II.

In a large double canoe, painted red, and at its masthead flying the

pennon of an aha-alii, Iwikauikaua, with a score or more of attendants,

set sail from Kohala in quest of adventure. Passing Maui, he spent some

time in visiting the small island of Lanai, where he was entertained in

a princely manner by the leading chiefs. Proceeding thence to Molokai,

he remained a week or more in the neighborhood of Kalaupapa, and then

sailed for Oahu.

He landed at Waikiki, on that island, and was well received by

Kaihikapu, one of the three principal chiefs of Oahu. His father was

the noted Kakuhihewa, who had entertained Lono during his voluntary

exile, and who at his death, a short time before, had divided the

island among his three oldest sons, leaving the dignity of moi

to Kanekapu. Harmony existed among the brothers, and all of them

followed the example of their father in maintaining attractive petty

courts and imposing establishments. The moi retained possession of

the royal mansion at Kailua, which was two hundred and forty feet

in length and ninety in breadth, and adorned with all the taste and

skill of the period.

Kaihikapu had a princely mansion at Ewa, but his court was at Waikiki

at the time of the arrival of Iwikauikaua. The young chief, whose

rank was at once recognized, was provided with quarters for himself

and attendants near the court, and soon became a favorite with the

nobility. The part he had taken in the battles of Lono, together with

his miraculous escape at the temple of Puukohola, became the talk of

the court, and he was treated as a hero.

In the pleasure of the courts of Oahu, Iwikauikaua spent a number

of years on the island, and finally became the husband of Kauakahi,

daughter of Kaihikapu. It was not a love-match, at least so far as

Iwikauikaua was concerned, for after his marriage he squandered the

most of his time for some years in roaming from district to district

and giving little heed to the future. At length he began to crave a

more active life, and was about to seek it on some other island when

the noted war of the Kawelos, of Kauai, gave employment to his spear.

Kawelo had been driven from Kauai by his cousin, and, finding

refuge in Oahu, had been given lands in the Waianae Mountains by

Kaihikapu. Instead of settling there in peace, he began to construct

canoes and prepare for a return to Kauai with a force sufficient to

maintain himself on that island. Kaihikapu was finally induced to

assist him, and so substantially that he invaded Kauai, deposed and

killed his cousin, and assumed the moiship. Iwikauikaua took part in

the expedition, but became disgusted with the jealousies of the Kauai

chiefs and returned to Oahu at the close of the war, without attempting

to avail himself of the opportunities afforded by the rebellion.

His marriage with Kauakahi promised him no advancement. His hair

began to be tinged with gray, and the future presented to him no

sign of the fulfilment of the prophecy of his youth. He consulted

the kaulas, but they gave him no satisfaction. One of them told him,

however, that his fortunes lay to the windward, and he provisioned

a double canoe, and, with a competent crew and a few retainers, set

sail in that direction without taking leave of any one. He stopped

for a few days on Molokai, and a kaula there advised him to go to

Maui. He accordingly set sail for that island, where resided two

of his sisters, whom he had not seen for many years. One of them,

Kapukini, was the wife of Kauhiakama, the moi of Maui; and the other,

Pueopokii, of Kaaoao, a prominent chief of Kaupo.

He landed at Lahaina, and made himself known to Kapukini. Their

greeting was affectionate, and they had much to relate of their past

lives. She was the only wife of Kauhiakama, and he was astounded to

hear that the aged moi had started two days before with a hostile army

for Oahu. The object of the invasion was not clear, but Iwikauikaua

felt satisfied that it would end disastrously, and impatiently awaited

the result. The only son of Kapukini had reached his manhood, and

Iwikauikaua advised his sister to prepare for his installation as

moi, expressing the opinion that Kauhiakama would never return. His

surmises proved to be correct. Within ten days a mere handful of the

force with which the moi had embarked for Oahu returned, bringing

news of the defeat and death of Kauhiakama.

The moi had landed at Waikiki, where he was met and defeated by

the united chiefs of Oahu. He was slain during the battle, and his

body was taken to the heiau of Apuakehau, where it was treated with

unusual indignity--so unusual, in fact, that Kahekili, the moi of

Maui, many generations after remembered the act, and retaliated in

kind upon the chiefs captured by him in his conquest of Oahu.

Kauhiakama had always been a rash and visionary leader, and his

tragical end did not surprise Iwikauikaua. It was on his report that

his warlike father, Kamalalawalu, had invaded Hawaii, and met defeat

and death at the hands of Lono, and with equal thoughtlessness he

had thrown a small invading force into the most thickly populated

district of Oahu, and led it to slaughter.

But, whatever may have been the weaknesses of Kauhiakama, a lack of

courage was certainly not one of them, and the news of his death,

together with that of the indignity visited upon his remains, created

a wild excitement among the chiefs of Maui. His son was installed as

moi without opposition, and a general demand for revenge went up from

the whole island. Large quotas of warriors were offered from every

district, and the young moi was implored to baptize the beginning of

his reign with the best blood of Oahu.

