THE SAILING OF LONOIKAMAKAHIKI TO OAHU.—ARRIVAL OF
OHAIKAWILIULA.—LONOIKAMAKAHIKI’S CONTEST WITH KAKUHIHEWA.
After Kaikilani’s return to Hawaii from Molokai, and the inclement
weather had ceased, making the ocean fit for traveling, then
Lonoikamakahiki set sail from Kalaupapa for Oahu, landing at Kailua in
Koolaupoko. Upon the arrival of Lonoikamakahiki he found that
Kakuhihewa was living at Kailua, residing at his palace.
When Lonoikamakahiki was approaching Kailua, Lanahuimihaku and his
companion recognized the canoe of Keawenuiaumi, so they said to
Kakuhihewa: “It is the king of Hawaii, Lonoikamakahiki.” As Kakuhihewa
and the others had heard that Lonoikamakahiki was a man well versed in
the arts of hoopapa, they therefore made preparations and awaited for
the arrival of Lonoikamakahiki with everything ready for a contest.
Upon the arrival of Lonoikamakahiki, and the double canoe was hauled
ashore, the king and the baggage were taken up and carried to the
palace of Kakuhihewa.
On the next day Ohaikawiliula arrived. She was a chiefess from Kauai,
and because of the great cunning and learning displayed by
Lonoikamakahiki he won Ohaikawiliula and was allowed the honor of
entertaining her that night, thereby giving him further subjects with
which to carry on in the game of hoopapa. After having won
Ohaikawiliula for the one night, without ever having an idea of
committing any sin with the chiefess from Kauai, only wishing to
procure further subjects for his contest with Kakuhihewa, they removed
themselves to the end of the house set apart for the use of
Lonoikamakahiki. After they had talked of various matters
Lonoikamakahiki asked of the chiefess: “When you set sail from Kauai,
were you in possession of any new chant having its origin in Kauai?”
Ohaikawiliula answered: “There is a chant, but it is one relating to
myself.” [247] Lonoikamakahiki again asked: “Is it a new chant?”
Ohaikawiliula again replied: “Yes, it is a very late one. It has not
become known in the country districts. It was chanted only in the royal
court up to the time of my departure.” Lonoikamakahiki again asked her:
“What is the title of the chant?” Ohaikawiliula replied: “The Mirage of
Mana.” After this conversation between the two, Lonoikamakahiki began
the study of the chant until dawn, by which time he had committed it to
memory.
At daylight the next day Ohaikawiliula made preparation to set sail for
Hawaii, where she was going to meet her future husband, Manuahi. While
this preparation was going on, and the double canoe was being hauled
into the sea (the chiefess had not boarded it, however), Lanahuimihaku
and his companion said to Kakuhihewa: “You had better run out and ask
the chiefess of Kauai for a new chant. It is possible that she knows a
late chant from Kauai, then we will study it, else it will be first
acquired by the king of Hawaii, Lonoikamakahiki. Ohaikawiliula will
surely give her permission that it be used in honor of your name, for
Lonoikamakahiki is a chief without any chant dedicated to his name.”
Because of these words, spoken by Lanahuimihaku and his companion,
Kakuhihewa and his servants went up to where the double canoe was
moored and Kakuhihewa reached out and held the chiefess, Ohaikawiliula
by the arm, then asked her: “Before setting sail from Kauai, did you
not hear of a new chant belonging to Kauai?” Ohaikawiliula replied: “I
have a chant.” Kakuhihewa again asked: “Is it a very late one, not
heard in the country districts?” Ohaikawiliula replied: “It has not
been heard in the country districts; it was used only at the royal
court up to the time of my departure. It is one used in honor of my
name.” Kakuhihewa again asked: “What is the title of the chant?” “It is
‘The Mirage of Mana,’” replied Ohaikawiliula.
Kakuhihewa then proceeded to master the chant by giving each of his
servants a line to commit to memory. After this was done, Ohaikawiliula
proceeded on her way to Hawaii, while Kakuhihewa and his servants
returned to the house, where the chant was connected line by line, as
committed to memory [248] by the servants, until it was mastered in
whole just as given them by Ohaikawiliula.
When Kakuhihewa was being taught the chant by Ohaikawiliula, it was
very considerate of her not to have informed him that she had already
taught the same to Lonoikamakahiki. She did not even say a word about
the matter; probably she had forgotten all about it. If she had told
Kakuhihewa of teaching Lonoikamakahiki the chant it would not have been
taken for a subject in the game of hoopapa that followed.
