CHAPTER IV.

RELATING TO KAIKIPAANANEA.

He was the king of the whole island of Kauai, and was considered the strongest [528] man in his day, and he was especially noted for his great skill in boxing. No one on the whole Island of Kauai was found who could knock him down; no chief or common warrior was found who could beat him, and in all the contests that were held he always won. Because of this fact Kaikipaananea was known as the champion of Kauai and was classed with Kakaalaneo, the king of Maui. These two kings were the most feared by the people from Hawaii to Niihau in those days, and because of this fact, chiefs and kings submissively gave their daughters [529] to these two kings, for they feared death.

When Kaikipaananea saw Kepakailiula, he called out to him: “Say, stranger, come this way and join in the games with the sons of the soil; the honuhonu, the mokomoko, wrestling and boxing.” Kepakailiula replied: “I don’t know anything about the game of honuhonu.” Kaikipaananea said: “Not knowing that game, let it be the game of wrestling then.” “I don’t know that game even.” “Let it be boxing then.” “Yes, I believe that I can do a little of that, for I have acquired a little learning in that game, but I never was declared an expert at it. I am willing to try conclusions with the son of the soil in that game, however.”

The game of honuhonu is played by the different contestants sitting down, each facing the other, the feet are then locked and they try to throw each other over. That is called honuhonu.

At the acceptance of the challenge to box, they both stood up facing each other. Kaikipaananea then asked of his opponent: “Who shall have the first chance? Shall it be the son of the soil or the stranger?” Kepakailiula answered: “Let the son of the soil have the first chance and the stranger the last.” As soon as this point was settled, Kaikipaananea struck at Kepakailiula, hitting him and causing him to stagger from dizziness and he almost fell to the ground. With the exception of the staggering Kepakailiula was otherwise unaffected. He then with one great effort braced himself up and in a moment he was himself again. He then struck at Kaikipaananea, hitting him and knocking him down, causing him to make water, to twist his feet and to become unconscious for a period of time sufficient for the cooking of two umus. [530] After lying down for this length of time, Kaikipaananea came to and said boastingly: “Say, but it was fine fun! Here you have made it worth while at last.”

When Kaikipaananea was knocked down, however, the people shouted and yelled of the great strength exhibited by Kepakailiula, and all said: “No man was ever found strong enough to knock Kaikipaananea down and here you have gone and done it.”

After this Kepakailiula and his friend, Kaunalewa, proceeded home. On the next day the two again went up to the grounds where the games were being held, and this time they had a wrestling match in which both arms of Kaikipaananea [531] were broken. Three days after this encounter, Kaikipaananea sent out his servant Kukaea, to go and notify everybody to come together at the king’s palace to find the king’s riddle.