CHAPTER XI
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THE DEPARTURE OF LONOIKAMAKAHIKI FOR MAUI TO VISIT KAMALALAWALU.
Subsequent to the slaughter of the chiefs of Hawaii by Lonoikamakahiki he consulted his wife Kaikilani for the purpose of going to Maui on a visit to Kamalalawalu. They decided, and so did all the chiefs, to allow them to go, in consequence of some plans Lonoikamakahiki had in view. On the day he was prepared to sail to Maui he selected a sufficient number of men, including his strongest and best-known warriors. He also selected his younger brother Pupuakea, well known as the premier and general, to accompany the party. On this voyage of Lonoikamakahiki he did not forget Hauna in his capacity as priest and counselor.
The following is the tradition of Lonoikamakahiki concerning this voyage:
On Lonoikamakahiki’s arrival at Maui, Kamalalawalu was residing at Hana on the ahupuaa called Wananalua. When Lonoikamakahiki went ashore at the canoe landing of Punahoa he was observed by Kamalalawalu, Lonoikamakahiki and his retinue being sent for and taken to Kamalalawalu’s royal residence, it being the first time he had cast eyes on the king of Hawaii, although he had previously heard of him. It was said that Kamalalawalu was an uncle of Lonoikamakahiki.
A few days thereafter, it being customary at the royal residences of those times to drink awa, it came to pass that Kamalalawalu wanted the pleasure of drinking awa with Lonoikamakahiki, so he said to Lonoikamakahiki: “It is my pleasure that we drink awa.” In compliance with the wish of the king of Maui the king of Hawaii in like manner gave his assent.
Kamalalawalu said to Lonoikamakahiki: “Let us go surf riding and by the time we return the awa will be ready.” They went. Before going, however, they decided that they would have a chicken as an accompanying dish to go with their awa, and gave directions to their younger brothers to prepare the awa and the extra dish before they returned from their surfing.
The side dish they desired to have with the awa they were to drink was chicken. Before Lonoikamakahiki started to surf he spoke to Pupuakea thus: “I’m going in surfing now with the king of Maui. You cook the chicken in blood [291] and let it be ready when we return from surfing.” After giving these directions to his younger brother, he proceeded with Kamalalawalu to surf. As for Kamalalawalu, he also had given his younger brother Makakuikalani the same instructions as Lonoikamakahiki gave to Pupuakea. These instructions of the kings were each given to their brothers separate, apart and distinct from each other and not in the hearing of each other. Their majesties then went surfing. Makakuikalani prepared the chicken and awa for Kamalalawalu. The chicken cooked in blood and the awa masticated he awaited the return of the king.
As for Pupuakea, however, he made no preparations as he was directed to, for the reason he knew not how to prepare chicken nor how to properly chew the awa, being unaccustomed to such things. It was a surprise to Pupuakea himself that Lonoikamakahiki should have ordered him to do so, knowing full well that he (Pupuakea) was not accustomed to preparing chickens.
On the return of their majesties from surfing, Kamalalawalu was ready for his meal. He inquired of Makakuikalani if it was ready, and he answered: “It is; the chicken is cooked and the awa is masticated.” So Kamalalawalu commanded: “Have the food served.” Preparations for the meal were made, the awa being strained at the order given for preparation. Lonoikamakahiki after having returned from surfing said to Pupuakea: “Preparations are being made for Kamalalawalu’s food. Where is my awa and chicken? Have you prepared them?” When Pupuakea was spoken to he was engaged playing konane. Upon hearing these inquiries of Lonoikamakahiki, Pupuakea replied: “No,” and said furthermore: “The chicken is here somewhere, not killed, nor has the awa been chewed, because you well know I have no knowledge of how to prepare the things you directed me to do.”
Lonoikamakahiki became angered, picked up the konane board and struck Pupuakea across the forehead making the blood flow. Because of this, Pupuakea was angered. Instantly he reached for the charcoal and firewood, started the fire, caught the chicken and choked it and tore away one of its legs. After having it skinned he broiled it over a fire at the same time reaching for the awa root. While the chicken was being broiled the awa was being chewed; with three quids [292] of the awa the legs of the chicken were cooked, the awa strained and the cooked chicken legs placed on a platter. The awa cup was placed in front of the king, and also all the other things according to the directions given to Pupuakea. He said to the king: “The chicken and the awa are ready; it only awaits you to eat and to drink of the same.” When Lonoikamakahiki saw that the instructions he gave previous to surfing had been carried out, he ate before Kamalalawalu drank his awa.
While Pupuakea was preparing the chicken, Kamalalawalu took particular notice of the peculiar manner in which Pupuakea was doing it and rather admired the manner in which it was being done.
After partaking of the awa and finishing their meal, the kings played konane, and during the game Kamalalawalu said to Lonoikamakahiki: “Say, I rather like your servant. Should you go home, let your servant remain with me.” Lonoikamakahiki replied: “He is not a servant of mine, he is my notable and younger brother. You can not have him.” Therefore Kamalalawalu said: “If he is your notable and your general also, then I say to you, it is a low shelf which the rats will get at.” [293] Lonoikamakahiki retorted: “He is a small maika that can cover a long course.”
