also noted as the residence of Hoakau, king of 
this part of the island, who appears to have been 
one of the Neros of the Sandwich Islands, and 
whose memory is execrable among the people, on 
account of his cruelties; and of whom it is re¬ 
ported, that if a man was said to have a fine- 
looking head, he would send his servants to be¬ 
head the individual, and bring his head before 
him, when he would wantonly cut, and otherwise 
disfigure it. He is said also to have ordered a 
man’s arm to be cut off, and brought to him, only 
because it was tataued in a manner more hand¬ 
some than, his own. 
An interesting conversation was carried on this 
evening, with respect to the separate existence of 
the soul, the resurrection of the body, and the 
general judgment at the last day. The account of 
the raising of the widow’s son, and the calling of 
Lazarus from the grave, after he had been dead 
four days, seemed greatly to interest the natives. 
We afterwards endeavoured to learn from them 
something respecting their opinions of a state of 
existence after death. But all they said upon 
the subject was so contradictory, and mixed with 
fiction, that it could not be discovered whether 
they had any definite idea of the nature or even 
