The prediction of Kamahualele, inspired by a sudden view of the coast
of Hawaii, was verified. A landing was made in the district of Kau,
the most southerly point of the island. There securing supplies of
provisions and water, the next landing was effected at Cape Kumukahi,
in the district of Puna; but a recent eruption from the crater of
Kilauea, or a subterranean channel connected with it, had devastated
a wide strip of country near the coast, and after a brief stay sail
was made for Kohala. Landing in that district, Moikeha and his party
were well received by Kaniuhi, the alii-nui and grandson of Pili,
and permission to offer sacrifices in behalf of the expedition in the
great heiau of Mookini was accorded the high-priest of Moikeha, whose
name, by singular coincidence, was identical with that of the temple,
erected by the high-priest Paao more than two generations before.
Leaving Kohala, Moikeha next touched at Hanuaula, on the island of
Maui; but, without stopping to exchange courtesies with Haho, the
noted moi of that division of the island, he sailed immediately for
Oahu. His purpose was to visit his royal father, Mulielealii, whose
residence was at Ewa; but his priest and seer so strongly protested
against the visit, declaring it to be contrary to the will of the gods,
that he directed his course around the northern side of the island,
touching at Makapuu and Makaaoa, and then sailing directly for the
island of Kauai.
On the evening of the second day after leaving Oahu, Moikeha anchored
his canoes in a roadstead not far from Kapaa, Kauai, where Puna,
the governing alii of the island, held his court, surrounded by the
chiefs of his family and a large number of retainers. Puna was one
of the most popular rulers in the group, and, strict as he may have
been in the exercise of his prerogatives, was always merciful in
dealing with offences thoughtlessly or ignorantly committed. He would
pardon the humble laborer who might inadvertently cross his shadow
or violate a tabu, but never the chief who deliberately trespassed
upon his privileges or withheld a courtesy due to his rank. His
disposition was naturally warlike, but as the condition of the
island was peaceful, and military force was seldom required except
in repelling occasional plundering raids from the other islands, he
kept alive the martial spirit of his chiefs and subjects by frequent
sham fights, marine drills, and the encouragement of athletic games
and friendly contests at arms, in which he himself sometimes took
part. Feasting and dancing usually followed these warlike pastimes,
and the result was that the court of Puna became somewhat noted for
the chivalry of its chiefs and the splendor of its entertainments.
Puna had but one child, a daughter named Hooipo. Tradition describes
her as having been, like the most of royal daughters painted by the
poets, a very comely maiden. She was therefore the pride and glory
of the court, and as she grew to a marriageable age her favor was
sought by a number of aspiring chiefs whose rank entitled them to
consideration; but, flattered by the contest for her smiles, and
naturally vain of a face which the unruffled waters told her was
attractive, she evinced no haste in making choice of a husband.
This tardiness or indecision was but very gently rebuked by
Puna. Although one tradition gives him two daughters, Hooipo was
doubtless his only child, and he was therefore indisposed to hasten
an event which would probably lead to their separation. But, as time
passed, the suitors of the young chiefess became so persistent, and
the rivalry for her assumed so bitter and warlike an aspect, that
Puna deemed it prudent for her to restore harmony among the rivals
by making a choice at once. But for no one of them did she seem to
entertain a decided preference, and therefore suggested that, since
a choice must be made, she was willing to leave it to the arbitrament
of such manly contest between the rivals as might comport with their
dignity and the character of the prize at stake. Puna eagerly accepted
the suggestion, as it opened the way to a selection without incurring
the enmity of all but the one chosen.
But what should be the nature of the contest? Each of the rival chiefs
was probably noted for his skill in some especial accomplishment,
and the difficulty was in naming a trial that would seem to be just
to all. Unable to decide the matter himself, Puna appealed to the
high-priest, and the next day announced that his palaoa--a talisman
consisting of a whale's tooth, carved and sanctified--would be sent
by a trusty messenger to the little island of Kaula; that four days
thereafter the rival chiefs should, each in his own canoe, start at
the same time and place from Kauai, and the one who returned with
the palaoa, which the messenger would be instructed to give to the
first of the contesting chiefs to land and claim it on the rocks of
Kaula, should be the husband of Hooipo, and the others must remain
his friends. The size of the canoes was left to the discretion of
the several contestants, but as no more than four assistants would be
allowed to each, very large canoes, of course, would not be used. Any
means of speed might be employed, including oars, paddles and sails.
The contest was admitted to be as fair as any that could be devised,
and the rival chiefs declared themselves satisfied with it, and began
to prepare for the race by securing suitable canoes and skilful and
stalwart assistants. It promised to be an exciting contest, and the
whole of Kapaa was on tiptoe to witness the start.
