CHAPTER I.

Pamano Becomes a Famed Chanter.—King Kaiuli Adopts Him and Places His Daughter Keaka in His Care.—Passing Her House He Is Invited to Enter.—Koolau, His Companion, Informs the King.—Decree of Death by Awa Is Passed on Pamano.—While Surf-Riding Is Bid to the Awa Feast.—Is Suspicious of Its Portent.—His Spirit-Sisters Remove the Awa’s Intoxicant for a Time, But Eventually He Is Overcome.

Kahikinui, in Maui, is the land in which Pamano was born; in the village of Kaipolohua. Lono was the father of Pamano and Kanaio was the mother. The brother of Kanaio was Waipu. Pamano had two sisters who were born before him, but they both died in their infancy and Pamano was the only one that was successfully brought up by the parents. [358] When Pamano was full grown he began to study the arts of the hula and the oli (or chanting) of meles.

The reputation of Pamano as a singer and a chanter, after a time, spread over the land of his birth and at last it reached Koolau, [359] in the uplands of Mokulau, located in the middle of Kaupo. When Pamano arrived at that place he was seen by Kaiuli, the king of Maui, and Pamano being a handsome fellow, he was adopted by the king as a son, [360] and in this way he became known as the brother of Keaka, the only daughter of Kaiuli. By being adopted Pamano was virtually made king of Maui. The first command given Pamano by Kaiuli was this: After calling for Pamano and his daughter Keaka to come to him, he said: “Where are you, my two children? I want you to listen to what I have to say. I want you, Pamano, to be good and not to touch your sister; and I want you, Keaka, to be good and not to touch your brother. If you two wish to go surf riding, each of you can go down and have your surf riding and then return straight home. Pamano must not enter the house of Keaka or you will die; and so with Keaka.”

It was Pamano’s custom to go down surf riding at Mokulau every day. Keaka on the other hand had moved to Mokulau and she was at this time living there with her guardian, a man by the name of Koolau, a close friend of Pamano’s. In these daily trips down to enjoy the surf something happened one day which led to difficulties. This day, after Pamano and Koolau had finished bathing, they started on their return, and while on their way, in passing by the house of Keaka, she called out to them: “Come and get some fish for you two.” Upon hearing the call the two stood and looked at her. Keaka continued calling and beckoning them to come to her. The two therefore approached the wall surrounding the house and called out to Keaka: “Give us our fish.” She replied: “The fish have no legs. You two who have legs must come and get the fish yourselves.” The two then entered the yard. Keaka, however, went into the house and held up the fish, at the same time calling for one of them to come in and get them. The two stood there hesitating, not knowing what to do. She called again, whereupon Pamano reached and seized the fish, but Keaka jumped and held Pamano and then closed the door and fastened it. Koolau stood on the outside at the end of the house.

Long before this Keaka had a longing desire to make advances on Pamano, for she was in love with him and, too, she thought that he would make her a good husband; besides, he was such a handsome fellow. At last her chance came and all her hopes were realized. At first they argued, [361] but did not lie together, for Pamano said to Keaka: “I have vowed with Koolau that before I take a wife he must first have her; and this promise also holds good with him; before he takes a wife, I must first be favored; therefore we must call him in to fulfill the vow.” “No; [said she] why should we leave the matter to him, for who is he? Didn’t I bring up the shameless little thing? I will not call him in.”

While the two were talking, Koolau awaited for the opening of the door and for the call for him to enter, for it was raining at the time. After waiting for some time, he chanted the following lines:

How beautiful art thou Hilo, bedecked with lehua, Standing there on the sands of Waiolama! How beautiful is the body of that tree, that tree! For he has indeed forgotten me, Thus finding a fault for war, for strife, For you two are quarreling.

To this chant Pamano replied: “Yes, that is just what I am saying, but she will not consent.”

Koolau then again chanted, after hearing the reply of Pamano:

The wind that doubly sweeps by, the moae, Which leaps from the jumping off cliff of Kaumaea, For the love of women is indeed pleasant, For the rope which Kukii hung is broken by the storm That has passed over Naunau. Had it been Naue thou wouldst have obeyed. [362]

Pamano then made answer the second time: “That is just what I am saying, but she will not give her consent.” At this reply Koolau faced about and returned to their house and slept. At the first cock crow, Pamano returned and went to sleep with Koolau.

At daylight that morning Pamano awoke and turned his face downward still lying and looked down at Koolau. Koolau from his place looked at Pamano and saw that the sides of Pamano were blackened, just below the arm pits, bitten by Keaka. When Koolau saw this he chanted these words:

As the wind gently sweeps over Waiakea, Hilo, So sweeps the naenae. My hala grove is becalmed, My hala grove that hides behind the wall in the lowlands of Waiuli. Why are your sides blackened, as though bitten? For you are attempting to conceal it from me.

