Read this article in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
The desire of King Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha III, to foster a nation of literacy has been fulfilled. Upon scanning the books and newspapers printed during his reign, as well as the schools he established, the skill of the Hawaiian people in reading and learning about Hawaiʻi and the world is demonstrated.
As an example, Palestine is a land known by the Hawaiians through such books as The World. Such was written below about Palestine: “It is a long and slender strip of land to the north of Arabia, located by the shores of the Mediterranean (Waenahonua)…it is left to the people of Mohammed (Muslims) to this day (77, Ka Honua Nei, 1873).”
Our kūpuna were also knowledgeable in history because of such books as Ka Honua Nei, as well as the numerous newspapers printed in Honolulu. Here below is a snippet of history regarding Christmas:
There are many people who celebrate Christmas as a day of joy and gift giving to friends, however, they all agree and are clear that our Lord was not born on the 25th of December. It is apparent by considering the lifestyle of Palestine, the shepherds could not watch over their sheep in their fields and also the cliffs surrounding Bethlehem on the night of the 25th of December because of the cold. In this land, the sheep were released to the fields during the summer months but as October approached, the cold rains came and the animals were returned to the village. (Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, 30 March 1865)
According to Chrysostom, the famous lecturer known as John the “Golden-mouthed,” Christmas began in Syria and Palestine in the year 378. However, it was in Rome where the first Christmas as we know it began, which arose from a pagan feast called the Saturnalia. This was a feast held during the second half of December, which included a week of feasting, wastefulness and gaiety, and a time when servants and masters were equal, gifts were given to one another, and for the children on the last feast day, little statues were given. Christmas then was like the Christmas of today.
It is a pity that the history and facts about Palestine and Christmas are not being taught in the schools and churches. Instead of the truth, fictitious stories are being taught.
