HOW LONOIKAMAKAHIKI SEARCHED INTO THE MOST USEFUL THINGS.
When Lonoikamakahiki became older and more matured in thought he
expressed a desire to know the things that would be of the most use to
him, especially in the games, so he tried each one of them, as well as
the different arts of warfare indulged in by his father, the things
that were told him by his retainers as the things most desired.
After Lonoikamakahiki had tried these different things he was convinced
that they were of no use, as he had said. The thrust and dodging spear,
the sling, and the care of the god, however, were of value. He
therefore made a visit around the island of Hawaii accompanied by his
parents and retainers.
Hauna and his younger brother Loli, the personal attendants or
retainers of Lonoikamakahiki, were prophets; they were men who paid
attention strictly to the laws of the gods, and it was said that they
were men who possessed supernatural powers, and that they were able to
perform many miracles in the name of the god of Keawenuiaumi, and also
in the name of their own god.
In this circuit of the island made by Lonoikamakahiki and his parents,
upon their arrival at Hilo they made their abode at Kanokapa, a place
adjoining the mouth of the Wailuku river, where lived a man by the name
of Kawaamaukele, a great priest and counselor. He was a very old man,
his head was wholly gray.
When Lonoikamakahiki saw the old man he was greatly surprised, because
this man was the only man that differed from the rest of the men that
came in the presence of Keawenuiaumi; his hair was so long that it
reached below his waist, a thing common with the high priests, however.
When Lonoikamakahiki, who was sitting with his attendants, had looked
at the old man for some time he asked: “Is that old man with the long
hair a god?” The attendants replied: “He is not a god; he is a human
being, but not of the ordinary kind; he is a counselor. He is also the
high priest, higher than all the others.” Again Lonoikamakahiki asked:
“What is the old man good for?” The attendants replied: “The man who is
a counselor is a very great man in the court of the king; he must be a
man who is skilful in language, and whatever advice he gives the king,
the king will take heed. He can predict the coming of prosperity to the
land and the people. That man can tell whether a common person will
become rich or poor, or the chief who will become wealthy or not.”
When Lonoikamakahiki heard these remarks from one of his retainers he
was greatly impressed that such a thing could be possible, that is,
that the man could tell whether a chief will become rich or poor. He
therefore asked of his attendants: “And will that old man be able to
recognize me?” The attendants: “Yes, he will not overlook you [239] and
also your doings in the future.” Lonoikamakahiki again asked them: “Is
there any restriction placed on that man, that is, something that will
prevent young people from addressing him? And are the grown up people
the only ones that are allowed to speak to him?” The attendants
replied: “You are indeed privileged to address that old man. Counselors
and priests are retained and cared for to be used by the chiefs.”
Because of this Lonoikamakahiki sent one of his attendants to go and
bring the aged counselor, Kawaamaukele. When he came in the presence of
Keawenuiaumi and Lonoikamakahiki, Lonoikamakahiki spoke up saying: “You
have been requested to come here because I have been told that you are
an old man who is learned in the things of the future and can tell
whether a chief will become rich or poor; therefore I want you to make
an examination of me and tell me what I am to be in the future.”
Kawaamaukele then replied: “You are going to be a wealthy chief at
times, but when you reach maturity then you will become poor, in that
you will be without followers; but you are going to be a brave chief.”
Lonoikamakahiki then again asked him: “What profession shall I take up
in order that I may become wealthy? If you know what I can take up that
will be profitable as a profession, then we will take it up and you
instruct me in its detail.” The priest paused for a while, thinking of
what Lonoikamakahiki had asked, and then replied: “The professions that
will make you famous all over the islands are that of a counselor and
hoopapa. [240] If you can be an expert in this profession of hoopapa,
then you will become wealthy.” Lonoikamakahiki took to heart every word
spoken by the high priest.
Sometime after this the profession of hoopapa was taken up by
Lonoikamakahiki and he was educated into the different things of the
profession pertaining to that portion relating to language, and after
he had mastered it he in later years did become famous all over the
islands. This made the third thing that Lonoikamakahiki became
proficient in up to the time of his death, and he caused no end of
trouble for certain chiefs.
