Kaipoleimanu, okolehao, place names, and such, 1895 / 2014.

KAIPOLEIMANU.

This Tuesday, Captain Kalei of the Schooner Rob Roy, which is a schooner travelling between Honolulu nei and Molokai, was arrested for having an Okolehao jug containing liquor; there were a great many officers sent to the seaside to arrest the Captain of the schooner.

There was much found in a dark room: four gin jugs, two Whiskey jugs, but the majority found were bottles that were empty with no whiff of Okolehao.

One of the sailors of this ship, distanced himself with a dismal look on his face, and another scratched his head while looking pale.

When it was clear to an officer that he saw alcohol was brought into Honolulu town to be sold, and because of orders received by the officers, should there be a person or persons that were confirmed to have alcohol, they were to be taken to Jail [Halewai], that indeed is what happened as per what was ordered; and the officers and some others went along to the Jailhouse while bringing in a Demijohn ["basketry filled with a bottle"] containing some Okolehao; there was the stench of Ipoleimanu, and this made us recall these lines of mele.

He manao he aloha,
No Kaipoleimanu,
He manu ku’u hoa,
Noho mai ka nahele,
Iiwi a o uka,
Polena i kaua,
Ua ao Hanalei,
Anu au maeele,
[Ua anu hoi au
I ka ua noe anu
Na hau o Maihi
Au ana i ke kai
Na ulu o Weli
Punohu mai ana
E mapu mai ana
Ke ala o ka Hala
Hala o Mapuana
Honi ana i ka ihu
Ke ala pua rose
Hooheno i kuu poli
Naue kuu kino
Ko hiki ana mai
Haina ia ka puana
No ka ipo leimanu.]

¹Kaipoleimanu was during this time a slang for okolehao.

[I took a step back from "Hawaii's Story," but not too far. This mele by Queen Kapiolani for her King Kalakaua, Kaipoleimanu, is still widely sung today. But who today still knows that along with Hanalei, Maihi, Weli, and Mapuana, that Kaipoleimanu is a place on Kauai. In a Hawaii where we are so used to places called Diamond Head, Pearl City, Bowls, Sunset, Yokohama, and the like, is there value in re-membering more traditional names?

On that note, before i take some time away from these posts, i thought i would try a little survey. If you have the time, please think about the question rationally, then choose an answer or add one of your own. And as always, do feel free to leave comments in the box all the way at the bottom.]

(Oiaio, 8/23/1894, p. 3)

Nupepa Ka Oiaio, Buke VII, Helu 25, Aoao 3. Augate 23, 1895.