CHAPTER III

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WHEN LONOIKAMAKAHIKI FIRST TOOK CHARGE OF THE GOVERNMENT.

After Kanaloakuaana had put Lonoikamakahiki through all the different trials of skill in the various arts of warfare, Kanaloakuaana said to Kaikilani: “The care of the government must be given over to Lonoikamakahiki.” This was because Kanaloakuaana was satisfied that Lonoikamakahiki was well able to take charge of all things pertaining to the government. Because of this, Kanaloakuaana told Lonoikamakahiki to fill the vacancy left by Keawenuiaumi, so Lonoikamakahiki assumed control of the government. It was Lonoikamakahiki together with his wife, however, that took charge of all the lands of Hawaii, and the two were the head of the government.

After Lonoikamakahiki had ruled for some time no dissatisfaction over his administration of the affairs of the government was shown; no wars in the nature of rebellions arose, and this peaceful reign lasted for some considerable time; neither was any family trouble seen. But Kaikilani, on the other hand, was the one who fell into sin, for she took Heakekoa, the son of Kalaulipali and Uli, as her paramour without the knowledge of Lonoikamakahiki.

After a time Lonoikamakahiki formed a desire to visit Maui and to go as far as Kauai; so he took his wife Kaikilani to accompany him on this trip. When everything pertaining to the king’s journey was ready he took his canoe men and his attendant, Loli. The chief desire that actuated Lonoikamakahiki to make this journey was that he might show his skill in his favorite profession of hoopapa. Because of this fact he took with him his calabash of clothes known by the name of Kuwalawala. In this calabash, besides his apparel, were several of the things which were used by him in the profession of hoopapa. Besides this calabash he took along with him his feather kahili, Eleeleualani. [242] This was a very large kahili.

After everything was made ready the king and his companions set out and went as far as Maui. They did not make a very lengthy stay in Maui and the king’s visit was continued to Molokai. The journey was taken to the Koolau side of the island and a stop was made at Kalaupapa. In making the stop at this place Lonoikamakahiki did not contemplate that they would remain very long, but because of the coming of a very severe storm they were detained at this place for about four months. While the royal party was sojourning at Kalaupapa the two whiled away most of their time playing the game of konane. [243]

At the time when Lonoikamakahiki and his party left on their journey of sightseeing, Heakekoa missed his lover Kaikilani so much that he was unable to remain in Hawaii; therefore he followed Lonoikamakahiki and his party. In following them up Heakekoa first called at Maui, and, failing to find them, he continued on to Molokai and landed at Kalae, where he was informed that the royal couple were staying at Kalaupapa. Heakekoa remained at Kalae for several days with the hope of securing someone who would carry the news of his arrival to Kaikilani, but he was unable to secure a proper person.

One day, however, there arrived certain persons from Kalaupapa. When the time came for the men to make their return to Kalaupapa, Heakekoa inquired of them: “Are you people going back to Kalaupapa?” The men assented. Again Heakekoa asked: “Are not the chiefs of Hawaii staying there?” The men then told him positively, saying: “They are still there.” Heakekoa then said: “When you get to the edge of the cliff, on your return, just call out the following words: ‘Say, Kaikilani, Chiefess of Puna, love has been sent you by the shady cliff, [244] of Uli of Hea.’ If she does not make answer, then call out again these words:

‘Say, Kaikilani, Chiefess of Puna, Your lover sends you his love Of the shady cliff that stands, of Uli of Heakekoa.’

Will you thus make the call for me?”

When these people heard these words of Heakekoa they assured him that they would, and proceeded on their way home. When the men came to the top of the Kalaupapa cliff, at a point called Kaomilani, they called out in the words instructed them by Heakekoa. At the first call Kaikilani heard it coming down from the cliff, and she then knew that her lover had arrived. At this time, however, when the call was heard by Kaikilani, she was engaged in a game of konane with her husband, but in order to distract the attention of her husband as to the meaning of the call from the cliff she made some informal remark, yet in connection with the game of konane, saying: [245] “That is won; this is on the run, the space is long, the top is falling, the blacks are indistinct; the whites have won.”

After making the calls and believing that they had not been heard by Kaikilani, the men repeated the call, saying:

“Say, Kaikilani, chiefess of Puna, Your lover sends you his love Of the shady cliff that stands, of Uli of Heakekoa.

For once Lonoikamakahiki knew that Heakekoa was the lover of Kaikilani, and from the calls he also knew that the fellow had landed at some place on Molokai.

After Lonoikamakahiki had made out the calls, he then asked of his cousin, his wife: “Say! Your lover Heakekoa sends you his love, I hear.” Kaikilani did not make answer to the question put by her husband, however, but continued in her deception, by saying: “This here is won; that is on the run, steady progress, the top is falling, the blacks are indistinct; the whites have won.” At this, Lonoikamakahiki took up the konane board and struck his wife on the head, inflicting painful wounds, but not severe enough, however, to kill her.

Because of this, the anger of Lonoikamakahiki was aroused and his mind was greatly troubled; he then made an oath that he would never again live with Kaikilani. This oath, however, he maintained within himself, not voicing it to any one. He then put her aside and refused to have anything to do with her. Because of this Kaikilani returned to Hawaii without meeting Heakekoa again, Kaikilani promising herself to have nothing more to do with Heakekoa, knowing full well that if she did she would in all likelihood be killed by Lonoikamakahiki, her husband; therefore she made up her mind to renounce Heakekoa forever.

This beating inflicted by Lonoikamakahiki on his wife was in time carried to the hearing of Kanaloakuaana, and the chiefs of Hawaii made up their minds to revolt against Lonoikamakahiki. When Kaikilani arrived on Hawaii, on her return from Molokai, she found that Kanaloakuaana together with the chiefs of Hawaii had placed guards at all the landing places of Hawaii. This was done by their orders, [246] because they had heard that Kaikilani was almost killed by Lonoikamakahiki.

On this return Kaikilani proceeded to Napoopoo and there found that all the chiefs of Hawaii had taken everything for themselves and were in open revolt against Lonoikamakahiki. Upon seeing this, Kaikilani’s love for Lonoikamakahiki returned and she took pity on him, and was not in sympathy with the wish of Kanaloakuaana and the other chiefs. Because of this Kaikilani began to entertain a desire to go back and make a search for Lonoikamakahiki to inform him of the open revolt of the chiefs of Hawaii. On this return of Kaikilani, Lonoikamakahiki had in the meantime continued on his journey and was on Oahu.

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