CHAPTER III.

Kawelo Is Called Back to Kauai to Aid His Parents.—Aikanaka’s Forces Engage Him and Are Defeated.—Kills His Brother Kauahoa.

Kamalama thereupon prepared his canoe to go after Kawelo; he set out but was still at a great distance when he commenced to call out: “O Kawelo! Your parents are in trouble. They have been ousted by Aikanaka.” Whence the friend returned, thinking that he would be overtaken and defeated by Kawelo. Kawelo heard the call, but paid no attention to it, for he wanted to capture his prey. When the fish was caught the fisherman said to him: “You are being called.” Whereto Kawelo turned around and commanded: “Sit firmly.” No sooner had Makuakeke taken a firm seat than he heard the breath drawn in, Kawelo being sure to overtake Kamalama. Six strokes of the paddle by the superhuman one brought them to the landing. As to the fisherman, however, he was constantly rocked about on the canoe; and the stem of the canoe pointed to this and that direction. His friend’s canoe was then being lifted. The stern had not yet reached the shore when Kawelo’s canoe shot in, and he said to his friend: “Why did you call me?” “You were called; our parents are approaching death. For that reason I went forth to summon you.”

At once Kawelo made preparations, with his wife, friend and ulus, [1130] ten in number. Here are their names: the two ulus that had come together from Kauai, who were Kaulukauloko and Kaulukauwaho; Kauluikapapaakea, Kauluikawekiu, Paapaaina, Aumai, Hawewe, Haulili, Hanaula and Aiwohi. They immediately set to work, but Kawelo was fashioned so as to resemble a roll of mat [1131] and deposited squarely on the canoe. Then they sailed out and appeared outside of Wailua, on Kauai.

At this moment, Aikanaka had an instinctive knowledge that a canoe was then floating and called to his messenger: “Say, Haweo!” “What is it?” Haweo replied. “You run out and inquire regarding that canoe, whether it be a war canoe, or, if not, a sightseeing one.” The latter hurried off and soon stood above the landing and inquired of the men on the canoe: “What is the nature of the canoe?” Kamalama made reply: “A canoe to carry on war.” “Shall that one canoe enable you to make a sweeping conquest of Wailua here?” At which the messenger returned and stood in the presence of the king. The king said: “What is the nature of the canoe?” “A war canoe.” Immediately some warriors were sent out; Walaheeikio was their chief and skilled in various wars. His (Kawelo’s) ulus saw him; and Kamalama said: “There he is, a man with warriors.” Kawelo informed [them]: “That is Walaheeikio. You disengage me.” [1132] At which he was taken out, and he stood on the platform [1133] of their canoe. The warrior of Aikanaka called forth a challenge: “Who is your champion of that canoe?” Kawelo then replied: “Myself.” The warrior remarked: “There is not the slightest doubt that this javelin will spare you. My javelin has not even missed the blade of grass and the grasshopper, but lo! with yonder hut, [1134] my javelin shall never fail to hit the mark.” Kawelo thereupon recited this chant:

O Walaheeikio! O Walaheeikio! When you thrust your javelin It is warded [1135] off with the end of the loin-cloth— Won’t the degradation be a pain to you!

“This javelin would not, perhaps, miss you.” The warrior planted himself erect but on thrusting, his spear was warded off with the end of the loin-cloth. Kawelo was at the same moment thrusting, his javelin—the name of Kawelo’s javelin was Koihelaumeki—and the warrior was laid low. With that one thrust the weapon made a clean cut from his head and lodged in his detested spot. Kawelo’s ulus were vigorously conducting the war, the informant being the one to escape. Said Aikanaka, “How fared your [1136] battle?” “Lo, you question! We have all met with disastrous defeat, and I am the only [1137] one spared. Maybe I have escaped by a hair’s breath from falling into their power; and furthermore, I admit that our leader, who was sent thither, received no brutal treatment; he was told to thrust his javelin, but it was warded off with the end of the loin-cloth. Then the other sent his javelin home, and he was pierced from the head clear down.”

Soon another leader, who was Maumauikio, and his men were sent for. On the arrival of Maumauikio and his warriors, Aikanaka inquired: “How is it; can you overcome Kawelo today?” The other replied: “He shall be defeated by me, because that warrior of ours was not skillful enough. I am the one who has a wide experience in this art.” Upon this, he went down with the soldiers and soon appeared at the landing. Then the warrior called forth in a chant as follows:

I bewail the broad expanse of Kapaa, [1138] That is being traversed by the naulu [1139] wind, Which is challenging the wai-pa oa [wind]; That is perhaps considering me a bunch of bananas.

And when the warrior had finished, Kawelo then responded with his chant:

Turn around! Observe Kawaikini-a-Kane That is exceedingly permeated with the chill of Waialeale. [1140] Yes, that is the gift of Maunahina! At Maunahina descended the ends of the koolau [1141] wind. To return is the safety, O combatant. Woe betide you!

Whereto the warrior replied: “I came not to delay; this javelin, perhaps, shall not spare you. Walaheeikio possessed no knowledge; it is well that he was vanquished. But I—my javelin shall never miss you.” At this Kawelo recited his chant, as follows:

O Maumauikio! O Maumauikio! When you thrust your javelin It is warded off with the end of the loin-cloth— Won’t it be a shame that will pain you greatly!

As the warrior thrust his javelin it was held fast by Kamalama. Kamalama then made a thrust and the fighter was killed. The soldiers fled, but were annihilated by the ulus of Kawelo, and the individual that had been spared before was left; his back was, however, injured from having been scratched. Kawelo started to slay all the soldiers. In the meanwhile a desire came into Aikanaka who commanded the messenger, saying: “It is perhaps well that you summon Kauahoa [1142] to come hither and combat with his younger brother. We have no hope left; we have been made powerless—utterly hopeless and despairing.”

Soon the messenger stood on the bank of the stream of Hanalei and called out. When he looked ahead, behold! Kauahoa was lying in deep slumber—the water returned to the upland; the gobies decayed in the lowland! [1143] Then he called: “Say, Kauahoa! Your older brother is in trouble. They have been placed in a dangerous position by your younger brother, Kawelo.” At that moment he awoke and said: “Return and I will follow.” He immediately bestirred himself and as his weapon, Kahihikolo, which was sacred to Kumakaohuohu, his superior younger brother, stood near at hand, the sacredness was ignored; he uprooted it, trunk and leaves, and went down and stood at the landing. His younger brother saw and recited his chant, as follows:

Awake, [1144] O Kauahoa, The champion of Hanalei! Strikingly strange is his slumber during the noonday. Postpone the battle, O companion-in-birth; [1145] Spare me who is your kinsman.

Kauahoa replied: “Perhaps my weapon will not be fully satisfied with you. Let us string flowers; my garland is completed, whereas yours is not. Let us urinate. I urinate for a length of time; you, a short time. Why, then, will this weapon spare you?” [1146] Kauahoa struck but [the blow] fell harmlessly on the back of Kawelo, who urged his ulus forward: “O Kaulukauloko, Kaulukauwaho, etc., strike vehemently; and hold the weapon down fast.” When Kauahoa tried to withdraw [the weapon] it moved not. Kawelo ran his spear, Kuikaa, from head to foot, and Kauahoa was killed.