CHAPTER VIII

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SUCCESSION OF UMI.

Hakau and his people, the chiefs and attendants, and the attending stewards were killed, and the weapons in the service were taken possession of by the soldiers of Umi-a-Liloa. When the chiefs, the princes and the court people who had gone up to observe malukoi [169] heard that King Hakau had been slain, and that Umi had rebelled against the government, and that the people down in Waipio had been slain, therefore the princes of Kona fled to Kona, as did those of Kau, Puna and Hilo to their respective districts to their royal parents; and they all alike rebelled against the government, so that Kona, Kau, Puna, Hilo and Kohala each became independent.

After King Hakau and his chiefs and the people of his court were slaughtered with great cruelty by the rebels, the bodies of the slain were offered as burnt offerings at the human sacrifice temple of Honuaula, in Waipio. This narrative was frequently spoken of by the wise men of former days thus: When Umi-a-Liloa sacrificed the burnt offerings on the altar of the temple, which sacrifice consisted of the dead bodies of Hakau and others, the tongue of God came down from heaven; the body was not visible, but the tongue was seen oscillating beneath the altar, whereby all the burnt offerings were quickly consumed. And there was also thunder and lightning.

Umi-a-Liloa reigned in the place of King Hakau through his wise effort and the cunning of his guardian attendant who directed him in the way of obtaining the throne, securing it notwithstanding the many enemies who opposed his accession on account of the lowness [170] of his royal blood. Umi had two children who were born in his days of humble circumstances, a boy and a girl; they were children by common women of the back country of Waipunalei, of Hilo-Koolau. [171]

When Umi sat upon the throne, Kaoleioku was made district chief of Hamakua, and the adopted sons [172] became Umi’s courtiers and warriors. Akahiakuleana was sent for to come and reside at the royal court. Akahiakuleana begat children after Umi by the husband of her bosom. Umi-a-Liloa, however, kept the daughter of King Hakau. Pinea was the name of the girl, and she was so named by Hakau after his mother Pinea. [173] Umi-a-Liloa kept her that the royal blood might be preserved [174] pure and not diminished. Umi-a-Liloa took to wife Kapukini, the daughter of his father Liloa, who was his half sister. Royal children were born of Kapukini who were Keliiokaloa, Kapulani, and Keawenuiaumi.

One time Umi-a-Liloa went to Hilo. He did not mingle with the chiefs of that place, nor did they know him in person, but had simply heard that the government of Hakau was in the possession of Umi; therefore Umi and his adopted companions went to Hilo. Kulukulua was the king and Umi had gone there for a visit. Upon arrival at Hilo they stayed there and visited the royal abodes of that place. These men were particularly attractive from their fine youthful physique, therefore Umi-a-Liloa was married to the daughter of Kulukulua, king of Hilo.

When Umi was living with the daughter of Kulukulua he noticed that she had on a royal necklace, an imitation ivory necklace made of wiliwili, [175] braided with jet-black hair securely tied together. One night there was a grand entertainment for all the chiefs of Hilo at Kanukuokamanu, in Waiakea; there was dancing and games of papuhene, kilu and loku. [176] Umi noticed that the daughter of Kulukulua was adorned with bird feathers on her body and on her head, and on her neck was a wiliwili ornament necklace. At the close of the chief’s entertainment, after they had gone home, Umi asked his wife, the daughter of Kulukulua, for the necklace, which she let him have. Umi asked her: “Is this your necklace of royalty?” “Yes,” answered the woman; “yes, that is our royal necklace, which is not commonly used by the people.” “Those things are plentiful and common with the children of our place, and owned by many, from young people to old women. The necklace of our chiefs is of ivory, made of whale’s teeth: that is the royal necklace and securely tied with cords of hair.” And, saying this, Umi then broke the wiliwili necklace of the daughter of Kulukulua.

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