CHAPTER III.

THE BATTLE.

When Kakaalaneo was almost up to Kepakailiula, he said in a haughty and insulting manner: “My spear shall eat of your flesh this day, for my spear never misses a grass blade, an ant or a flea.” After this Kakaalaneo asked: “Who shall have the first chance? Shall it be the son of the soil or the stranger?” Kepakailiula replied: “Let the son of the soil take the first chance and the stranger the last.” Kakaalaneo then threw the spear that was in his right hand at Kepakailiula. When the spear came near Kepakailiula, he opened out his elbow and allowed the spear to enter in between the arm and the body, and when it was half way through he brought his arm to his body and held the spear. The spear came at such speed that when it was held it quivered for some time.

After the spear had left his hand, Kakaalaneo, thinking that Kepakailiula had been struck, chanted these words:

You will not escape my spear, because My spear can pierce a blade of grass, an ant, a flea. How can you escape, you having a large shadow?

After Kepakailiula had held the spear until its quivering had ceased, he took it and threw it to the dung heap.

When Kakaalaneo saw this, he said: “What is it that has caused the point of my spear to depart from the spot aimed at? Was it because of the south wind, the wind that blows down houses? Or was it the awa leaf wind of Hana? for my spear has indeed missed its mark. That spear from my right hand has missed; there yet remains the spear in my left; it will pierce you and will yet eat your flesh.” Kakaalaneo then threw the spear that was in his left hand, and as it came flying toward Kepakailiula, he opened out the left elbow a little bit causing the spear to enter between the arm and body, and when it was half way through, he closed in his arm and held the spear there quivering, after which he took and threw it on the dung heap like the other one. Kakaalaneo then said: “Yes, here I have lived on the land and am now well on in years and my spear has never missed before this: but here you have caused them to miss the mark.”

At the close of these remarks, Kakaalaneo attempted to run away. Kepakailiula then called out to him: “Why is the great soldier running away?” Before he could get very far, however, Kepakailiula caught up with him and swung his war club up from the ground, [516] catching Kakaalaneo between the legs, splitting him clear to the head. Kakaalaneo made but one appeal before he died, saying: “Say, chiefs of Maui, are you then to look on unconcernedly at my death?” At this appeal the chiefs and the people jumped on Kepakailiula with the intention of killing him in payment for the death of their king, believing that they would be able to conquer Kepakailiula, but in this they were mistaken, for Kepakailiula took those who came within his reach and broke them up like small twigs before the people. This breaking of the bodies was heard at considerable distance away. He took up his opponents in his hands [517] as though they were nothing to him. Those who faced him were killed outright and those who ran away were the only ones spared.

When Kiinoho and Kiihele saw that Kepakailiula was fighting the vast multitude they came ashore and joined in the slaughter of the enemy, helping their foster son Kepakailiula, thus making three on their side.

When Kukuipahu, the father-in-law, saw the great destruction of the people, [518] which meant the depopulation of the land, he took up Kapuaokeonaona, the girl wife of Kepakailiula and went ashore, then ran with all his might and stood her up in front of Kepakailiula. When Kepakailiula came up to the place where Kapuaokeonaona was standing, [519] he took her up and carried her on his shoulders and returned to the canoes. This ended the slaughter. Kepakailiula gave the island of Maui [520] to Kukuipahu, and made him king in place of Kakaalaneo.