After completing the study of hoopapa in Hilo he returned with his
parents to Napoopoo, where they took up their residence and he
immediately practiced his profession on his playmates, and in this
manner he made practical use of it. In this way the profession of
hoopapa became a favorite thing with him, making use of it day after
day. After a time, however, Lonoikamakahiki began to ensnare his
playmates by getting into argument with them in order to test his
profession of wrangling. All the crowds of children in Kealakekua were
taken up by Lonoikamakahiki and defeated. In thus making practical
tests of his vocation Lonoikamakahiki, although making great headway,
was at the same time unaware of his advance in his profession; but the
person who had charge of his education was well aware of his skill in
argument.
When Lonoikamakahiki grew to the age of maturity he took unto himself
his cousin Kaikilani to be his wife. During the early part of their
married life they lived in peace and happiness, and nothing occurred
between them to cause any dissatisfaction. During all the time that
they lived as man and wife they did not have issue; but Kaikilani had
three children with Kanaloakuaana, an uncle of Kaikilani’s. When
Kanaloakuaana took Kaikilani to be his wife their issue was Kalanioumi
and Kealiiokalani, who were girls, and Keakealani, a boy.
Before Keawenuiaumi died he requested Lonoikamakahiki to take the head
of the government, but Lonoikamakahiki did not think it proper to do
so. What Lonoikamakahiki told his father was, that he did not wish to
take charge of the affairs of state at that time, but to defer the time
until he was able to master the arts of warfare, when he could become
expert therein; then he would take charge. Because of this,
Keawenuiaumi left the whole island of Hawaii in the care of Kaikilani.
[241] After the death of Keawenuiaumi, Kaikilani took charge of the
government. She was the first chiefess who became the ruler of the
land.
After Kaikilani had assumed the care of the government, Lonoikamakahiki
made a circuit of the island of Hawaii making public competitions in
all the different arts of warfare mastered by him, in which he was
always victorious. Word of these accomplishments of Lonoikamakahiki was
in time carried to the hearing of Kanaloakuaana. When Lonoikamakahiki
arrived home after making this circuit, he competed in boxing against
Kanaloakuaana, for he, too, was skilful in all the arts of warfare.
Kanaloakuaana did not demand this competition for any other purpose
than to test for himself how proficient Lonoikamakahiki was, therefore
they tried at boxing and Kanaloakuaana found that he was skilful.
Kanaloakuaana then took up spear throwing as the next thing. At this
Lonoikamakahiki said: “I have not studied the art of spear throwing;
but what I have mastered is the art of dodging the spear.”
Kanaloakuaana therefore took him at his word and did the throwing while
Lonoikamakahiki did the dodging. In this trial Kanaloakuaana was
satisfied that Lonoikamakahiki was indeed master of this art. The
dodging of two spears at once was next taken up and again he proved
himself to be proficient.
When Kanaloakuaana saw that Lonoikamakahiki was very skilful in dodging
this number of spears they tried the dodging of four spears thrown at
once; but these were as nothing to Lonoikamakahiki. This trial was
continued until they reached ten spears. When this number of spears was
reached Kanaloakuaana was certain that Lonoikamakahiki was master of
more than ten spears, so he concluded to make further trials, the
dodging of any number of spears at once.
In order to make this further trial Kanaloakuaana took Lonoikamakahiki
to Kailua, to the sandy beach at Kaiakekua. When they came to the
place, Kanaloakuaana said to Lonoikamakahiki: “I want to be positive of
your great skill, hence I have brought you here for that test and to
satisfy myself that you are indeed a master. We have tested you from
one to ten spears, and I am sure you are skilful in the dodging of that
number. There is, however, one more trial—the dodging of any number of
spears. If you are proficient in this, then you are indeed expert.”
After Kanaloakuaana had spoken the above words, the people who were to
throw the spears arose in front and on both sides of Lonoikamakahiki,
leaving his back free. There were about thirty spearmen to throw at the
same time. After the men were ready and the spears thrown it was seen
that Lonoikamakahiki was not hit by a single one of them. Kanaloakuaana
continued the test from thirty spears until the number had reached two
times forty spears; still Lonoikamakahiki was not hit. The only time
that Lonoikamakahiki was pricked was by himself with his own spear. The
trials in the different arts were carried out in the most severe way
until all the different arts were gone through.