But Iwikauikaua advised the excited chiefs to act with discretion. No

one more than himself felt like avenging the death of Kauhiakama, who

was the husband of his sister; "but," he said to them, "the chiefs of

Oahu are united, and a war upon one of them means a conflict with the

whole island. Their spears are as long and as many as ours, and their

knives are as sharp; therefore let not the chiefs of Maui be hasty."

Many of the chiefs agreed with Iwikauikaua that an invasion of Oahu

in revenge for the death of their moi would not be advisable, and the

newly-anointed king was of the same opinion; but others, especially

those who had lost friends or relatives in the late expedition,

clamored for war, and not a few of them intimated that the advice

of Iwikauikaua was inspired either by friendship for the Oahuans or

personal cowardice.

These insinuations reached the ear of Iwikauikaua, and the manner in

which he repelled them was bold and effective. Three hundred chiefs of

the higher grades had gathered to take part in the installation of the

new moi, and such of them as were entitled to a voice in the national

councils were assembled to discuss the project of war and such other

matters as they might be requested to consider. As a near relative of

the royal family, Iwikauikaua had been invited to participate in the

deliberations, but he had modestly refrained from urging his opinions,

and had thus far spoken only when directly appealed to. Several

remarks of a sneering character had been dropped within his hearing,

and finally a chief from Wailuku, glancing insultingly toward him,

declared that the chiefs of Maui were "not afraid to use their spears."

Iwikauikaua could no longer bear these taunts in silence. With a dark

scowl upon his handsome face, he rose to his feet and impetuously

replied:

"Nor am I afraid to use mine, either in defence of the moi of Maui or

in challenge to any chief here who presumes to doubt my courage! I

scorn to defend myself with words! Without these walls, with spear

and battle-axe, I am prepared to answer one and all!"

Several chiefs sprang to their feet, as if to accept the bold

challenge, and confusion for a time prevailed; but order was restored

when Mahia, the venerable chief of Kahakuloa, rose and, commanding

silence, said:

"Chiefs of Maui, hear my words and be calm. We have invited Iwikauikaua

to advise with us, and by insulting him we degrade ourselves. He is

high in rank and distinguished for his courage. He was the friend of

the great Lono, of Hawaii, and a leader in his battles. He is the

brother of Kapukini, and our respect is his due. Some of you have

spoken words which seem to hold his valor lightly, and he has answered,

as I would have answered had the complaint been mine, by inviting

you to test the courage you doubt with spear and battle-axe. No other

answer could have been made by a brave man, and we should respect the

nobility that prompted it. We should say to Iwikauikaua, whose body

is scarred with the teeth of many battles: 'We have spoken hastily;

let us now be friends!'"

The effects of the eloquent words of the old warrior were

magical. Those who had offended made prompt retraction, and looks

and expressions of courtesy and kindness came to Iwikauikaua from

all parts of the council. By reputation he was known to many of the

older chiefs, and when they recounted to the younger his chivalrous

services in the wars of Hawaii he was overwhelmed with manifestations

of respect and kindly feeling.

The demand for an invasion of Oahu with a large force steadily

abated with discussion and a better understanding of the danger and

uncertainty of the project, and was entirely abandoned with the sudden

appearance of a fleet of hostile canoes off the coast of Honuaula. It

was a strong predatory expedition from Hawaii. Several villages had

been plundered on the southern coast, and Wailuku was now threatened.

Lono, the warlike king of Hawaii, had been dead for some years,

and under the reign of Keakealanikane several of the more powerful

of the district chiefs had assumed an attitude of comparative

independence. The most noted of these were the I family, of Hilo,

and the Mahi chiefs, of Kohala. Each could muster some thousands of

warriors, and occasional plundering or retaliatory expeditions were

undertaken to the other islands without the knowledge or countenance

of the sovereign authority.

The fleet discovered off the coast of Honuaula, and reported by runners

to the moi, was from Kohala and under the command of one of the Mahi

chiefs in person. As the young moi was unused to war, Iwikauikaua

offered his services, and with fifty chiefs and two thousand warriors

crossed the mountains and drove the plunderers from the coast. As it

was surmised that other expeditions of a similar or more aggressive

character might follow, the chiefs found employment for some time

in repairing canoes, establishing signals, and placing their coast

settlements in better conditions of defence.

Returning to Lahaina, Iwikauikaua learned from a Hilo chief on a

visit to relatives in Kauaula that Keakealanikane, king of Hawaii,

had recently died, and that Kealiiokalani, his wife, could not

long survive a cancerous ailment of the stomach with which she was

afflicted. The mention of the name of that princess brought back a

flood of tender and romantic memories, and Iwikauikaua resolved to

revisit his native island. He was begged by the young moi to remain as

his mahana and chief counsellor, a position to which his rank entitled

him; but he seemed to hear the voice of the dying princess calling to

him from Hawaii, and with becoming state set sail at once for Hilo,

where the royal court had been temporarily established.

