CHAPTER III.

Kamalalawalu Enticed Away.—Death of Halemano.—Is Brought to Life Again by Laenihi, His Supernatural Sister.

While they were living in Kohala they could hear the surf of Kauhola, the famous surf of Maliu, for it was at this place that the kings and chiefs went for their surf riding, even in the time of Kamehameha I. When Kamalalawalu saw the surf she got up and went down to the beach. At sight of her the people were amazed at her great beauty and admired her. Shortly after this Kumoho came down to ride the surf, but before he went in he saw Kamalalawalu; so he sat down and also admired her beauty. After a while he sent his sister to go and bring Kamalalawalu to him, for he wished her to become his wife. Upon being requested to come to Kumoho, Kamalalawalu rose and came and she was then taken by Kumoho as his wife, and they lived below at Halelua.

When Kamalalawalu became the wife of a new husband, Halemano was at the time sick, and upon receiving the news that his wife had again proved unfaithful to him he grieved for love of her, so he sent Kaaealii to go to Halelua and bring Kamalalawalu back home; but she refused, and declined five appeals to return. Halemano therefore wasted away, for he refused to take any food and in a few days died.

After this death of Halemano his grandmother made an oath that: “If you should ever come to life again, Halemano, you shall never go back to Kamalalawalu, as long as I live.”

In the early part of this story we saw that it was Laenihi, the supernatural sister of Halemano that saved him, and so when he died this time she came and again brought him back to life. [While Aikanaka and his army were marching toward Lihue for the purpose of destroying Halemano], the parents of Halemano as well as the older brothers and sisters of Halemano all escaped from Oahu and went to Wailua, Kauai, to live. Laenihi also went along with the others to Kauai. Laenihi and her older sister Pulee stayed at Wailua, for they were very fond of surf riding. In their daily life in Wailua they often went in at Makaiwa to ride the surf; this place was directly on the lee side of Kewa.

One day while she was surf riding she had a premonition of some disaster. When she looked up she saw the spirit of Halemano sitting in the blue sky. Upon seeing this she wept, for she greatly loved her brother Halemano. She then turned to Pulee and said: “Halemano is dead.”

When the parents, brothers and sisters heard of the death of Halemano, they all wailed, but Laenihi stopped them saying: “You must not weep now. Let me first pray to the gods, and if the gods take compassion on us Halemano will come to life again; but in case they are unmerciful, Halemano is indeed dead; you must therefore look on calmly and patiently.”