After a few days of preparation the messenger of Puna was despatched
with the palaoa to Kaula, with instructions to place it in the hands
of the first of the contesting chiefs to claim it on that island. The
messenger had been gone two days, and had probably reached his
destination, as the distance to be travelled was but little more than
a hundred miles, and the rival chiefs had everything in readiness to
bend their sails for Kaula, when Moikeha, as already stated, anchored
his fleet in the evening off Kapaa.
Early next morning, with his double canoe flying the standard of his
rank and otherwise becomingly dressed, Moikeha went ashore, where
he was cordially received by the chiefs of the district, and in due
time escorted to the sovereign mansion and presented to Puna. Without
referring to his family connections, he simply announced that he was a
chief from the distant land of Kahiki, and was traveling through the
Hawaiian group on a tour of observation and pleasure. He wore a maro
fringed with shells, a kihei or mantle of finely-woven and decorated
cloth, and on his head a lei-alii of brilliant feathers, while from
his neck was suspended by a cord of plaited hair a curious ornament
of mother-of-pearl set in ivory. He was a handsome representative of
savage manhood, and his bearing was dignified, correct and courtly.
During his audience with Puna, Moikeha met Hooipo--most likely by
accident, but he was so charmed by her bright eyes that he did not
leave the mansion until he found occasion to exchange a few pleasant
words with her. They seemed to be mutually pleased with each other, and
Moikeha accepted the invitation of the chief to consider himself his
guest until the next day, at the same time allowing him to send fresh
provisions to his people, whose canoes had been drawn up on the beach.
A brilliant entertainment of feasting, music and dancing in honor
of the distinguished stranger followed in the evening, during which
Moikeha was favored with the companionship of Hooipo, and learned of
the contest about to take place between the rival chiefs of Kauai to
determine to whom she should be given in marriage.
Hilarity and feasting were the order of the next day and evening,
for on the morning following the contesting chiefs were to start
for Kaula under the eye of Puna. Their well-equipped canoes were on
the beach, and their crews, drilled to work sail and oar together,
were in readiness.
Morning came, and with it a large concourse of people to witness the
departure of the chiefs. The canoes and their attending crews were
examined, and many wagers laid on the result of the race. Finally
the contesting chiefs made their appearance, followed shortly after
by Puna and the most of his household, including Hooipo, who was
conveyed to the beach in a manele borne on the shoulders of four
stout attendants. She was attired in an embroidered pau--a short skirt
of five thicknesses of thin kapa cloth reaching to the knees--and a
cape or short mantle trimmed with feathers. Her hair was braided in
a single strand at the back; her head and neck were adorned with leis
of flowers and feathers, and her limbs were ornamented with circlets
of shells and tinted seeds.
Everything being in readiness, the contending chiefs, eight in number,
appeared before the alii-nui, and, bowing low, proceeded in turn
to recite their kuauhaus, or genealogies, as they had been called
upon to do, to show in a formal manner that all their strains were
noble. As each concluded he again bowed, giving Hooipo a smile and
look of confidence, and stepped back to await the signal of departure.
The last of them had given his pedigree, the terms of the contest
had again been announced in form by a herald, and Puna was about
to order the simultaneous launching of the canoes, when Moikeha,
whose presence had not before been observed by the chiefs, suddenly
presented himself before the alii-nui, and, bowing first to him and
then courteously to the chiefs, said:
"Great chief, as this trial seems to be free to all of noble blood, I
accept the terms, and ask permission to present myself as a contestant
for the prize."
The chiefs exchanged glances of surprise, and a pleased expression
lighted up the face of Hooipo, who until that moment had manifested
but little interest in what was transpiring around her.
Puna hesitated a moment, and then graciously replied:
"Noble stranger, if your rank is level with the conditions, and the
chiefs now ready for departure urge no objection, my consent will
not be withheld."
A hurried consultation among the chiefs showed that some of them
objected; but as the stranger, with no knowledge of the coast and
apparently no canoe or crew in readiness, did not seem to be a
competitor to be feared, it was finally agreed that, should he be
able to establish his rank, which a few of them doubted, he might be
admitted to the contest.
This resolution having been communicated, Moikeha gracefully bowed
his thanks, and then began to recite his genealogy. Curious to learn
the strain of the courtly stranger, the chiefs pressed around him,
eagerly listening to every word. He began with Wakea, away back in the
past, when his ancestors were residents of other lands referred to in
Hawaiian story. Giving the record of thirteen generations, he brought
the connection down to Nanamaoa, the pioneer of the first migratory
influx to the Hawaiian group seven hundred years before. Thence,
generation by generation, naming father, mother and heir, he traced
down a line of sixteen successors to Maweke. Pausing a moment, while
a look of surprise and wonder was exchanged by the listening chiefs,
Moikeha continued:
"Maweke the husband,
"Naiolaukea the wife;
"Mulielealii the husband,
"Wehelani the wife;
"Moikeha the husband,
"Hooipo the wife."