After Kakuhihewa had committed the chant to memory he and his favorites
went out surf riding. Lonoikamakahiki also accompanied the king of Oahu
in this outing. When it became time for Kakuhihewa to cease surfing he
returned to the house with his companions. Just as soon as they reached
the house Lanahuimihaku and his companion said to Kakuhihewa: “Say,
Kakuhihewa, when the king of Hawaii finishes riding the surf and should
send for his loin cloth and kapa, then you refuse the taking of those
things, and tell him that he shall not have the loin cloth and kapa
unless he is able to recite the chant that we have just learned this
morning.” Kakuhihewa then saw that the proposition spoken by
Lanahuimihaku and his companion was a good one, so he carried out the
advice given him by the two men.
Lanahuimihaku and his companion were great favorites in the court of
Lonoikamakahiki prior to their coming to Oahu, and they were recognized
as the most important men in the presence of the king. They were well
treated and accorded the highest position over all the people when
Lonoikamakahiki took charge of the affairs of the government. But there
came a time when the king ceased thinking so very much of them; that
they were no longer his favorites. Because of this neglect they left
Lonoikamakahiki and came and lived with Kakuhihewa. It was these two
men that caused great trouble for Kakuhihewa and his people.
When Lonoikamakahiki returned from having his bath and stood outside of
Kakuhihewa’s palace, he said to his attendant, Loli: “You go in and
bring out my loin cloth and my cloak.” Because of this order of the
king Loli proceeded to get these things, they being in
Lonoikamakahiki’s calabash, Kawalawala, which was in the palace, in the
end of the house set apart for the use of the king.
When Loli came into the house he took the calabash where the things
were kept and proceeded to open it. When Kakuhihewa saw Loli uncovering
the calabash he said to one of his own retainers: “You go and tell the
servant of Lonoikamakahiki not to take the loin cloth until he can
chant the mele in honor of the king’s name.” Because of this order from
Kakuhihewa the retainer went to meet Loli and said to him: “What are
you doing, uncovering the calabash of your ward?” Loli replied: “I am
uncovering it for the loin cloth and kapa of the king.” Kakuhihewa’s
retainer then said: “You must go back without it. You cannot have the
loin cloth until the chant in honor of the king’s name is recited.”
Loli then returned and Lonoikamakahiki asked of him: “Where is the loin
cloth?” Loli replied: “The loin cloth cannot be had. Kakuhihewa has
kept me from taking it. It is only when the chant in honor of
Kakuhihewa is recited that the loin cloth can be given up.”
Lonoikamakahiki then said: “You go back and get my loin cloth and bring
it here, and if they should ask you about the chant, then ask them the
title of the king’s chant.”
Loli then returned into the house and again uncovered the calabash. The
retainer of Kakuhihewa again asked: “What are you doing with the
calabash?” Loli replied: “I have come for the king’s loin cloth and
kapa.” Kakuhihewa then spoke up: “You are very stubborn. Have you not
heard that you have been ordered that only when the chant in my honor
can be recited can you get the loin cloth and kapa?” Loli then made
reply: “That is just what I have told my king, but he ordered me to
return here and ask for the title of your chant.” Kakuhihewa then said:
“The title of the chant in honor of my name is ‘The Mirage of Mana.’”
Loli was again forced to return without the loin cloth. Upon coming to
Lonoikamakahiki he was asked: “What is the title of the chant in honor
of the name of the king of Oahu?” The retainer Loli then told him: “He
said it was ‘The Mirage of Mana.’” Lonoikamakahiki then said: “You go
back and bring my loin cloth. If they should again ask you, you tell
them that I have said, ‘The Mirage of Mana’ is the chant in honor of
the name of Lonoikamakahiki. You repeat this to them.”
At the close of their conversation, and this was the last thing said on
the subject, Loli then went back into the house, the palace of
Kakuhihewa, Kamoa by name. Again Loli took up the calabash and began to
uncover it for the loin cloth and kapa of his king. At this Kakuhihewa
again asked: “Say, Loli, why are you again uncovering the calabash
belonging to your ward?” Loli made reply: “It is for the king’s loin
cloth.” Kakuhihewa said: “Have you not heard that you cannot get the
loin cloth until the chant in my honor is recited?” Loli replied: “I
have told him that, but he replied by asking, ‘What is the title of the
chant of Kakuhihewa?’ I replied: ‘The Mirage of Mana.’ He made reply:
‘Is it “The Mirage of Mana,” the chant in honor of the name of
Lonoikamakahiki?’ This is the reply made by my king, and that is all.”
Because of this reply made by Loli, Kakuhihewa asked of Lanahuimihaku
and his companion: “Is this chant really in honor of the name of the
king of Hawaii?” Lanahuimihaku and his companion replied: “It is a lie;
he has no chant in honor of his name like this one. He is a chief
without a chant. You must not be afraid; make a wager with him.”