It was past midnight of the second day of his departure from Lahaina

when Iwikauikaua reached Hilo. He landed quietly, making himself known

to no one. He found the place still in mourning for the deceased moi,

and learned that Keakamahana, the elder of the two daughters and

only children of Kealiiokalani, had been formally installed as moi,

or queen, the day before, with the royal mother as chief adviser

or premier.

Early next morning Iwikauikaua, clad in a feather cape and other

insignia of rank, and accompanied by a number of attendants, proceeded

to the royal mansion. Being a chief of unquestioned rank, he was

admitted to the pahale, but, on applying for an audience with the queen

or her first counsellor, was told that the former was still in mourning

and could not be seen, and the latter was too ill to receive visitors;

but a proffer was made to carry any message he desired to either.

"Then take to Kealiiokalani the words that her cousin, Iwikauikaua,

is at her door," said the chief.

At the mention of his name the kahu in attendance, a venerable chief,

regarded the visitor for a moment with amazement. He had fought by

his side in the wars of Lono, and in his face recognized the dashing

young chief who a generation before had been saved by the gods from

sacrifice at Puukohola.

"Iwikauikaua, indeed!" exclaimed the kahu, with emotion. "I know you

well. Years ago our spears drank blood together, from the shores of

Kona to the high lands of Pololu!"

Iwikauikaua was pleased at the recognition, and, after exchanging a

few pleasant words with the old kahu, the latter conveyed his brief

message to Kealiiokalani. She was in her own apartment at the time,

reclining on a soft couch of kapa, and surrounded by a group of silent

and sad-eyed attendants. Near her sat Keakamahana, the fair young moi,

who was doing all that affection could suggest to soothe and strengthen

her suffering mother. Prayers had been said, offerings to the gods

had been made, and renowned kahunas had resorted to the most potent

herbs, charms and incantations known to them in behalf of the royal

sufferer. But nothing could stay the dreadful malady that was eating

away her life, and all hope of her recovery had been abandoned. The

cancerous gnawing was declared by the priests to be the work of an

evil spirit, which prayer and sacrifice could not dislodge.

The kahu delivered the message of Iwikauikaua with some hesitation,

for the condition of the patient had become more critical since the

death of her husband. But when she heard the name of the visitor,

and learned that he was without, her eyes assumed something of the

brightness of her girlhood, and she ordered him to be admitted at once.

As Iwikauikaua entered he was silently conducted to the couch of

Kealiiokalani. For a moment he gazed at her wan face; for a moment

she glanced at the gray hairs which the years had brought to him since

he said farewell to her in Kohala. He knelt beside the couch. He took

her hand and held it to his heart, and the silence that followed best

interpreted the thoughts of both.

Rising, and learning to his embarrassment that the young woman whom

he had scarcely noticed was Keakamahana, daughter of Kealiiokalani

and queen of Hawaii, Iwikauikaua knelt respectfully before her,

and gallantly kissed the hand with which she gave him welcome. A low

order was given to an attendant by the mother, and in a moment she

was alone with the queen and Iwikauikaua. Casting her eyes around and

observing no others present, she beckoned them closer, and in broken

sentences said:

"The black kapa will soon cover me. Listen, Iwikauikaua! Early in life

it was in our hearts to be the husband and wife of each other. It

was the fault of neither that we were denied that hope. It was not

my fault that you left Hawaii. It was not your fault that I grieved

when you went to other lands. But you have returned at last. The gods

have directed you back to Hawaii. They will give to me in death what

they refused to my youth. In Keakamahana I will be your wife!"

She paused for a moment, her listeners bending over her in silence,

and then continued:

"Take him as your husband, Keakamahana. He is the gift of your

mother. He is brave and noble, and you will need his counsel when I

am gone."

Overcome by these words of affection, the chief knelt beside the couch,

and the eyes of Keakamahana were filled with tears.

"Do you promise?" inquired the mother.

"I promise," replied the queen, giving her hand to the kneeling chief.

"I promise," repeated Iwikauikaua, as he clasped and kissed the

proffered pledge.

"I am content," returned the sufferer, as a smile of happiness lighted

up her face.

The attendants were recalled, wondering what had occurred, and

Iwikauikaua, almost bewildered, took his leave.

Tradition plainly recites the brief remainder of the career of this

distinguished chief. Kealiiokalani died a few days after the strange

betrothal just noted, and Iwikauikaua became the husband of Queen

Keakamahana, thus romantically fulfilling the aspiration and prophecy

of his youth.

Their daughter, Keakealani, succeeded her mother as queen of Hawaii,

and one of her husbands was the son of Iwikauikaua by the wife left

by him in Oahu.

With this adventurous and erratic chief originated, it is claimed,

the custom of burning kukui torches by daylight on state occasions,

especially in connection with the obsequies of persons of royal

lineage; and it was within the present generation that the exclusive

right to the ceremonial was contested by the two royal families

claiming the prerogative through descent from Iwikauikaua. Certain

customs, like chants and meles, are matters of inheritance, and remain

exclusively in the families with which they originate.