After Lonoikamakahiki had finished talking, Kamalalawalu, pointing to Makakuikalani, said: “There is my notable, my general, and my younger brother also.”
Because Kamalalawalu ridiculed Lonoikamakahiki’s general, Pupuakea, Lonoikamakahiki, referring to Kamalalawalu’s statement, “This my notable,” remarked: “He is hollow; the swirl of the war club would stagger him; a touch of the club would kill him.” In consequence of this remark of Lonoikamakahiki, Kamalalawalu replied: “He is the shrivelled banana of Kaea, which will not ripen in ten days.”
The passage of words between Lonoikamakahiki and Kamalalawalu were treasured and stored up within themselves. After a considerable time following the events narrated, and subsequent to the return of Lonoikamakahiki from his tour, Kamalalawalu entertained the idea to destroy by war the chiefs of Hawaii in consequence of reports having been brought of Lonoikamakahiki’s strength and his success in war.
Kamalalawalu dispatched his own child Kauhiokalani, otherwise known as Kauhiakama, for Hawaii instructing him thus: “You go to learn the number of people there are on Hawaii, and on your return report to me.”
In accordance with the wish of Kamalalawalu, Kauhiokalani, otherwise known as Kauhiakama, sailed for Hawaii. He arrived at Kohala at a landing place for canoes known as Puakea. Having arrived there, the canoes were put ashore and he began his itinerary along the coast of Kohala until he reached Kawaihae. On his journey he found very few people.
Kauhiakama thence travelled on from there to Kona Kapalilua, at the boundary of Kau and Kona, not meeting many people. He continued on until he made the circuit of Hawaii, without seeing a great many people. At Kapaau, Kohala, on his homeward journey, there was congregated a large concourse of people at the athletic grounds called Hinakahua, it being customary for the people to gather together at this place for athletic contests.
Kauhiakama remarked: “I thought Hawaii had more people, but not so; it is only noted as being a large island, but as to the inhabitants there are very few. If the people on the route of my travel were only as numerically large as the people of this place, it would be something, but I find it is not so.”
Kauhiakama, having observed the population of Kohala during this circuit, returned to Maui. Upon arrival there, Kamalalawalu asked him: “How is Hawaii?” Kauhiakama replied: “Kohala is depopulated; the people are only at the beach, because during my circuit of Hawaii I did not find a large number of them. I first arrived at Kohala, then traveled along its shore until Kawaihae was reached and did not meet a solitary man. At the place of my landing, however, I met a few, not exceeding forty, perhaps, and at Kawaihae there were some places with few men. I proceeded from Kawaihae through Kona to a part of Kau, all the way not meeting many people. That is the most desolate place, composed of nothing but clinkers. I continued my circuit from Kau to Puna, Hilo and Hamakua. I do not recollect coming in contact with three four hundred (1200) men. On my way to Kohala I found it to be the only locality which contained some people. Kohala is depopulated; the people are only at the beach.”
Kamalalawalu having heard this report from his son Kauhiakama ordered Makakuikalani to make preparations for war. It has been mentioned in this narrative that two men came from Hawaii who urged Kamalalawalu to give battle to Hawaii, being Kauhipaewa and Kihapaewa, the sons of Kumaikeau and another. According to the old historians it was Lonoikamakahiki himself who sent these two men to urge Kamalalawalu to go to war with Hawaii. And this is the story told concerning the two men.
Because of Lonoikamakahiki’s intense desire to wage battle with Kamalalawalu, the former sent Kauhipaewa and Kihapaewa to consult Kamalalawalu concerning it. These two men arrived before Kamalalawalu without the latter knowing that they were emissaries from Lonoikamakahiki. On the occasion of the two men meeting Kamalalawalu, they remarked: “Go and make war on Hawaii, as you can take it if you give battle, because Lonoikamakahiki has no power, nor has his general either.” Because of the remarks of these two men to Kamalalawalu, he harbored the idea of going to Hawaii to wage war.
The following is said by some of the ancient historians to be the correct narrative: Because of Lonoikamakahiki’s desire to test the strength of their two generals, putting into effect the compliments exchanged between them at the time of the awa drinking both Kihapea and Kauhipea said to Kamalalawalu: “If you should sail for Hawaii to give battle to Lonoikamakahiki, let us carry on the war from the top of Puuoaoaka and Hokuula. Let us occupy these places first; we will then possess the stones [294] on the heights and compel Lonoikamakahiki to do his fighting from below; we, being above, would only have to roll the rocks and thus will the people of Hawaii be defeated by those of Maui.”
So said these men to Kamalalawalu, which was nothing more nor less than deception, expressed so as to bring about Kamalalawalu’s destruction. It was only by such means that Kamalalawalu’s high ambitions were aroused to wage war against Lonoikamakahiki.
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