WHEN LONOIKAMAKAHIKI FIRST TOOK CHARGE OF THE GOVERNMENT.
After Kanaloakuaana had put Lonoikamakahiki through all the different
trials of skill in the various arts of warfare, Kanaloakuaana said to
Kaikilani: “The care of the government must be given over to
Lonoikamakahiki.” This was because Kanaloakuaana was satisfied that
Lonoikamakahiki was well able to take charge of all things pertaining
to the government. Because of this, Kanaloakuaana told Lonoikamakahiki
to fill the vacancy left by Keawenuiaumi, so Lonoikamakahiki assumed
control of the government. It was Lonoikamakahiki together with his
wife, however, that took charge of all the lands of Hawaii, and the two
were the head of the government.
After Lonoikamakahiki had ruled for some time no dissatisfaction over
his administration of the affairs of the government was shown; no wars
in the nature of rebellions arose, and this peaceful reign lasted for
some considerable time; neither was any family trouble seen. But
Kaikilani, on the other hand, was the one who fell into sin, for she
took Heakekoa, the son of Kalaulipali and Uli, as her paramour without
the knowledge of Lonoikamakahiki.
After a time Lonoikamakahiki formed a desire to visit Maui and to go as
far as Kauai; so he took his wife Kaikilani to accompany him on this
trip. When everything pertaining to the king’s journey was ready he
took his canoe men and his attendant, Loli. The chief desire that
actuated Lonoikamakahiki to make this journey was that he might show
his skill in his favorite profession of hoopapa. Because of this fact
he took with him his calabash of clothes known by the name of
Kuwalawala. In this calabash, besides his apparel, were several of the
things which were used by him in the profession of hoopapa. Besides
this calabash he took along with him his feather kahili, Eleeleualani.
[242] This was a very large kahili.
After everything was made ready the king and his companions set out and
went as far as Maui. They did not make a very lengthy stay in Maui and
the king’s visit was continued to Molokai. The journey was taken to the
Koolau side of the island and a stop was made at Kalaupapa. In making
the stop at this place Lonoikamakahiki did not contemplate that they
would remain very long, but because of the coming of a very severe
storm they were detained at this place for about four months. While the
royal party was sojourning at Kalaupapa the two whiled away most of
their time playing the game of konane. [243]
At the time when Lonoikamakahiki and his party left on their journey of
sightseeing, Heakekoa missed his lover Kaikilani so much that he was
unable to remain in Hawaii; therefore he followed Lonoikamakahiki and
his party. In following them up Heakekoa first called at Maui, and,
failing to find them, he continued on to Molokai and landed at Kalae,
where he was informed that the royal couple were staying at Kalaupapa.
Heakekoa remained at Kalae for several days with the hope of securing
someone who would carry the news of his arrival to Kaikilani, but he
was unable to secure a proper person.
One day, however, there arrived certain persons from Kalaupapa. When
the time came for the men to make their return to Kalaupapa, Heakekoa
inquired of them: “Are you people going back to Kalaupapa?” The men
assented. Again Heakekoa asked: “Are not the chiefs of Hawaii staying
there?” The men then told him positively, saying: “They are still
there.” Heakekoa then said: “When you get to the edge of the cliff, on
your return, just call out the following words: ‘Say, Kaikilani,
Chiefess of Puna, love has been sent you by the shady cliff, [244] of
Uli of Hea.’ If she does not make answer, then call out again these
words:
‘Say, Kaikilani, Chiefess of Puna,
Your lover sends you his love
Of the shady cliff that stands, of Uli of Heakekoa.’
Will you thus make the call for me?”
When these people heard these words of Heakekoa they assured him that
they would, and proceeded on their way home. When the men came to the
top of the Kalaupapa cliff, at a point called Kaomilani, they called
out in the words instructed them by Heakekoa. At the first call
Kaikilani heard it coming down from the cliff, and she then knew that
her lover had arrived. At this time, however, when the call was heard
by Kaikilani, she was engaged in a game of konane with her husband, but
in order to distract the attention of her husband as to the meaning of
the call from the cliff she made some informal remark, yet in
connection with the game of konane, saying: [245] “That is won; this is
on the run, the space is long, the top is falling, the blacks are
indistinct; the whites have won.”
After making the calls and believing that they had not been heard by
Kaikilani, the men repeated the call, saying:
“Say, Kaikilani, chiefess of Puna,
Your lover sends you his love
Of the shady cliff that stands, of Uli of Heakekoa.
For once Lonoikamakahiki knew that Heakekoa was the lover of Kaikilani,
and from the calls he also knew that the fellow had landed at some
place on Molokai.
After Lonoikamakahiki had made out the calls, he then asked of his
cousin, his wife: “Say! Your lover Heakekoa sends you his love, I
hear.” Kaikilani did not make answer to the question put by her
husband, however, but continued in her deception, by saying: “This here
is won; that is on the run, steady progress, the top is falling, the
blacks are indistinct; the whites have won.” At this, Lonoikamakahiki
took up the konane board and struck his wife on the head, inflicting
painful wounds, but not severe enough, however, to kill her.
Because of this, the anger of Lonoikamakahiki was aroused and his mind
was greatly troubled; he then made an oath that he would never again
live with Kaikilani. This oath, however, he maintained within himself,
not voicing it to any one. He then put her aside and refused to have
anything to do with her. Because of this Kaikilani returned to Hawaii
without meeting Heakekoa again, Kaikilani promising herself to have
nothing more to do with Heakekoa, knowing full well that if she did she
would in all likelihood be killed by Lonoikamakahiki, her husband;
therefore she made up her mind to renounce Heakekoa forever.
This beating inflicted by Lonoikamakahiki on his wife was in time
carried to the hearing of Kanaloakuaana, and the chiefs of Hawaii made
up their minds to revolt against Lonoikamakahiki. When Kaikilani
arrived on Hawaii, on her return from Molokai, she found that
Kanaloakuaana together with the chiefs of Hawaii had placed guards at
all the landing places of Hawaii. This was done by their orders, [246]
because they had heard that Kaikilani was almost killed by
Lonoikamakahiki.
On this return Kaikilani proceeded to Napoopoo and there found that all
the chiefs of Hawaii had taken everything for themselves and were in
open revolt against Lonoikamakahiki. Upon seeing this, Kaikilani’s love
for Lonoikamakahiki returned and she took pity on him, and was not in
sympathy with the wish of Kanaloakuaana and the other chiefs. Because
of this Kaikilani began to entertain a desire to go back and make a
search for Lonoikamakahiki to inform him of the open revolt of the
chiefs of Hawaii. On this return of Kaikilani, Lonoikamakahiki had in
the meantime continued on his journey and was on Oahu.