CHAPTER I.
RELATING TO AIOHIKUPUA.—TO HAUNAKA.
Aiohikupua [535] was a very strong man, both in boxing and wrestling. When he set sail from Maui and landed at Kauhola, in Kohala, he found the people gathered at Hinakahua, where they were holding their customary games of boxing, wrestling and other manly exhibitions of strength. At this place he met Ihuanu, a very expert and strong boxer who belonged to that district, Kohala.
When Aiohikupua and his companions came ashore in Kohala they proceeded up to see the wrestling. When they arrived at the grounds, Ihuanu came out and challenged: “Who is to come from that side and meet me, wrestling?” No one was seen to come and accept the challenge because they were all afraid of him. After this Ihuanu turned to Aiohikupua and said: “Say, stranger, you had better join in the fun.” When Aiohikupua heard the invitation he went up to Ihuanu and said: “Say, son of the soil, you have asked me to join you in the fun, and this is what I wish to say to you: Get two others beside yourself on your side, making three of you. With that number the stranger will feel it worth while to join you.” When Ihuanu heard this from Aiohikupua, he made reply: “You are a very conceited man. I am the best man among all the people of Kohala, and here you have asked that there must be three of us on one side to meet you alone on your side. You are the most conceited [536] man that I have ever seen. What are you to me?”
Aiohikupua then boasted, saying to Ihuanu: “I am not going to stand up and box with you unless you have three on your side. And what do I care for you and the people that have gathered here? I can turn this crowd into nothing with my left hand.” Because of these words of Aiohikupua, one of the strong men in Kohala who had come to witness the games came up behind Aiohikupua and said to him: “Say, don’t get Ihuanu angry, for he is the strongest man in Kohala; there is nothing kept away from him when he asks.” At this Aiohikupua pushed him to one side [537] whereby the man was killed. Upon seeing this, one of the warriors came up behind Ihuanu and said to him: “Say, Ihuanu, we see that our side will not be victorious this day. I am sure the stranger will win out, because one of our companions is killed by just receiving a mere push. Therefore I beg of you that the crowd be dispersed and the games brought to an end and you withdraw your challenge and meet the stranger in a kindly way and shake hands, and in that way save yourself.” [538] By these words the hot anger in Ihuanu was rekindled, and so he replied: “Say, my men, don’t be afraid because of the death of that man from the push he received. Did I not do the very same thing some few days ago? Then why should you all be afraid? But if you are afraid, then go and hide your faces in the sky; and if you should hear that Ihuanu is victorious, remember it was by the blow known as Kanikapihe, [539] the blow the teacher has not instructed you of, for I see he will not be able to overcome me, for I hear the end of my loin cloth snap [540] behind me.” His companions then said to him: “We have nothing more to say to you, we have done our part. Stand up then and face your opponent; perhaps you will be saved by means of the blow your teacher has not instructed us of, and perhaps the end of your loin cloth did tell you the truth.” [541] With this the companions of Ihuanu retired to the outer edge of the crowd.
While Ihuanu was boasting before the people, Aiohikupua came out of the crowd and stood in the presence of Ihuanu, then clapped his arms around his body and said to Ihuanu: “Say, Ihuanu, strike sixteen blows at my middle.” When Ihuanu heard this from Aiohikupua he turned and surveyed the crowd that was around them and when he saw a small boy, who was being held in the arms of a certain person, he called out: “Let that small boy come and strike Aiohikupua.” Continuing, Ihuanu said boastingly: “Let this small boy strike you.” [542] When Aiohikupua heard this from Ihuanu, his anger welled up within him until his very hair stood on end; he then turned to the people and said: “What man is willing to face the boy from Kauai? I will therefore at this time say, that my god is able to give me the victory over your strong man this day and to make his head a plaything for my canoe men.” After making the above remarks, he prayed to his god as follows:
Lanipipili, Lanioaka, Lanikahuliomealani. Say, Hekilikaakaa, Say, Nakolowailani, Recognize your offspring, Look at your child And present me with the head of Ihuanu, That the multitude might see That I am the conqueror. It is ended, the kapu is released. [543]
At the close of the prayer, Aiohikupua asked his opponent: “Are you ready, Ihuanu, to strike at me?” Ihuanu replied: “I will not strike you. I want you to strike at me.” When the boxing teacher of Ihuanu heard what his pupil had answered he came up to his side and said to him: “If he should again ask you to strike him do it, [544] because this is the proper time.” Shortly after this Aiohikupua again requested of Ihuanu to strike him. At this request, Ihuanu let drive at his opponent but did not hit him, for Aiohikupua was on his guard and dodged. After dodging this blow from Ihuanu, Aiohikupua struck at his opponent, hitting him just below the chest so strong that the fist of Aiohikupua went clear through and came out at the back. Aiohikupua then raised up his arm, with the body of Ihuanu on it, twirled the body around over his head and then threw it outside of the rows of people that were standing around. At sight of this great strength a mighty shout came from the people and after this they began to disperse. After this Aiohikupua went over to the place where the body of Ihuanu was lying and cut off his head and took it to his canoe men [545], and they all returned to their double canoe, which they boarded and set sail for Hamakua, landing at Paauhau.
RELATING TO HAUNAKA.
Haunaka was the strongest man, in boxing and wrestling, in the whole of Paauhau and he was at this time very famous. In fact his fame had traversed over the whole district of Hamakua.
When the canoe of Aiohikupua touched at the landing at Paauhau, he jumped ashore and asked of the people of the place, saying: “What is that shouting in the uplands?” One of the men said: “The people are gathered there to witness the champion wrestler, Haunaka, the strongest man in the district.” When Aiohikupua heard this he proceeded to the place where the games were being held. As soon as he arrived, Haunaka called out to him: “Come here.” When Aiohikupua came in the presence of Haunaka, he said: “You will never be able to hurt the boy from Kauai for he is like the branch of a tree that stands on the side of a cliff.” While Aiohikupua was saying this one of the men who had seen him in Kohala came up and said to Haunaka: “Say, Haunaka and the company gathered here, this is the very man who struck Ihuanu, in Kohala, and killed him. This man’s blow is sharp like the point of a spear; you people will therefore have no chance against him.” When Haunaka heard this he came up to Aiohikupua and extended his greetings. [546] At the conclusion of the games Aiohikupua returned to his canoe and set sail for Hilo, on his way in search of his lover, Laieikawai.