CHAPTER I

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Kepakailiula [707] was born in Keaau, Puna, Hawaii, in the form originally of a chicken egg. His father was Ku and his mother was Hina. [708] Kuaikalolo and Aiakoake were the elders [709] of Kepakailiula. Kiinoho and Kiihele [710] were the brothers of Hina. All Kiinoho did was to sit in one place and very seldom moved around; he was, however, a very great fortune teller and could predict coming events that happen in the very near future as well as events afar off. All that Kiihele did was to travel. He was a great runner and could make the circuit of Hawaii in one day, starting from home in the morning and arriving home before sunset of the same day. These people were chiefs of the district of Puna, of very high rank, as were their ancestors before them.

One night Kiinoho had a dream, wherein he was instructed by a spirit as follows: “You two must go to Paliuli and live there, you and Kiihele; you will find all your needs supplied without fatigue.” Kiinoho dreamed the same thing for three nights before he spoke of it to Kiihele. Kiihele was, however, very indifferent about the matter and did not believe in what Kiinoho told him. Shortly after this they both had the same dream repeated to them. At daylight they talked the matter over and decided that they must accept the invitation and go and live in Paliuli. They then made their preparations and procured certain things by the lau (four hundred), such as hogs, awa, fish, fowls, kapas and malos. That night they retired early and at the second crowing of the cock in the early dawn, while it was still dark, they got up and started for Paliuli without the knowledge of their sister or people.

It is said in this story that this was the first time that Paliuli was found by man, through the direction of the gods. Afterwards it was again taken away from man by the gods and it has been hidden ever since.

Upon their arrival at Paliuli, [711] they looked and saw that it was a very good land, flat, fertile and well filled with many things desired by man; the ohias were as large as breadfruit; they saw a fish pond within the land stocked with all kinds of fish of the sea with the exception of the whale and the shark, so they made their home there. They began to cultivate the soil, raised different animals until the place was filled with everything imaginable. The sugar-cane grew until it fell over and rose again, [712] the bananas fell scattering, [713] the hogs grew until the tusks were long; the chickens until their spurs were long and sharp; and the dogs until their backs were broadened out.

One day Kiihele said to Kiinoho: “How queer of us to care for all these things! Who is going to eat them?” Kiinoho replied: “Our son Kepakailiula. Let us go and bring him here.” They then proceeded from Paliuli and went down to Keaau, where their sister Hina was living.

Before these two went to Paliuli, however, Hina showed signs of being with child. Upon their return she was almost ready to be confined. After greetings were exchanged and their weeping ended, Hina rose and went out to relieve herself. As Hina rose to go out, Kiinoho requested Kiihele to go out, saying: “Go out and get the child.” Kiihele asked: “Where is it?” “At the place where Hina is sitting.” When Kiihele came to the place he saw an egg lying on the ground. He took it up and wrapped it in a feather cape; and they returned to Paliuli, where Kiinoho exercised all his powers and at the expiration of ten days and nights [714] he unwrapped the feather cape and saw the egg had formed into a beautiful child; after inspecting it they concluded there was none like him. The child was again wrapped up in the feather cape and left for a period of forty nights before they again looked at it. When they did they saw that the child had grown more beautiful; no pimples, no deformities, straight back, open face; [715] its skin and eyes were as red as the feather cape which enwrapped him. Thus did Kepakailiula become the fire that lighted up Paliuli by day and by night, whose only equal was Pele of Kilauea. Pele gave light from the crater of Kilauea, while Kepakailiula gave light from Paliuli, giving Puna and Hilo two red objects to view by day and by night. Kepakailiula was therefore called “The first-born of the beloved one [716] of Paliuli.” Kepakailiula would not touch either ordinary food or meat; all he eat was bananas, one bunch for each meal.

As Kiinoho and Kiihele were one day looking at the child they saw that he had now come to that age when the company of a woman would be acceptable, one of them then said: “You are indeed good to look upon, but there is one thing lacking, you have no wife.” Kiinoho then said to Kiihele: “You must go in search of a wife for our son.” [717] Kiihele consented to this and started off going by way of Hilo until he came to a woman by the name of Kukuilauania. He looked her over and admired her beauty; yes, she was indeed good looking, but she had one fault, her eyes bulged out like the nut of the kukui. He therefore gave up Kukuilauania and continued his search, passing from Hilo into Hamakua. Failing to find one to his liking, he passed on into Kohala where he was still unable to find a woman. After looking over the dark rocks of Kaniku he decided to return. Upon his arrival at Paliuli, Kiinoho asked him: “How was your journey?” Kiihele replied: “I have found no wife.” On this same day, he [again left Paliuli and] continued his search into Puna, until he met a woman by the name of Kahala. She was very beautiful, except that her posterior resembled the pandanus fruit of the present day, so he passed on into Kau where he found Manienie. She too was very beautiful, but her lips were deformed so he discarded her and continued his search, Kiihele left Kau and passed into Kona where he found Makolea, a woman who was as faultless [718] as the full moon. Kahaluu was her father and Keauhou was her mother. Makolea, however, had been pledged to marry Kakaalaneo the king of Maui, for Makolea was a princess, her parents being the king and queen of Kona. When it was reported that Kakaalaneo was so expert a spearsman, that he could hit a blade of grass, an ant, or a flea, at one throw of the spear, the parents became afraid and gave Makolea to Kakaalaneo.

