The third legendary locality for the owl-gods was the scene of the
“battle of the owls.” This was at Waikiki. Kapoi was held prisoner in
the Waikiki heiau. Usually there was a small, four-square, stone-walled
enclosure in which sacrifices were kept until the time came when they
should be killed and placed on the altar. In some such place Kapoi was
placed and guarded.
His owl-god was grateful for the return of the eggs and determined to
reward him for his kindness and protect him as a worshipper. In some
way there must be a rescue. This owl-god was a “family god,” belonging
only to this man and his immediate household. According to the Hawaiian
custom, any individual could select anything he wished as the god for
himself and family. Kapoi’s owl-god secured the aid of the king of
owls, who lived in Manoa Valley on Owl’s Hill. The king of owls sent
out a call for the owls of all the islands to come and make war against
the king of Oahu and his warriors.
Kauai legends say that the sound of the drum of the owl-king was so
penetrating that it could be heard across all the channels by the owls
on the different islands. In one day the owls of Hawaii, Lanai, Maui
and Molokai had gathered at Kalapueo. [31] The owls of Koolau and
Kahikiku, Oahu, gathered together in Kanoniakapueo. [32] The owls of
Kauani and Niihau gathered in the place toward the sunset—Pueo-hulu-nui
(near Moanalua).
Kakuhihewa had set apart the day of Ka-ne—the day dedicated to the god
Ka-ne and given his name—as the day when Kapoi should be sacrificed.
This day was the twenty-seventh of the lunar month. In the morning of
that day the priests were to slay Kapoi and place him on the altar of
the temple in the presence of the king and his warriors.
At daybreak the owls rallied around that temple. As the sun rose, its
light was obscured. The owls were clouds covering the heavens. Warriors
and chiefs and priests tried to drive the birds away. The owls flew
down and tore the eyes and faces of the men of Kakuhihewa. They
scratched dirt over them and befouled them. Such an attack was
irresistible—Kakuhihewa’s men fled, and Kapoi was set free.
Kakuhihewa said to Kapoi: “Your god has mana (miraculous power) greater
than my god. Your god is a true god.”
Kapoi was saved. The owl was worshipped as a god. The place of that
battle was Kukaeunahio-ka-pueo
(The-confused-noise-of-owls-rising-in-masses).