The news of the death of Kakaalaneo by Kepakailiula was in time carried to the hearing of Kakuhihewa, the king of Oahu, and he began to entertain fears of Kepakailiula, and in order to avoid any conflict he thought he would send his own canoes in charge of his own personal servants to Maui, to invite Kepakailiula to come to Oahu, and also to adopt him as his son and to offer to him the possession of the island of Oahu. [521] In time the canoes set out from Oahu on their way to Maui. On account of contrary winds and a storm that came up soon after they set out, they landed at Kaunolu. [522] That same evening, however, the wind subsided and the canoes were once more launched and they got as far as Keanapou in Kahoolawe, where they landed and spent the night. From this last place they again set sail, landing at Kapueokahi in Hana, Maui, where Kepakailiula was staying. As soon as the canoes effected a landing the voyagers went in search and inquired as to the whereabouts of Kepakailiula; they were told that his house was on the east side of the Kauiki hill. When the people from Oahu arrived at the house, they met Kepakailiula, who greeted them and they in turn extended theirs. After resting awhile they told Kepakailiula the object of their mission, saying: “We have come for you to sail for Oahu. Your father, Kakuhihewa, requests you go to Oahu and take possession of that island. The canoes are here; all you have to do is to board them and we will set sail.” Kepakailiula assented [523] to this; whereupon he and his company, consisting of his foster fathers, Kiihele and Kiinoho, with their wife, and Makolea and Kapuaokeonaona, the wives of Kepakailiula, boarded the canoes and set sail for Oahu.

On this voyage to Oahu they were overtaken by a terrible storm and their canoes were forced to the east of Molokai, off the land known as Mokuhooniki. After a while they managed to make Kalaupapa, where they rested until dawn of the next morning, when they continued on their way and in due time landed at Waikiki, Oahu.

Upon meeting Kakuhihewa gave Kepakailiula the whole of the island of Oahu to be disposed of as he saw fit. Kepakailiula then in turn gave the island over to his foster parents, Kiinoho and Kiihele; and the two became the joint rulers of Oahu, Kakuhihewa serving under them. [524]

After they had been in Waikiki for about three days, they joined in with the people of the place, it being their customary pastime to go out every day surf riding. During these days Makolea also joined in the sport and went out to enjoy the surf. On the fourth day Makolea went in again, but went beyond the usual place and took the surf at Kalehuawehe. The surf at this place was the most noted in those days and it is so to this day. While she was surfing, a couple of messengers from the king of Kauai arrived; they were Keaumiki and Keauka. [525] These two were the body or personal servants of Kaikipaananea, the king of Kauai, who were on a search for a wife for their foster son, Kaikipaananea. While they were coming past Leahi, just adjoining the Mamala channel, they saw Makolea surf riding. When they first saw her they were so attracted by her good looks that they could not keep their eyes from her; on coming nearer they saw that she was indeed beautiful, having no equal. Therefore they came and took her off to Kauai to be the wife of Kaikipaananea.

After Makolea was taken to Kauai, Kepakailiula desired to go to Kauai in search of his wife. He therefore requested [526] of Kakuhihewa that he be given a canoe to make the voyage. Upon hearing the wish of Kepakailiula, Kakuhihewa gave him a double canoe and some men; but Kepakailiula refused to take the men, saying: “I do not want to travel in state, for my wife has been taken away from me secretly, so I want to travel in secret. All I want from you is a small canoe.” Kakuhihewa therefore gave him a small canoe, as requested. Kepakailiula then set sail for Kauai, and on the morning of the next day he reached Waimea. As soon as he landed he took his canoe and broke it into pieces, then after this was done he went to the first house he saw, where lived one of the chiefs of Kauai, Kaunalewa by name, a very rich and honored man. When Kaunalewa saw the goodly appearance of Kepakailiula he called him, and when he arrived before him he urged that they become friends, saying: “I want you to become my friend and whatever you request of me I will grant it.”

After they had been living together for about three days, the voices of the people and the king were heard shouting and yelling. Kepakailiula therefore asked his friend Kaunalewa: “What is this shouting up above here?” Kaunalewa replied: “It is our King Kaikipaananea playing honuhonu, [527] also wrestling, boxing and such other games. Some one must have been thrown, hence the shouting.” Kepakailiula then said: “Can’t the place be visited?” The friend answered: “And why not?” They then went up to the place and to the very presence of Kaikipaananea surrounded by a vast multitude. When the people saw Kepakailiula they all shouted their admiration, for he was such a handsome looking fellow. After the shouting the people began to take pity on him for they were sure he would be killed by Kaikipaananea.