Kiihele approached the house in which Makolea was living and stood by the door and saluted the two people within, which salutation was returned by Makolea and her attendant. At the sight of Kiihele, Makolea and her attendant were much impressed with his manliness and beauty, being much superior to that of the people of Kona; so they were over anxious to please him and his call was made very pleasant. The two then invited Kiihele to enter, which invitation was accepted and Kiihele entered and sat down by the door. Makolea then asked him: “Where are you from?” Kiihele answered: “I came along the road.” “What is the object of this unannounced visit?” “I am in search of a wife.” “For yourself?” asked Makolea. “For our son,” answered Kiihele. “Is he as handsome as yourself?” continued Makolea. “No, I am but as the skin on his feet.” [719] When the princess heard the answers made by Kiihele, she became excited and wanted to meet the young man right away; so she told Kiihele: “Go and bring the man whom you wish to be my husband and don’t be slow.”

Kiihele at once returned to Paliuli and upon his arrival, Kiinoho asked him: “How was your journey?” Kiihele replied: “I have found a wife in Kona, Makolea by name.” Kiinoho said: “Yes, she is a handsome woman; she is betrothed to Kakaalaneo the king of Maui (he was able to know this through his knowledge as a fortune teller). When are we to go to her?” “I told her we were coming on the day after tomorrow.” Kiihele did this all in one day, going and returning to Paliuli.

During the two days before they were to leave Paliuli, Kiinoho and Kiihele wailed and mourned because of their deep attachment for Paliuli and they kissed every object in their beautiful home. When the day of their departure arrived, Kiinoho and Kiihele left Paliuli in charge of the gods; hence the disappearance of Paliuli until this day; no one has ever seen it since.

When they were ready to set out on their journey, Kiihele stood up taking Kepakailiula who was wrapped up in a feather cape, by the hand and left the house. Kiinoho, however, would not move, so Kiihele turned back and said: “How strange of you, are you to remain when our son is to leave the place?” Upon hearing this Kiinoho followed. On this same day, they reached Kona and the home of Makolea, where Kepakailiula and Makolea became husband and wife. Kepakailiula then spoke to his foster parents: “Here is your wife, Makolea’s attendant; you two must take her as your wife. After you are gone from here, give attention, should I die, continue on; but if I am still alive, then all will be well.” * * *

After Kepakailiula and Makolea had become husband and wife, they did nothing but sleep, so that the parents of Makolea wondered at the continued absence of their daughter; as she lived in a separate house, they decided to come and learn the cause of this absence. When they entered the house they found that a husband was the cause of her disappearance. They immediately took her, placed her in a canoe to sail for Maui, leaving Kepakailiula behind still asleep. When Kepakailiula woke up he went to his foster parents and informed them of what had happened. They then went overland to Kohala, his wife going by sea with canoes. Upon their arrival there, the canoes continued on to Maui, but they dwelt in Kohala.

At this time Kukuipahu was the king of Kohala, who had an only daughter named Kapuaokeonaona; she was not very big, but had very pretty features to look at. When Kukuipahu saw Kepakailiula, that he was handsome and manly, he took him to be as his own son, brought him to his home and said: “Here is your wife, [720] your pillow [721] to rest on at night.”

After they had been in Kohala for about three days, on the night of this third day while everybody was asleep, Kepakailiula went to a point on the seashore where a canoe was lying, boarded it and set sail for Hana, Maui, where Makolea was at that time living with Kakaalaneo. Upon landing, he looked and saw that Kakaalaneo was drunk with awa. In his intoxicated condition he called out to Makolea:

Makolea, Makolea, Return to the house. Spread out the mat, The bed clothes and pillow For we shall sleep there.

At this Makolea and the women servants proceeded to the house and after arranging the bed and the covering they returned. Kepakailiula then entered the house and besmeared excrement on the mat.

Soon after this Makolea and Kakaalaneo entered and sat on the besmeared mat, when Kakaalaneo said: “How strange of you to spread out the mats on this place knowing that it is covered with filth. Take the mats and spread them at the end of the canoe, where we will retire for the night.” After they had retired thither, Kepakailiula who was in hiding, came out, and when Kakaalaneo was sound asleep, took Makolea in the bushes and there they enjoyed themselves till near dawn. Kepakailiula returned to Hawaii without being seen and, landing at Kohala, went home, entered the house and slept by his young wife. When the king’s breakfast was ready he was called; he rose and took breakfast.

On the second night, he again repeated his visit to Hana, Maui. Upon going ashore he found Kakaalaneo and Makolea asleep back of the canoes; he took his wife away, while he took Kakaalaneo and stood him up on his head on a dung heap, where he remained all night, being drunk with awa. They slept together till it was about time for him to return, when Makolea cried saying:

How sad I am of your coming fate. My husband is a skillful spearsman, He never misses a grass blade, An ant, or a flea [ukulele].

Kepakailiula replied:

He has fruit, I have fruit. He has testes, I have testes. He is a male child, I am a male child. No one can say who will win out, whether he, or I.

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