CHAPTER IV
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THE SAILING OF LONOIKAMAKAHIKI TO OAHU.—ARRIVAL OF OHAIKAWILIULA.—LONOIKAMAKAHIKI’S CONTEST WITH KAKUHIHEWA.
After Kaikilani’s return to Hawaii from Molokai, and the inclement weather had ceased, making the ocean fit for traveling, then Lonoikamakahiki set sail from Kalaupapa for Oahu, landing at Kailua in Koolaupoko. Upon the arrival of Lonoikamakahiki he found that Kakuhihewa was living at Kailua, residing at his palace.
When Lonoikamakahiki was approaching Kailua, Lanahuimihaku and his companion recognized the canoe of Keawenuiaumi, so they said to Kakuhihewa: “It is the king of Hawaii, Lonoikamakahiki.” As Kakuhihewa and the others had heard that Lonoikamakahiki was a man well versed in the arts of hoopapa, they therefore made preparations and awaited for the arrival of Lonoikamakahiki with everything ready for a contest. Upon the arrival of Lonoikamakahiki, and the double canoe was hauled ashore, the king and the baggage were taken up and carried to the palace of Kakuhihewa.
On the next day Ohaikawiliula arrived. She was a chiefess from Kauai, and because of the great cunning and learning displayed by Lonoikamakahiki he won Ohaikawiliula and was allowed the honor of entertaining her that night, thereby giving him further subjects with which to carry on in the game of hoopapa. After having won Ohaikawiliula for the one night, without ever having an idea of committing any sin with the chiefess from Kauai, only wishing to procure further subjects for his contest with Kakuhihewa, they removed themselves to the end of the house set apart for the use of Lonoikamakahiki. After they had talked of various matters Lonoikamakahiki asked of the chiefess: “When you set sail from Kauai, were you in possession of any new chant having its origin in Kauai?” Ohaikawiliula answered: “There is a chant, but it is one relating to myself.” [247] Lonoikamakahiki again asked: “Is it a new chant?” Ohaikawiliula again replied: “Yes, it is a very late one. It has not become known in the country districts. It was chanted only in the royal court up to the time of my departure.” Lonoikamakahiki again asked her: “What is the title of the chant?” Ohaikawiliula replied: “The Mirage of Mana.” After this conversation between the two, Lonoikamakahiki began the study of the chant until dawn, by which time he had committed it to memory.
At daylight the next day Ohaikawiliula made preparation to set sail for Hawaii, where she was going to meet her future husband, Manuahi. While this preparation was going on, and the double canoe was being hauled into the sea (the chiefess had not boarded it, however), Lanahuimihaku and his companion said to Kakuhihewa: “You had better run out and ask the chiefess of Kauai for a new chant. It is possible that she knows a late chant from Kauai, then we will study it, else it will be first acquired by the king of Hawaii, Lonoikamakahiki. Ohaikawiliula will surely give her permission that it be used in honor of your name, for Lonoikamakahiki is a chief without any chant dedicated to his name.” Because of these words, spoken by Lanahuimihaku and his companion, Kakuhihewa and his servants went up to where the double canoe was moored and Kakuhihewa reached out and held the chiefess, Ohaikawiliula by the arm, then asked her: “Before setting sail from Kauai, did you not hear of a new chant belonging to Kauai?” Ohaikawiliula replied: “I have a chant.” Kakuhihewa again asked: “Is it a very late one, not heard in the country districts?” Ohaikawiliula replied: “It has not been heard in the country districts; it was used only at the royal court up to the time of my departure. It is one used in honor of my name.” Kakuhihewa again asked: “What is the title of the chant?” “It is ‘The Mirage of Mana,’” replied Ohaikawiliula.
Kakuhihewa then proceeded to master the chant by giving each of his servants a line to commit to memory. After this was done, Ohaikawiliula proceeded on her way to Hawaii, while Kakuhihewa and his servants returned to the house, where the chant was connected line by line, as committed to memory [248] by the servants, until it was mastered in whole just as given them by Ohaikawiliula.
When Kakuhihewa was being taught the chant by Ohaikawiliula, it was very considerate of her not to have informed him that she had already taught the same to Lonoikamakahiki. She did not even say a word about the matter; probably she had forgotten all about it. If she had told Kakuhihewa of teaching Lonoikamakahiki the chant it would not have been taken for a subject in the game of hoopapa that followed.
