CHAPTER IX
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BATTLES OF LONOIKAMAKAHIKI.
Early in the morning after the battle of Lonoikamakahiki at Kaheawai, he was observed by the rebels proceeding along the lava bed of Kaniku. The rebels after returning to camp reported to their general, Kanaloapulehu, saying: “Lonoikamakahiki and Pupuakea are approaching, some men have been slain, and we (the rebels) have been routed.”
Kanaloapulehu commanded Kanaloakuakawaiea, the chief of Hilo: “Let the battle be at Kaunooa where there is plenty of sand, and let it be fought there, so that when Lonoikamakahiki reaches the spot we would be in possession of the sand, so that whilst rubbing their eyes the rocks will fly and victory will be ours.”
According to the instructions of Kanaloapulehu to Kanaloakuakawaiea, the men were placed in position at Kaunooa. This is a place midway between Puako and Kawaihae. At the noon hour Lonoikamakahiki came in contact with the rebels and the battle commenced in earnest and he was victorious over them, having repulsed Kanaloapulehu and his followers just as the shades of evening were falling.
While Kanaloapulehu and his followers were fleeing they met the Kohala and the Hamakua rebels at a place called Nakikiaianihau. Kanaloapulehu commanded them, saying: “Let us go back and encamp at Haleokapuni, and let some of us go on to Puukohola, and when Lonoikamakahiki is seen approaching Nakikiaianihau, then we will occupy Puukohola so we can shower rocks from above and Lonoikamakahiki’s battle will be a defeat.” All the chiefs observed the commands of the general and encamped at Haleokapuni immediately below the temple of Puukohola [286] and Mailekini at Kawaihae. Lonoikamakahiki, however, did not manoeuver as was anticipated by the rebels.
After Lonoikamakahiki became victorious at the battle of Kaunooa he consulted his priests (kahunas) as to what steps best to take in order to lead to victory. The priests directed him to proceed by way of Pili until they came to Puupa, “and there a big battle should be fought, because thus far we have only fought against the Konas, and know nothing about Hilo and Puna, nor of Hamakua. Pay no heed to Kohala, it is a small district; let us fight her last. Proceed against the triplets, Puna, Hilo and Hamakua.”
Lonoikamakahiki followed the directions of his priests. [287] Proceeding upwards from Kaunooa and about midway of the plains at about midnight they could see the fires of the rebels at Puupa. Lonoikamakahiki asked his priests: “What is that fire?” The priests answered: “A battle. It is the fires of the traitors of the land.” He asked again: “What of us?” The kahunas answered: “Send along forty men with torches in their hands, each man to carry four torches to burn, so as to deceive and to give the rebels the impression that there are four forty men, allowing them to proceed directly and when immediately outside of Puupa permit them to light their torches so we may be able to locate the whereabouts of the enemy and learn where they are encamped, the battle to begin at once, we to follow them from the rear and the forty from the opposite direction, and the enemy will be routed.”
Receiving the instructions from the priests, Lonoikamakahiki sent out forty men with Pupuakea, who made forty-one. They followed the instructions of the priests, each man carrying four torches, proceeding along the direction indicated by the priests. They travelled along to the outskirts of the camp of the rebels, lighted their four forty torches and set up a tremendous shouting, “Onto the traitors of the land! Onto the traitors of the land!” and such like.
The rebels saw the burning torches and heard the loud yells. After first counting the number of torches and discovering there were only four forties the rebels gave chase. While the rebels were absent Lonoikamakahiki and his men arrived, and in the fight with Pupuakea’s men, who gained by repulsing the rebels, Lonoikamakahiki and his army stood off ready to receive them. The battle waxed fierce and hard until the two divisions of Lonoikamakahiki and Pupuakea came together, when there was great slaughter of the rebels. Some escaping, ran upwards to Ouli at Waimea that night and were there slain by their own men being under the impression that they were Lonoikamakahiki’s men running away. Thereby the remaining rebels who escaped from the battle of Puupa were also killed. It is for this reason that this fight of Lonoikamakahiki’s was called Puupa, and was the third of his battles.
On the day following the night of battle at Puupa, rumors began to spread everywhere that Lonoikamakahiki was at Puupa. Those who were encamped at Haleokapuni in Kawaihae, in accordance with a previous understanding had by them, would not ascend Puukohola unless a man on the side of Lonoikamakahiki should be slain; then only would Puukohola be scaled for human sacrifices. For that reason the rebels rested with high hopes, based on their former understanding and anticipations of victory, because Kanaloapulehu and Kanaloakuakawaiea were celebrated for their great prowess.
On the night following Lonoikamakahiki arrived at Kawaihae with his force of men, and Pupuakea’s force came by way of Nakikiaianihau, and revealed themselves. Kanaloapulehu, seeing the force of Pupuakea, sent out four hundred men to give him battle. At the same time that the men were on the way to intercept Pupuakea, Lonoikamakahiki had taken possession of Puukohola by a strategic move made during the night and was occupying the top of it. Immediately the battle commenced, and Kanaloapulehu was afterwards made prisoner by Lonoikamakahiki’s warriors, and Kanaloakuakawaiea was repulsed with what was remaining of the rebels, Lonoikamakahiki being the victor that night, recording the fourth night battle won by him.
This battle of Lonoikamakahiki at Puukohola was named the Kawaluna, because of the night strategy successfully executed by him on that occasion. Kanaloapulehu, having been made prisoner, was killed and laid upon the altar (lele). So died the general of the rebels.
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