The Testimony of Heneri
Opukaha'ia
regarding the state
of religion and society in Hawaii before the Gospel—a rebuttal to Daniel
Kikawa's book
“Perpetuated In Righteousness”
by Sandy Simpson,
Apologetics Coordination Team,
May 2005
SYNOPSIS
This article is a
rebuttal to Daniel Kikawa's book Perpetuated In Righteousness that is
one of the foundations underlying the “A Call to the Nations” 2005 conference
in Oahu, HI, which is part of the New Apostolic Reformation “First Nations”
movement. The testimony of Heneri Opukaha’ia refutes the leaders of this
movement such as Daniel Kikawa, Don Richardson, Leon Siu, Terry LeBlanc,
Richard Twiss and many others who are teaching: (1) that Hawaiians have always
known the gospel because it was written in the stars1 (2) that Hawaiians already were worshipping
God in the form of ‘Io (actually a bird god) long before missionaries arrived2 (3) that “these are clues that we felt
God had left (the Hawaiian people) and evidence that He’s left as well as
processes He has left in which our Hawaiian people can respond in a very
natural way to God and really set things right between them and God.”3 (4) that “There’s a myth that we have
labored under for centuries in indigenous communities and the myth is that we
are a godless heathen people.”4 (5)
and that we have “Startling Evidence of Belief in the One True God in
Hundreds of Cultures Throughout the World” claiming that hundreds of
cultures in the world were already worshipping YHWH before missionaries came
and preached the Gospel.5
The biblical
fact is: all Gentiles were outside the covenant of God in the Old Testament,
and are still outside the New Covenant if they do not hear the Gospel preached
to them.
Eph. 2:11-13 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are
Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call
themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of
men)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from
citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without
hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once
were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Rom. 10:14-15 How, then, can they call on the one they have not
believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they
preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet
of those who bring good news!"
This
article is a reminder of what Hawaii was like before the Gospel was
preached. This is the account of a very important eyewitness. It is an
unfortunate fact that often, by the third generation of Christians or so, in
any given area of the world, important information has begun to be lost and
forgotten. This is clearly evident in the writings of people like Daniel
Kikawa. The stark facts of Hawaiian culture and religion before the Gospel
was preached in Hawaii are made evident by the testimony of a man, without
whom, the peoples of Hawaii may never have had the opportunity to hear the
Gospel message. Our beloved Hawaiians and other islanders would likely still be
living in the sins of their ancestors.
I am writing
this article not to belittle the people of the Hawaiian Islands, but as a
reminder of the truths of the past by very important
eyewitnesses. Remember that the Bible teaches that the facts of a matter
are established by the testimony of eyewitnesses (2 Cor. 3:1, Matt. 18:16, Luke
1:2, 2 Pet. 1:16, etc.). Heneri Opukaha'ia (Henry Obookiah) is
responsible for bringing the reality of the Hawaiian culture and religion to
the attention of the Congregationalists in America. Later the American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions sent the first missionaries to the
Hawaiian Islands. Obookiah dreamt of coming back to his homeland to preach
the Gospel to Hawaiians, but he died an early death in America. Here is
his epitaph:
“In the little village of Cornwall, set in the Litchfield Hills, the
northwest corner of Connecticut, there is a country graveyard. Walk up the
steep bank, past the old headstones tilted in the tall grass, or, depending on
the season, the deep snow, and you will come to a large, flat stone resting on
a quadrangular tomb of rocks. The inscription, worn and weathered by a thousand
New England storms, is still easy to read.”
“IN
Memory of
HENRY OBOOKIAH
a native of
OWHYHEE (Hawaii).
His
arrival in this country gave rise to the Foreign mission school,
of which he was a worthy member.
He was once an Idolater and was designed for a Pagan Priest;
but by the grace of God and by the prayers and instructions of pious
friends, he became a Christian. He
was eminent for piety and missionary Zeal.
When almost prepared to return to his native Isle to preach the Gospel, God took to himself.
In his last sickness, he wept and prayed for Owhyhee, but was submissive.
He died without fear with a heavenly smile on his countenance
and glory in his soul.
Feb. 17, 1818 aged 26”6
The
publishing of the book “Memoirs of Henry Obookiah”7, circulated
among the churches of New England, was the inspiration for many Christians to
give up their lives and families to come to Hawaii as missionaries to fulfill
the vision of Obookiah. I urge all Hawaiian islanders to read this book
containing the eyewitness historical account of Obookiah. If it were not for
the testimony and heart of compassion of Obookiah, the Gospel may not have been
preached in Hawaii as it still has not been in many places.
