CHAPTER VIII

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THE BATTLE FOUGHT BY KUALII AT KALAKOA.

In most of the battles fought by Kualii it was customary for him to accompany his soldiers. But later on when Kualii saw that his soldiers were proficient and that they showed great strength he decided to let them go to war by themselves, while he stayed behind at Kailua. But nevertheless, his soldiers usually told him the time and place the battles were to be fought, so as to keep the king informed. This was the practice regularly observed. Kualii, however, often went to witness these battles without the knowledge of his soldiers. In these secret tours of his, he always took part in the battles against his enemies and carried away the feather cloaks. Kualii often went out to battle in this secret way and the soldiers were puzzled at certain things they saw which they were not able to unravel. Every time an engagement occurred Kualii was there, fighting those who were opposed to his men. At the close of the battle the men would then see some one come out of the conflict bearing a feather cloak who would disappear on the way to Kailua. It was no one else but Kualii.

After a while Kualii’s soldiers became very anxious to know who this person was that always came out from the ranks of the enemy carrying a feather cloak on his arm. So the soldiers made up their minds to seize him, so that they would be able to find out who this brave soldier was. Several battles were fought after this where Kualii joined in without being recognized by his men, and the soldiers began to question amongst themselves: “Is it possible that this is indeed Kualii? Who can it be?” The soldiers therefore held a council to decide what must be done to him.

One early morning just before dawn Kualii set out from Kailua; leaving Kaneohe he went by sea and the sea was dried up. When Kualii arrived at Kahaluu that same morning he was seen by a certain boy at Kualoa. The boy resided at Kaoio Point. Upon seeing Kualii the boy remarked to his grandmother: “Say, how swiftly that man runs along the sea.” The grandmother replied: “Watch him closely; it cannot be anybody else; it must be the king, Ku.” The grandson then remarked: “When the king arrives I am going to follow him.” The grandmother replied: “If you are thinking of following your lord you must carry along these shrimps wrapped in ti-leaf together with the king’s fan. It is possible that the king may look behind him and see the fan and would like to know who you are; then make yourself known to him. Don’t go near him, however; your shadow may pass over the king; and don’t go on his lee side for you may step over the king’s shadow, but keep at a little distance away from him.”

Just as the grandmother concluded her instructions Kualii passed by. The boy then followed. Kualii kept on running and passed Kaaawa, then along and over Makaua and as he was going up the rise from which place you can see Kahana, Kualii looked behind and saw a boy following him. The king then remarked: “I see there is a boy following me.” As the king did not wish to be followed for fear that his intention of going to battle might be known, he ran much faster with the idea that when they reached the sands of Kahana he would outrun the boy. When Kualii reached the sands of Kahana he then ran at great speed along the sea, with the boy close behind; when Kualii got on the other side of Kahana which adjoins Punaluu he looked around and saw the boy still close behind him. The king then remarked to himself: “Surely this boy is a fast runner.” Passing Punaluu, Kaluanui and up the summit of Kaipapau, the boy kept on following close behind till the king reached Waimea; Kualii continued down the slope and sat down on the other side of the Waimea stream; but the boy remained on this side at a place called Piliaama where he sat down, as the sun had now risen. The boy wanted to get nearer to the king, but was afraid his shadow might pass over him, so he concluded to stay where he was.

While they were at Waimea, Kualii looked and saw that the boy was holding his fan; he then watched the boy to see if he would use it, but the boy did not, because he knew that the fan belonged to the king. Had the king seen the boy use the fan the boy would have been killed. After waiting for a while the king called for the boy and the boy stood up and went over to meet the king. The king then asked him: “Who gave you that fan?” The boy answered: “Your honored servant.” Kualii again asked the boy: “Where are you going to?” The boy replied: “I am following the king.” The king again asked him: “If I should run and grab hold of a feather cloak, would you grab one too?” The boy answered: “I would grab a feather cloak too.” Kualii again asked him: “If I should seize hold of a man, would you seize one too?” “Yes, I would seize one too,” replied the boy. After hearing the boy answer all his questions, Kualii made up his mind that this must be a very brave boy.

Upon their arrival at Lihue they heard that the two armies were encamped at Kalakoa, so they kept right on and went into the battle. This is known as the battle of Kukaniloko. When they drew close to the enemy, Kualii entered into the thickest part of the fight with the boy behind him. Kualii, upon entering into the fight, left his own men far behind him, but he and the boy kept on with the desire of again encountering the enemy at Paia where another battle was being fought. Upon reaching Paia, Kualii saw the opposing king dressed in a feather cloak. Kualii then drew near to the other king and after killing him seized the feather cloak and took it. While Kualii was carrying off the feather cloak the boy cut off one of the man’s small fingers and took it. The boy also cut off one of the man’s ears and took it.

After getting the feather cloak Kualii returned with the idea that the boy would not be able to follow him out of the fight. While Kualii was on his way to Kailua with the idea that he was all by himself, he thought he would look behind him; when he did, he saw to his surprise that the boy was still behind him. When Kualii saw the boy following he stopped and waited for the boy to come up to him. When the boy got up to him, the boy asked him: “How are you?” Kualii replied: “Just as usual.” Kualii then asked the boy: “Where is your man?” The boy replied: “When you took the feather cloak, I took the small finger and one of his ears.”

When the boy made this answer, Kualii made up his mind that this must be a brave lad. They then resumed their journey until they reached Kaoio Point at Kualoa, where the king asked his servant for his malo. Upon receiving it he gave it to the boy to be his own, and he fastened it to the boy with his own hands. [633] They then returned to Kailua in Koolaupoko.

While they were approaching near the houses, Kualii told the boy to stay where he was. “You stay here while I go on ahead to the mua. [634] When you hear the beating of the drum, then someone will come and bring you along.” With these words Kualii went on and entered the mua. Soon after this the boy heard the beating of the drum and saw someone coming for him.

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