After Kakuhihewa had committed the chant to memory he and his favorites went out surf riding. Lonoikamakahiki also accompanied the king of Oahu in this outing. When it became time for Kakuhihewa to cease surfing he returned to the house with his companions. Just as soon as they reached the house Lanahuimihaku and his companion said to Kakuhihewa: “Say, Kakuhihewa, when the king of Hawaii finishes riding the surf and should send for his loin cloth and kapa, then you refuse the taking of those things, and tell him that he shall not have the loin cloth and kapa unless he is able to recite the chant that we have just learned this morning.” Kakuhihewa then saw that the proposition spoken by Lanahuimihaku and his companion was a good one, so he carried out the advice given him by the two men.
Lanahuimihaku and his companion were great favorites in the court of Lonoikamakahiki prior to their coming to Oahu, and they were recognized as the most important men in the presence of the king. They were well treated and accorded the highest position over all the people when Lonoikamakahiki took charge of the affairs of the government. But there came a time when the king ceased thinking so very much of them; that they were no longer his favorites. Because of this neglect they left Lonoikamakahiki and came and lived with Kakuhihewa. It was these two men that caused great trouble for Kakuhihewa and his people.
When Lonoikamakahiki returned from having his bath and stood outside of Kakuhihewa’s palace, he said to his attendant, Loli: “You go in and bring out my loin cloth and my cloak.” Because of this order of the king Loli proceeded to get these things, they being in Lonoikamakahiki’s calabash, Kawalawala, which was in the palace, in the end of the house set apart for the use of the king.
When Loli came into the house he took the calabash where the things were kept and proceeded to open it. When Kakuhihewa saw Loli uncovering the calabash he said to one of his own retainers: “You go and tell the servant of Lonoikamakahiki not to take the loin cloth until he can chant the mele in honor of the king’s name.” Because of this order from Kakuhihewa the retainer went to meet Loli and said to him: “What are you doing, uncovering the calabash of your ward?” Loli replied: “I am uncovering it for the loin cloth and kapa of the king.” Kakuhihewa’s retainer then said: “You must go back without it. You cannot have the loin cloth until the chant in honor of the king’s name is recited.” Loli then returned and Lonoikamakahiki asked of him: “Where is the loin cloth?” Loli replied: “The loin cloth cannot be had. Kakuhihewa has kept me from taking it. It is only when the chant in honor of Kakuhihewa is recited that the loin cloth can be given up.” Lonoikamakahiki then said: “You go back and get my loin cloth and bring it here, and if they should ask you about the chant, then ask them the title of the king’s chant.”
Loli then returned into the house and again uncovered the calabash. The retainer of Kakuhihewa again asked: “What are you doing with the calabash?” Loli replied: “I have come for the king’s loin cloth and kapa.” Kakuhihewa then spoke up: “You are very stubborn. Have you not heard that you have been ordered that only when the chant in my honor can be recited can you get the loin cloth and kapa?” Loli then made reply: “That is just what I have told my king, but he ordered me to return here and ask for the title of your chant.” Kakuhihewa then said: “The title of the chant in honor of my name is ‘The Mirage of Mana.’”
Loli was again forced to return without the loin cloth. Upon coming to Lonoikamakahiki he was asked: “What is the title of the chant in honor of the name of the king of Oahu?” The retainer Loli then told him: “He said it was ‘The Mirage of Mana.’” Lonoikamakahiki then said: “You go back and bring my loin cloth. If they should again ask you, you tell them that I have said, ‘The Mirage of Mana’ is the chant in honor of the name of Lonoikamakahiki. You repeat this to them.”
At the close of their conversation, and this was the last thing said on the subject, Loli then went back into the house, the palace of Kakuhihewa, Kamoa by name. Again Loli took up the calabash and began to uncover it for the loin cloth and kapa of his king. At this Kakuhihewa again asked: “Say, Loli, why are you again uncovering the calabash belonging to your ward?” Loli made reply: “It is for the king’s loin cloth.” Kakuhihewa said: “Have you not heard that you cannot get the loin cloth until the chant in my honor is recited?” Loli replied: “I have told him that, but he replied by asking, ‘What is the title of the chant of Kakuhihewa?’ I replied: ‘The Mirage of Mana.’ He made reply: ‘Is it “The Mirage of Mana,” the chant in honor of the name of Lonoikamakahiki?’ This is the reply made by my king, and that is all.” Because of this reply made by Loli, Kakuhihewa asked of Lanahuimihaku and his companion: “Is this chant really in honor of the name of the king of Hawaii?” Lanahuimihaku and his companion replied: “It is a lie; he has no chant in honor of his name like this one. He is a chief without a chant. You must not be afraid; make a wager with him.”
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