Obookiah's
family were killed in the wars of dominion in Hawaii in the early
1800s. He was found by an uncle in the house of the man who murdered his
parents. Here is part of his account.
“Obookiah, being now a prisoner in the hands of the enemy, was taken
home to the house of the very man who murdered his parents. With him he
remained until he was found by an uncle, who having obtained the consent of his
keeper, took him into his own family and treated him as his child. This
uncle was a priest, and had the rank of high priest of the island. It was his
design to educate Obookiah for the same service. In pursuance of this purpose,
he taught him long prayers, and trained him to the task of repeating them daily
in the temple of the idol. This ceremony he sometimes commenced before
sunrise in the morning, and at other times was employed in it during the whole
or the greater part of the night. Parts of these prayers he often repeated to
gratify the curiosity of his friends, after he came to this country. They
regarded the weather, the general prosperity of the island, its defence from
enemies, and especially the life and happiness of the king. He continued
with his uncle, and in this employment, until he took his departure from his
native country, to go in quest of another, where he hoped to find the happiness
which the death of his parents had taken from him, and which nothing now to be
found in his own country could supply. His feelings on this subject, with some
account of his situation while he remained upon the island, of his departure
for America, and his reception in this country, are found in a his story of his
past life written by himself several years before his death. As this, to all
the readers of these memoirs, will doubtless be interesting, considered as the
production of a heathen youth, the greater part of it will be inserted, with
but few slight alterations. His own ideas, and, in general, his own language
will be preserved. The history commences at the time of his parents’ death.”8
Obookiah
believed in the Gospel message and was saved soon after his arrival in
America. He began to relate the terrible circumstances of his islands.
“It is well for the young to understand that in the Sandwich
Islands, as in all heathen countries, females were degraded, and made the
servants and drudges of men. The Gospel raises them from this servitude and
makes them their equals and companions.”9
Obookiah
began to learn English, and very early on he related the “ludicrous nature
of idol worship” in his home islands.
“The same trait of character was discoverable
in the manner in which he was affected with respect to the idols of the
heathen, upon the first instruction given him concerning the true God. He
was at once very sensibly impressed with the ludicrous nature of idol worship.
Smiling at its absurdity, he said ‘Hawaii gods! they wood, burn. Me go home,
put’em in a fire, burn ‘em up. They no see, no hear; no any thing’ - then
added, ‘We make them - Our God, (looking up,) he make us.’”10
Obookiah's
first recorded prayer in English revealed much about the false religion of
Hawaii.
RESIDENCE AT ANDOVER AND VICINITY
“AT THE
CLOSE of the year 1810," he says, "I left Torringford and went to
Andover. I continued there for some time. Here my wicked heart began to see a
little about the divine things; but the more I see to it, the more it appears
to be impenetrability. I took much satisfaction in conversing with many
students in the institution. I spent a little time with some of
them and in going to one room and to another to recite to them, for I was taken
under their care. Whenever I got a lesson I had a right to go to any room in
college to recite. While I was there, for a long time, my friend Mr. Mills was
there; one of my kindest friends that I had, who took me away from
his father's house. This young Mr. Mills was studying divinity at
the college when I was instructed by the students." It was at this
time, and with the friend who has been mentioned, that Obookiah made his
first attempt to pray in the presence of another. His friends, having knelt
down and prayed, turning to him before they rose, said, "You may
pray." When he expressed himself substantiary in the following
terms. ‘Great and eternal God-make heaven-make earth-make every
thing-have mercy on me-make me understand the Bible-make me good-great God have
mercy on Thomas-make him good-make Thomas and me go back Hawaii-tell folks in
Hawaii no more pray to stone god-make some good man go with me to Hawaii-tell
folks in Hawaii about heaven-about hell-God make all people good every
where-great God have mercy on college-make all good-make Mr. Samuel good-have
mercy on Mr. Samuel's father, mother, sister, brother.’ ‘Our Father which art
in heaven; Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts
as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from
evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.’”11
In
a letter to a friend, Obookiah again spells out the condition of his homeland
at that time.