Applause followed this announcement by the stranger that he was
the son of Mulielealii, the alii-nui of Oahu, and the jesting and
good-natured manner in which he concluded the kuauhau by predicting
his success in the coming contest, and marriage with Hooipo, made him
no enemies among the competing chiefs. Hooipo was now sure that she
could make a choice without the trouble and excitement of a race to
Kaula; but the canoes were ready, and all she could do was to hope
and pray that Moikeha would bring back the palaoa.
But what were Moikeha's preparations for the race? When asked by Puna,
he pointed to a small canoe with an outrigger drawn up on the beach,
and a single long-haired man of strange aspect standing motionless
beside it with a paddle in his hand. Puna shook his head doubtingly,
and Hooipo looked disappointed. Others who noted the stranger's slim
preparations for the race imagined that he was treating the contest
as a jest; but he announced himself in readiness, and the signal for
departure was given.
The chiefs sprang toward the beach, and in a few minutes had launched
their canoes and passed through the heavy surf, when with strong and
steady pulling the race began in earnest for the open sea. Moikeha
alone seemed to be in no haste. He took formal leave of Puna, and,
noting Hooipo's look of impatience, smilingly said to her as he
turned toward the beach: "I will bring back the palaoa!" The assurance
contented her. The other canoes were beyond the surf, but she believed
him and was happy.
Satisfying himself that the sail was ready for use and everything
required for the voyage aboard, Moikeha and his assistant shoved
their canoe into the water, and with a few vigorous strokes of their
paddles dashed through the surf. The passage was so adroitly made
as to attract the attention of the many who witnessed it from the
shore. For a few minutes the canoe remained almost motionless, except
as it was tossed from wave to wave. Then the sail was spread. This
movement was unaccountable to those on shore, for the little wind
stirring was directly from the west, to which point the canoe was
bearing for an offing to round the southern capes of the island. But
if the witnesses were surprised at the spreading of a sail under
such circumstances, they were little less than astounded when they
saw the sail fill with wind and the canoe suddenly speed out to sea
as if driven by a hurricane.
Moikeha's long-haired companion was Laamaomao, god of the winds, who
had accompanied him from Raiatea. Behind the sail sat the friendly
deity, from whose exhaustless ipu of imprisoned winds a gale was
sent forth which carried the canoe to Kaula before daylight the next
morning. Effecting a landing soon after sunrise, Puna's messenger was
found, and at once delivered to Moikeha the palaoa, which he had been
instructed to surrender to the chief first demanding it. Content in
the possession of the talisman, Moikeha and his companion remained
on the island for refreshment until past midday, and then started
on their return to Kauai, favored by the same winds that had borne
them to Kaula, but proceeding with less haste. Toward night the eight
other chiefs landed within a few hours of each other, and great was
their astonishment on learning that the palaoa had been delivered to
a chief claiming it early that morning.
"He must have had wings," said one of them.
"He was surely helped by the gods," suggested another, who had been
the first to land after Moikeha. "But for that the palaoa would have
been mine, as you all know. But who can struggle with the gods? Let
us not incur their anger by complaint."
As it was easy for the others to reconcile themselves to Moikeha's
success, good-humor was soon restored, and the next morning, in company
with the messenger, they all re-embarked for Kauai. On the evening
of the same day Moikeha landed at Kapaa, and hastened to place in the
hands of Puna the talisman which made him the husband of Hooipo. Now
assured of the rank of the victor, Puna was gratified at his success,
and Hooipo made no disguise of her joy. Tradition says she fell in
love with the handsome stranger on first beholding him; but be that
as it may, when he returned from Kaula with the palaoa she was frank
enough to confess that his success had made her happy.
In the course of a few days all of the defeated chiefs returned to
Kapaa, and Moikeha invited them to a feast, over which they forgot
their rivalry and renewed the pledges of friendship embraced in
the terms and made a condition of the contest. They sought by many
ingenious ways to draw from Moikeha the secret of his success; but he
failed to enlighten them, and they were compelled to content themselves
with the belief that he had been assisted by some supernatural power,
possibly by Apukohai, the great fish-god of Kauai, who sometimes
seized canoes and bore them onward with almost incredible velocity.
In due time Hooipo became the wife of Moikeha, who, on the death of
Puna, succeeded him as the alii-nui of Kauai, where he remained to
the end of his life. He was blessed with a number of sons, through
one of whom, it may be mentioned, the sovereignty of the island was
continued in the family after Moikeha was laid under the black kapa.