Pamano then made reply: “You know, it was Keaka. After you came away we passed the evening together.” At the reply Koolau arose and went up to inform Kaiuli thereof. While he was on his way up, however, Kaiuli looked at him but was unable to recognize him; so he turned to his companions and asked: “Who is that coming up here?” Some one replied: “It is Koolau.” “No, that is some one else,” said another. This was kept up until Koolau was almost up to them, when their doubts were entirely removed, for they could plainly see that it was he. As he stood in their presence, Kaiuli asked him: “What has brought you up here so early?” “Yes, I came early because I have something to say. The chief and chiefess who live in the lowlands have sinned. [363] Pamano has gone and slept with Keaka. That is the reason why I came up, that you should hear.” Kaiuli then asked of Waipu: “How about your nephew? Shall he live or die?” Waipu replied: “He shall die.” “What fault have you to cause his death?” asked Kaiuli. “There is a fault. When he becomes king of Maui, and the bundles of kapued kapas and loin cloth are brought out, I will get the covering for my kapa and the binding will be my loin cloth. [364] Therefore he shall die.” Kaiuli then asked him: “By what means shall he be killed?” “By the use of the awa,” replied Waipu, “for he is very fond of awa.” The preparations of the awa were then commenced. The calabashes were filled, the water gourds were filled, the fish calabashes were filled, and when all the awa was prepared Kaiuli asked of Waipu: “Who will go and bring Pamano?” “I will,” said Waipu.

RELATING TO PAMANO.

We will here speak of Pamano and what he did after Koolau came up to inform Kaiuli of what he had done.

After Koolau left for the uplands, Pamano rose, took up his surf board and started down to the beach to enjoy the surf. He continued surfing until the sun passed the meridian, and while he was about to take his last surf and return ashore, Waipu arrived on the beach and called out: “Say, Pamano, come home and drink your favorite drink, the awa, while it is yet warm; and eat of the food prepared before it gets cold.” Pamano was startled by the call, but when he looked about he saw that it was his uncle. At sight of him he had a premonition of coming disaster and death; he was, however, at this time riding on the outside edge of a surf and his skin was entirely dry, and so he chanted these words:

The awa leaf wind of Hana As it sweeps unconquered by the line of hala trees, By the sea of Nanualele For my heart throbs with strong emotions.

Waipu replied: “Come home and drink your favorite drink, the awa, or else it will get cold.”

Pamano ceased riding the body of the surf and skimmed along in the foam and he again chanted, saying:

My uncle from the surf-riding time of Poloa, From the twilight of Papio, turn, Turn to me, for here I am; forget your day of anger, Your day of passion; let us be friends.

Waipu replied: “Your journey is perhaps not of death. I have come for you to go and drink your favorite awa.” Pamano then came ashore, bathed himself in fresh water, again girded on his wet loin cloth and started on up. When the two arrived on the heights of Mahinui, a high knoll, overlooking Mokulau, Pamano stood and looked toward the sea, and when he saw the white sands shining there at Huleia, he chanted the following words:

As I stand on the heights of Mahinui, And my eyes gaze seaward, Like a white cloth that is spread out, Is the sand there below at Huleia. I have taken it up as a song A gift of words for her.

The two after this continued on up, when the spirit sisters of Pamano, Nakinowailua and Hokiolele were heard chanting as follows:

The sun always comes up from the back of Mahiki, At the shores of Kualakaina. You are being led to the ahupuaa, For you have stolen, although you pretend to be innocent; No is fastened to your lips, that is for you.

At this Pamano turned and said: “Yes, here I am going up and if I return alive, I will kill both of you.” [365]

From this place the two continued on up until they arrived at the house. Pamano then looked at the house and saw that it looked as though deserted, no one being around; it appeared different from what it used to be, so he chanted as follows:

The coconut pole is erected, though scarred and cut up, For there is a gathering here, the voices are heard; It is the gathering of death; the hands are fastened at the back. [366] My younger brother, O my younger brother! [367]

He was then called: “Come in and take your favorite drink, the awa.” He entered the house and saw that there was not a single dry spot in the house; all was drenched with water. He entered, however, sat down, then took up the containers and drank the awa, while his sisters took away its intoxicating power. When he became thirsty, he took up the water gourds, but they contained awa. He became hungry and opened the calabashes for food and fish, but they contained awa. The sisters kept on taking the intoxicating portions of the awa until they were unable to take any more; and they became wearied, and so Pamano at last became intoxicated and in time was completely overcome. Pamano then rolled himself up in a cloak and laid down, and from the inside of the cloak he looked out watching to see what was to be done to him.

When Waipu saw that Pamano was under the influence of the awa he reached for the stone axe and began to bind on the handle with cords.