Andover Dec. 15, 1812
“Dear
Christian Friend,
“I
improve this opportunity to write to you. And I saw your beloved book
which you sent by Mr. G. and that I very much thank you for it. I am
great joy to God to give me such a good friend in this land where we hear the
words of God-God is kind to us and to the other-that is to every body else God
will carry through his work for us. "I do not know what will God do with
my poor soul. I shall go before God and also both Christ. "We must all try
to get forward where God wish us to do. God is able to save sinners if we have
some feeling in him. Is very great thing to have hope in him, and do all the
christian graces. I hope the Lord will send the Gospel to the Heathen land
where the words of the Savior never yet had been. Poor people worship the wood,
and stone, and shark, and almost every thing their gods; the Bible is not there,
and heaven and hell they do not know about it. I yet in this country
and no father and no mother. But God is friend if I will do his will, and not
my own will.”12
Obookiah
lived with a high priest in Hawaii and was studying to be one himself. He
was well aware of the state of religion in Hawaii. Contrary to the claims of
Daniel Kikawa and others, it is clear Hawaiians could not find the Gospel “in
the stars”, nor did the Hawaiians have “clues that we felt God had left (the
Hawaiian people) and evidence that He’s left as well as processes He has left
in which our Hawaiian people can respond in a very natural way to God and
really set things right between them and God.”13 The Hawaiians were worshipping false gods of stone,
wood, animals, and sea creatures. The Hawaiians knew nothing of the Gospel
before it was preached in Hawaii. Obookiah explains the condition another boy
from Hawaii was in spiritually when he first met him in Tyngsbury, and this boy
also testifies to the religion of Hawaii.
“O how wicked and sinful are we. How shall we go the path
of life and of his truth, and to be with him in heaven? No way at all; only we
must give away ourselves to him and leave all our sins behind. Some think they know not
how to pray; but they ought to know, for Christ bath taught us. I went to
Tyngsbury last week to see a boy who came from Hawaii. He arrived last June
(this is not Thomas that came with me.) As the distance from this place was
small, I went to visit him. I hope the Lord will have mercy upon his poor soul.
He knew nothing of the Savior before I told him. I first mentioned to him
Genesis 1. &c. telling him that God made the world by his own power; then
he said, 'O how foolish we are to worship wood and stone gods; we give
them hogs, and cocoa nuts, and banana, but they cannot eat.' Yes, said I, it is
foolish. Then he asked me where that man was that made every thing. I told
him he was every where with us. Does he hear when you and I talk? says he. I
told him yes, and you must believe in him if you would be his friend. He
said he did believe what I told him. He has not learned to understand English,
but I spoke in Hawaii. I took him with me to the minister's house on Sabbath
evening, so I told him in Hawaii what Mr. Allen the minister said. He had been
before, but could not understand what was said. I told him what God did for him
in keeping him alive, and bringing him to this country. He said he liked that
man very much, (meaning God.) He asked me many questions again and again about
God, which I answered. After we went to bed he said he never would forget what
I had told him. He said when he eat he would remember who gave him food. The
people where he lived said he might stay there as he would; and when he had learned
English a little, he might go to school. He did cry when I left him.”14
Again,
Obookiah explained the spiritual condition of his homeland of Hawaii and his
zeal to preach the Gospel there.
“The readiness and propriety with which he quoted passages of Scripture
on every occasion were particularly noticed by all who conversed with him. In
one of his visits he asked his friend, who was now in the study of divinity, to
go aside with him, as if he had something of importance which he wished to
reveal. But it appeared that it was his object to converse with him upon the
subject of accompanying him to the Sandwich Islands. He plead with great
earnestness that he would go and preach the Gospel to his poor countrymen. Not
receiving so much encouragement as he desired, he suspected that his friend might be influenced
by the fear of the consequences of attempting to introduce a new religion
amongst the heathen. Upon which, though he had now just begun to lisp the
language of the Scriptures, he said, “You fraid? You know our Savior say, ‘He
that will save his life shall lose it; and he that will lose his life for my
sake, same shall save it.’ His own fearlessness and zeal on this
subject he exhibited about the same time to an aged minister, who asked him why
he wished to return. He replied-’To preach the Gospel to my countrymen.’ He
was asked what he would say to them about their wooden gods. He answered,
‘Nothing.’ ‘But,’ said the clergyman, ‘suppose your countrymen should
tell you that preaching Jesus Christ was blaspheming their gods, and
should put you to death?’ To this he replied with great
emphasis, ‘If that be the will of God, I am ready, I am ready.’”15
In
another letter to a friend, he further explained the situation in Hawaii.
“Goshen, June 9, 1815.
“My dear
Friend,
“I
improve this opportunity to write to you a few lines. When you was up here
last, you know that I was quite unwell then. On that account I could not talk
much with you when you was speaking on the religious subjects. "0 my
friend, what is our rule? Is not the word of God, which is contained in the
Scriptures of the Old and New Testament? Certainly it is. But we are apt to
hate to put away sins, for they are sweeter than the grace of God.
