THE PRINCE OF WALES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3463, 17 April 1920, Page 5

THE PRINCE OF WALES.

PRINCE ATTE-NDS MYSTERIOUS FESTIVITY.

HONOLULU, »‘Api‘-il 15.

, The Prince attended a Masonic function, which was followed by a grand ball given by the Governor of Hawaii, but a far more picturesque [entertainment was given after the ball, when the Prince and Etaff, with }invited guests, departed in motor ‘cars to participate in a mysterious [:i’estivit.y in the country. A long line {of motor cars spcd away at mdinight Etc Pearl Haiibour peninsula, forty minutes run from Honolulu. Few of lthe guests had any idea of the nature [of the entertainment to be provided. ion reaching an open space the guests iwere ushered in between lines of white-robed Hawaiian women, wearjing caps of scarlet and yellow plumLage, through a gate into the grounds got‘ a handsome private residence belonging to Mr and Mrs Robert ‘Atkin son, wh§'l-eceived them, with Princess Kawanan Koe, the organiser of the festival. The Prince was greeted with a chant of welcome, and escorted tothe house, where the -host and hostess held a reception. A move was then made to the gardens, where, under a mighty tree, a Hawaiian feast had been prepared on tables raised one foot from the ground. The guests were invited to inspect the earth oven, where a ;pig was baking, wrap»ped in large ti leaves. There were calabashes loaded with strange delicacies, including octopus poi, unknown vegetables, a. mountain of apples-, ju kui nuts, dried fish, pungent peppers, salads, and sweets. A. banyon tree was surrounded by a grove of cocoanut palms, and was hung with electric lights, giving a soft, radiant'illumination. About a hundred European and American guests-, including ladies in evening dress and diamonds, seated themselves cross-legged ion straw mats placed on the ground. _A few chairs were provided for the Prince, the host and hostess,‘ the ,Hawaiian ‘princess and ‘others. Flower Wreaths were presented to every guest, and suspended ..-around their necks.’ The whole scene when p the guests sat down was cxtraol'dinarily romantic, especially when‘ a Hawaiian corps de ballet made its appearance in a natural alcove under the concotnut trees, and began a continuous. performance of rhythmic hip-swaying dances to’ the accompaniment of guards swaying on the ground and interminable barbaric chants.

INTERESTING HAWAIIAN CEREMONIES.

Received 9.55 a.m.

HONOLULU, April 15.

This feast, called the “Royal Luaa,” is reserved exclusively for Royalty‘. It contained a feature which had not been represented since the Duke of Edinburgh visited Honolulu in 1858. Behind the Prince, who sat garlanded with flowers Ibetween the Hawaiian Princess-and the hostess, Mrs Atkinson, two tall Hawaiians stood holding sacked tapu sticks (long pointed rods ornamented with globes).‘_:l“apu sticks still profoundly influencethe native imagination, and emphasise to their mind the sacredness of kingship. They are never produced except for a Royal Personage. The ship’s officers, wearing white mess jackets with gold lace and war decorations, were similarly garlanded, as were the ladies, who were present in equal numbers. Several representatives of aristocra.tic Hawaiian families also participated in the feast. Amid the fragrant odours exhaled from the varied flowers and the gleaming of jewels worn by the fashionably dressed ladies. the guests ate Hawaiian delicacies in the vHaWaiian fashion, while strange drinks of unknown composition were served in small glasses. If Hawaii were not so uncompromisingly dry, in common with the rest of the United States territory, one might have suspected those alluring palatable drinks to be American cocktails, in the guise of beverages compounded by ancient Hawaiian art. Many of -the guests who resided at Hawaii, used their fingers for eating, but, strangers were accommodated with forks. During the progress of the feast the Prince exhibited close inter-j est in the programme presented by‘ the Hula Hula girls, and listened to the plaintive Hawaiian chants and love songs. An "American lady versed in Hawaiian love kindly interpreted the meaning of many songs, and explained that they were’ largely historical ballads, like Sir Walter Scott’s, celebrating the warlike achievements of Hawaiian heroes, and giving their generalogies and the exploits of their ancestors and descendants. Other ballads referred to the Prince of Wales, and recounted‘ ancient tiesof friendship between Hawaii and Beretania, which is the name for Britain. Others again were purely love songs-. The principal singing girl, who accompanied herself on the ukalele, possessed a voice of much sweetness and charm, and. quite captivated the_audience who loudly acclaimed her. The

Hawaiian dancers, which are suppoge ed to portray dramatic, scenes and; stories were rather monotonous, but they danced with extraord-1 inary vigor and abandon. An old man} comedian furnished the comic relief‘ singing and dancing‘ with the chorus; of Hula Hula girls. The performance was quite ‘unintelligible to outsiders,‘ but was greeted with uproarous, laughter and applause. With thd plaintive love Songs of the Hawaiian prima. donna, who sang under hen’ native cocoanuts, ringing in thein ears, the party went back t~_o the-’city,,' and boarded the ship. The Renown: left for Fiji at daybreak on Wednes-I day. , ,i