PILIPO NAONE.
On the 16th of February past, Naone let out his last breath, and the man returned to his Lord whom he loved greatly, for whom he was a servant in many good works; Naone died at eighty or so years old. He was born up in Pauoa. His father was Mahi and his mother was Hama [?? it is hard to read]; his parents were from Kauai and then resided in Pauoa; these parents had three children: Pokaakua, along with P. Naone and D. Lima; Pokaakua and Lima died ealier, and only Naone lived until old age, living for more than 80 years.
Naone was one of the first fruits of righteousness amongst this lahui, and he was clearly a good fruit of which the farmer should not be ashamed of; he turned to righteousness in his youth, and from that time on until his end, he was steadfast without going back; he only went forward, with vigilance, and always putting effort into good works until he attained his goal, and he donned his lei [in his death]; he lived and worked in the work of the Lord with Kaahumanu, Hiram Bingham [Binamu], Richard Armstrong [Limaikaika], Ephraim W. Clark [Kalaka] and me, the one who is writing this loving eulogy to him. He was a strong helping hand of Kawaiahao Church until he grew weak and could not work. He was the head of the papa luna, and he was a father figure to all the members. He was much loved by the children and the Sunday Schools.
I was told that Naone was born in the month of March in the year 1785, and if that is so, he was almost 97 years old when he died. Naone had two wives, the first was Pele wahine, and after she died, Emelia Kaneholu, who survives him. By these two women, he had 31 children; 21 with the first wife, and 11 with the one after; three of these children were born during the time of the ai kapu [when the eating kapu was enforced].
The alii relied on Naone, and so too did Gerrit Parmele Judd [Kauka] and Armstrong [Limaikaika]. He was a school teacher for a time at Kamanuwai, and a Road Supervisor [Lunaalanui] for some years for here in Honolulu, it was he and his younger brother D. Lima, along with those who worked under them that extended the borders of Emma Street and School Street and Fort Street; and he was also a Tax Assessor for some years for this district, he served in the Legislature for several sessions as a Representative for the district of Honolulu, he was given by the Evangelical Association of Oahu a “preaching license, [?? palapala haiolelo],” and he took that duty to among the churches here on Oahu, for ten years; he held meetings on the Sabbath in the prison at Kawa.
Naone was much loved by the alii and his lahui, He had much appreciation and aloha for Kaahumanu; he told me that it was Kaahumanu who planted the old hau tree that is growing on the grounds of Kawaiahao, on the mauka side of the church. According to him, it was there that Kaahumanu encouraged men and women in doing good.
Naone had much aloha for Righteousness and the Word of God. He memorized much of the Word. When he became very weak and could not go to the Church, I passed by his house one day, it was a Wednesday. When we were done talking, and I stood to leave, I said, “It is Wednesday.” He replied, “Yes, aloha to the evening meeting, I cannot make it because of the weakened state of my body.” I answered, “You cannot go in body, but if you have thoughts, I will relay them.” Naone immediately said, “Tell them of my aloha, and this is the words of Jehovah, ‘Look to me, and you will be reborn,’ and tell the brethren that.” Naone understood the resurrection of God. Psalm 23 [Halelu 23] was one of his most favorite passages. This is also one of the sayings he memorized that Naone frequently said in the meetings, that is this, “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” That is Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians II:5. And there are many other words that he had memorized. He was well versed in the word of God.
Aloha to the children who are left without a good father; aloha to the luna and the fellow workers of this laborer of Righteousness. Aloha to you, O Naone, the one I would have discussions with, and travel with doing works of the Lord, on these roads from Wailupe to Kalihi.
At this point, I cannot hold back my aloha and praise for John Naone and his wife, some of the children of Naone, for their taking good care of their father in his weakening days. It was these children who took Naone into their own home, and it was the two of them who carefully cared for him until the end, and it was at their house that we lovingly carried out the last rites over the body.
I write this because of my aloha for Naone and his fellow brethren, and so that the people of his lahui will know of the blessings of the righteous man, and his peaceful demise.
Henry Hodges Parker [Paleka],
Kawaiahao, February 28, 1882.
[Is the hau tree planted by Kaahumanu on the Kawaiahao Church grounds still there???]
(Kuokoa, 3/4/1882, p. 4)