"O my dear friend, let us continue in the hope of the glory of our
Redeemer, with true hearts in full assurance of faith. Cease not to pray for
the fatherless, as I am. O what a wonderful thing it is that the hand of the
Divine Providence has brought me here from that heathenish darkness where the
light of divine truth never had been. And here have I found the name of the
Lord Jesus in the Holy Scriptures, and have read that his blood was shed for
many; and I remember his own words which he said, 'Father, forgive them, for
they know not what they do.”16
So
it is clear that the Hawaiians had no way to salvation, nor did they know God
at all. They were worshipping false idols. The Bible states that when you
are worshipping idols, though you are worshipping manmade objects, you are
really worshipping demons (1 Cor. 10:19-20, Deut. 32:16-17, Rev. 9:20). They
were in exactly the same condition as the rest of us Gentiles. We were “without
hope and without God in the world.”
Perpetuated In Righteousness, along with a number of other books by
“A Call to All Nations” participants, are dangerous and historically
disingenuous. They are perpetuating myths that will
cause many people of many nations not to come to repentance, but rather to rise
up and assert that their cultures and former religious practices were always in
line with God’s plan. I pray the same prayer as Obookiah ... “Father,
forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Endnotes
1—Daniel Kikawa,
Perpetuated In Righteousness, pg. 55
2—Ibid., pg. 18, pp. 2
3—Leon
Siu, Word to the World with host Danny Lehmann, KLHT, 2001, show #544
4—Terry
LeBlanc, Ibid., show #542
5—Don
Richardson, Eternity In Their Hearts: Startling Evidence of Belief in the
One True God in Hundreds of Cultures Throughout the World, book title.
6—-Edith
Wolfe, Honolulu, Hawaii, October 1, 1967 A.D. (Memoirs Of Henry Obookiah,
by Edwin W. Dwight, 1818, Published 1990, Woman's Board Of Missions for the
Pacific Islands, Preface)
7—THE
FIRST EDITION of the Memoirs of Henry Obookiah was published at the offices of
the Religious Intelligencer in New Haven in 1818, a few months after
Obookiah's death. A second printing bears the date 1819. The first two editions
were copyrighted to Lyman Beecher and Joseph Harvey, and included the full text
of Beecher's Funeral Oration and Harvey's Inaugural Sermon at the installation
of the Rev. Herman Daggett as principal of the Foreign Mission School in 1817.
The Rev. Harvey was the Congregational minister at neighboring Goshen. A Sunday
School edition printed in 1830 has Owhyhee, no chapter headings, and an excerpt
from Beecher's funeral oration. The American Tract Society printed two editions
both with no dates, but The National Union Catalogue lists one as published in
1831 and the other in 1847. Both editions are divided into chapters, have a
Table of Contents, use the word Hawaii instead of Owhyhee and have added a
chapter entitled "Conclusion". The American Tract Society underwrote
an 1867 edition in the Hawaiian language. The Hawaiian translation included
additional information obtained by translator Rev. S. W. Papaula, a minister at
Kealakekua, Hawai'i, from people who remembered Opukaha'ia and his
family. Other translations of the Memoirs include one in language of the
Choctaw Indians and another in the Maltese (Greek). THIS EDITION, while
retaining the 1818 title page with some exceptions, includes many of the
changes incorporated in the later Revised Editions by the American Tract
Society. The Table of Contents, chapter divisions and headings, and the
"Conclusion" section come from these editions. Opukaha'ia, his
Hawaiian name, has been used when referring to him in the Hawaiian context.
Henry Obookiah is used with the New England notes and photographs. (Memoirs
Of Henry Obookiah, by Edwin W. Dwight, First Edition 1818, Published 1990,
Woman's Board Of Missions for the Pacific Islands, pg. 96)
8—Ibid.,
pgs. 2-3
9—Ibid.,
pg. 12
10—Ibid.,
pg. 16
11—Ibid.,
pgs. 21-22
12—Ibid.,
pgs. 26-27
13—Leon
Siu, Word to the World with host Danny Lehmann, KLHT, 2001, show #544
14—Memoirs
Of Henry Obookiah, by Edwin W. Dwight, First Edition 1818, Published 1990,
Woman's Board Of Missions for the Pacific Islands, pgs. 28-29
15—Ibid.,
pgs. 33-34
16—Ibid.,
pg. 42