CHAPTER II.

Aikanaka Plans to Be Avenged.—Kawelo Moves to Oahu.—Joins Makuakeke and Captures a Famous Fish.—Obtains a New Wife and is Taught the Arts of Warfare.

While Aikanaka was brooding with love for his wives the thought occurred to him to seek the death of his younger brother [1117] Kawelo. Soon afterwards all the people of Kauai assembled and consulted with their great king Aikanaka. [1118] The task of spear practice was begun, and the men became highly dexterous in that service. They spent much time in its exercise, and, very long afterwards, a longing took hold of Kawelo to go sightseeing in circuiting Oahu; hence, he said to the father: “How great is my desire to sail and tour all of Oahu!” The father answered: “Go as your desire dictates.”

Upon which he set out; but while he was traveling along the road, young Kamalama [1119] approached and inquired of Kawelo: “Whither are you bound for?” Kawelo replied, “I am going to sail and tour Oahu and then return.” Whereupon the former said, “It is well then that I, too, shall accompany you.” The latter gave his consent and boarded the canoe. This canoe, on which they embarked, belonged to Kaulukauloko and Kaulukauwaho. [1120]

Soon they all sailed out for and landed at Oahu. Kou, [1121] a beautiful woman of Puuloa, Oahu, met him. In due time he started out to call on the celebrated fisherman of Oahu here at that time, who was Makuakeke. Kawelo immediately asked of Makuakeke: “Are the fish of this locality famed for their not being entrapped by the net, caught?” The latter replied: “One has been captured, but the other one is still at large.” “What of it? Let us go out to entrap it; perhaps we may capture it.” So they paddled out until they arrived off the point of Kaena. [1122] Just as they approached the spot, Makuakeke bent his head down to make observations and saw the fish swimming about. “Here is that fish,” said the fisherman. Let us leave these two awhile and speak relative to the parents.

As the parents were residing on Kauai, every one in their neighborhood, including themselves, were attacked. Moreover, the parents were driven away, and they retired to a very distant place.

While Kawelo and companion were busily engaged in watching the fish and also in casting their net, the fish could not be caught. The name of the fish was Uhumakaikai. [1123] They toiled on, but it could not be entrapped; for which reason they came back. As they were paddling back Kawelo observed a large gathering of men and women and questioned the fisherman: “What is that assembly for?” “It is a surf-riding crowd. But there is only one who is unparalleled; it is a young woman. She is never wet by the surf.” The first asked, “What is the name?” The latter replied, “Kanewahineikiaoha.” [1124] And when he had memorized the name of the young woman they paddled for and disembarked at the landing where the friend, Kamalama, then stood in waiting. Said he to his friend: “Let us attend the surf-riding sport of the crowd.” To which the latter consented.

And when they had arrived there Kawelo inquired of his friend, “You are perhaps acquainted with Kanewahineikiaoha?” “Yes,” the other replied. At which the one in question came surfing in with the breakers; one, two, and on the third breaking of the surf she landed, snatched up her board and her dress, donned it, and was soon on her way homeward. Then Kawelo said to his friend, “You follow her.” Kamalama immediately followed and hid himself. As he lay in concealment he saw the javelins of her brothers hurled in great numbers at her; therefore, he returned and stood before his friend, who asked: “How fares it?” “Say! You are asking me; there is nothing in that performance but death. When I journeyed thither and hid myself, I observed the one in whom we have been interested resting. I saw her brothers thrusting their spears.”

Whereupon Kawelo made up his mind to go up and reconnoiter; so he said to his friend, “It is best that we both go up to investigate. What is there to repent should fortune be against us?” To which the other consented. As they journeyed upward and reached the house, the woman had just finished bathing; [1125] but the javelins of the brothers were her bath water. When they espied the young woman, Kawelo called forth in a chant as follows:

There is my lehua at Luluupali Which is wafted by the cold wind. I am beseeching you, O antagonist, [1126] To accept me as your friend.

At the end of the recital of his chant an invitation was shouted back by the young woman; whereupon they both proceeded and entered the house. The father of the young woman said: “What is the cause that brings you two hither?” He replied, giving his answer precisely, “Both of us have come here to investigate into your performance; that is the cause for which I journeyed hither.” Immediately they were taught, and they attained skill in that branch. They remained under instruction until the use of all weapons had been taught them, when fear dawned on the instructor lest they should all be defeated by Kawelo; so he withheld a certain method [1127] which he did not impart to Kawelo—this was warfare with stones.

They settled down, and, in due time, he (Kawelo) married Kanewahineikiaoha, the daughter of the instructor. A thought seized Kawelo to go again after the fish which he and Makuakeke had attempted to catch, so he said to the wife: “I am going out fishing.” Now, the place they were then residing was at Waiawa, Oahu. He immediately set out to join his fishing companion, and both sailed out and arrived at the place where they had formerly floated. They lowered the net, but the fish became shy and kept away from the net. Kawelo remarked: “We shall not be able to catch the fish. If we can secure an uhu, then, we can have a bait that will tempt [1128] it.” This is a fact that has found expression among the composers of chants, in this manner: “The fish are tamed by the tempting bait,” etc.

Let us leave the two and go back to the parents of Kawelo, on Kauai. Whilst Kawelo’s parents remained in constant dread, some men journeyed here to Oahu to summon Kawelo. Their food on this voyage consisted of a few balls of popolo and a few fours of fleas. When they had arrived at the house of Kamalama, he asked: “What brings you two here?” “We came to fetch Kawelo. His father has been driven away [1129] by Aikanaka. That is why we came.”