Discovery of unknown publications by Batimea Pua’aiki (Blind Bartimeus of Hawaii)

New Evidence from the Ke Kumu Hawaii Newspaper

by Nicholas Freeman

Batimea Pua’aiki (Blind Bartimeus) was the second Protestant Christian to be baptized in the Hawaiian Kingdom and the first native ordained Protestant minister. He was a founding member of the Lahaina church, and preached the gospel before, during and after the Great Hawaiian Revival. He had an enormous influence on the Ali ‘i, the missionaries, and the general populace for Christ. Perhaps his largest audience was his preaching to 7,000 Hawaiians at a Haili church service in Hilo in 1829 (N. Lyman, History of Haili Church 1842-1942). 

He was born blind and deformed in Wailuku, Maui in approximately 1785, and according to practice at that time was buried alive by his mother.  He was only saved from death by the intervention of a nearby relative.  As he grew, early on he became addicted to the various narcotic substances which resulted in a neglect of his health and general care. Eventually, he became proficient in the hula pahua dance, so much so that he became a frequent entertainer among the royal family.

After years of living with sickness and inattention he was visited by the newly returned John Honolii, who had trusted Christ with his friend Obookiah in America. John took him to his first church service and soon after that he was converted and had an extreme transformation. As he began to grow, many noted that he possessed an almost photographic memory, quoting both large passages of scripture and sermons word for word with ease. Along with his humbleness and his now zest for life, he began his journey of sharing Christ with the Ali’i along with his fellow brothers and sisters across the Islands (J.S. Green, Life of Bartimeus L. Puaaiki).    

While much has been written and published about his life, he was not previously known to have penned any works of his own.  However, while researching the Great Hawaiian Revival in April 2025 for my dissertation, three newspaper articles (one is below) were found in the Ke Kumu Newspaper archive which seem to indicate his authorship. This article outlines the background of that find, the evidence for its provenance, and significance.   

One of the primary articles is titled, “Where are you brothers from Hawaii to Kauai?” and is found in Ke Kumu Hawaii, Volume I, Number 11, 1 April 1835, p. 88, accessed April 29, 2025, www.papakilodatabase.com.  The article is transcribed below:  

Hilo, Hawaii.

Auhea oukou, e na hoahanau, mai Hawaii nei a Kauai?

Eia ka mea hoakaka ia oukou. E pule mau aku i ke Akua. E waiho loa i na hana ino i hoopailuaia e ke Akua. He nui loa ka poino ana a me ka ehaeha ma ia mau mea. O ka hoolohe ana i ka ke Akua olelo a me ka malama ana, he mea ia e ola'i na kanaka.

E na makua, e alakai oukou i ka oukou mau keiki ma ka pono a Iesu. No ka mea, o ka malama ole ana, oia ka mea e ulu nui ai ka hewa me he weuweu la. E na makua, e hahai oukou i ka malamalama nani mau loa. Pela hoi e hahai ai na kamalii, i ua malamalama mau la, i ono ai ua kamalii e like me ka ono ana i ka waiu. E ae ana lakou i ka pono a ka Haku i ka po a me ke ao. I lilo ai ka pono i puni na kakou a me na kamalii. I nui ai hoi ka hoonaniia o ke Akua Hemolele e kanaka.

Auhea oukou e na ekalesia, mai Hawaii nei a Kauai, aole ke Akua i haawi mai ia kakou i ka naau hohewale, i naau kaa loa. E lawe ana i ka pahikaua, i ka olelo o ke aloha make o Iesu. E o'u hoahanau, aole neia pahi i like i ko ke ao nei. Mai ke Akua mai keia pahi, o ka pahi keia a ka poe manaoio i lawe ai. O ka olelo o kona lokomaikai iho, oia ka pahi a lakou i kaua aku ai. O ka Iesu olelo oia ka pu a me ka ihe a ko Iesu poe koa. He pahi maoli anei ka Paulo i kaua aku ai? Na oukou, e na hoahanau, e hoike ae. Na BATIMEA.

Below is a general English Translation:   

“Where are you, brothers, from Hawaii to Kauai? 

Here is the explanation for you. Always pray to God. Let go of evil deeds that are abhorred by God. There is a lot of damage and suffering in those things. Listening to what God says and keeping it is something that will save people. 

Parents, guide your children in the righteousness of Jesus. Because neglect is what causes sin to grow like a weed. Fathers, follow the eternally beautiful light. In the same way, the children follow the light, so that the children taste it like they taste milk. They will accept the righteousness of the Lord night and day. So that justice will be around us and the children. So that the Holy God will be greatly glorified by people.” 

Where are you, churches, from Hawaii to Kauai, God did not give us a broken heart, a broken heart. Taking the sword, the message of Jesus' death love. My brother, there is no sword like that of the word. This sword is from God; this is the sword that the believers have taken. The word of his own kindness was the sword with which they fought. The words of Jesus are the guns and spears of Jesus' soldiers. Is it a real sword that Paul fought with? It is up to you, brothers, to testify.  By BATIMEA.”  

In attributing this article to Batimea Puaaiki three primary explanations can be provided. The first is his name signature, which appears at the end of the article, and is consistent with the way articles were signed at that time. Secondly, his name “Batimea,” which was rare during that period, was received as he was baptized by the missionaries in 1825. Thirdly, at the time of the article’s publication, he was known to have been in Hilo and had been there for many years assisting the missionaries at that station. (Bingham, Twenty Years Residence). 

Additional clues to his authorship includes the subject matter, the absence of other candidates for authorship, and the fact that there were no other prominent members of the church at that time in such close relationship with the missionaries who shared his first name or who were writing newspaper articles under that name.  

The historical significance of this find is that it is the first recognized publication by Batimea Puaaiki, providing insight into his voice, thoughts, and linguistic style. Too, the articles provide a richer picture regarding his role in the growth of the church in Hawaii. Lastly, it offers an interesting comparison to his fellow Hawaiian writers at that time including David Malo, Samuel Kamakau and others. In conclusion, while further corroboration is encouraged, the core and contextual evidence strongly supports this provenance and therefore it is recommended that the article published in the Ke Kumu Hawaii newspaper above, signed by Batimea, should be considered as one of his first known publications and as a result be a source of great encouragement to take a second look into Batimea’s amazing life. 

---30---

Nicholas A. Freeman is a PhD student who is the final stages of his dissertation on the Great Hawaiian Revival and has spent time on Maui and the Big Island researching the numerous revival participants to help tell the full story of this amazing event.