BATTLES OF LONOIKAMAKAHIKI.
Early in the morning after the battle of Lonoikamakahiki at Kaheawai,
he was observed by the rebels proceeding along the lava bed of Kaniku.
The rebels after returning to camp reported to their general,
Kanaloapulehu, saying: “Lonoikamakahiki and Pupuakea are approaching,
some men have been slain, and we (the rebels) have been routed.”
Kanaloapulehu commanded Kanaloakuakawaiea, the chief of Hilo: “Let the
battle be at Kaunooa where there is plenty of sand, and let it be
fought there, so that when Lonoikamakahiki reaches the spot we would be
in possession of the sand, so that whilst rubbing their eyes the rocks
will fly and victory will be ours.”
According to the instructions of Kanaloapulehu to Kanaloakuakawaiea,
the men were placed in position at Kaunooa. This is a place midway
between Puako and Kawaihae. At the noon hour Lonoikamakahiki came in
contact with the rebels and the battle commenced in earnest and he was
victorious over them, having repulsed Kanaloapulehu and his followers
just as the shades of evening were falling.
While Kanaloapulehu and his followers were fleeing they met the Kohala
and the Hamakua rebels at a place called Nakikiaianihau. Kanaloapulehu
commanded them, saying: “Let us go back and encamp at Haleokapuni, and
let some of us go on to Puukohola, and when Lonoikamakahiki is seen
approaching Nakikiaianihau, then we will occupy Puukohola so we can
shower rocks from above and Lonoikamakahiki’s battle will be a defeat.”
All the chiefs observed the commands of the general and encamped at
Haleokapuni immediately below the temple of Puukohola [286] and
Mailekini at Kawaihae. Lonoikamakahiki, however, did not manoeuver as
was anticipated by the rebels.
After Lonoikamakahiki became victorious at the battle of Kaunooa he
consulted his priests (kahunas) as to what steps best to take in order
to lead to victory. The priests directed him to proceed by way of Pili
until they came to Puupa, “and there a big battle should be fought,
because thus far we have only fought against the Konas, and know
nothing about Hilo and Puna, nor of Hamakua. Pay no heed to Kohala, it
is a small district; let us fight her last. Proceed against the
triplets, Puna, Hilo and Hamakua.”
Lonoikamakahiki followed the directions of his priests. [287]
Proceeding upwards from Kaunooa and about midway of the plains at about
midnight they could see the fires of the rebels at Puupa.
Lonoikamakahiki asked his priests: “What is that fire?” The priests
answered: “A battle. It is the fires of the traitors of the land.” He
asked again: “What of us?” The kahunas answered: “Send along forty men
with torches in their hands, each man to carry four torches to burn, so
as to deceive and to give the rebels the impression that there are four
forty men, allowing them to proceed directly and when immediately
outside of Puupa permit them to light their torches so we may be able
to locate the whereabouts of the enemy and learn where they are
encamped, the battle to begin at once, we to follow them from the rear
and the forty from the opposite direction, and the enemy will be
routed.”
Receiving the instructions from the priests, Lonoikamakahiki sent out
forty men with Pupuakea, who made forty-one. They followed the
instructions of the priests, each man carrying four torches, proceeding
along the direction indicated by the priests. They travelled along to
the outskirts of the camp of the rebels, lighted their four forty
torches and set up a tremendous shouting, “Onto the traitors of the
land! Onto the traitors of the land!” and such like.
The rebels saw the burning torches and heard the loud yells. After
first counting the number of torches and discovering there were only
four forties the rebels gave chase. While the rebels were absent
Lonoikamakahiki and his men arrived, and in the fight with Pupuakea’s
men, who gained by repulsing the rebels, Lonoikamakahiki and his army
stood off ready to receive them. The battle waxed fierce and hard until
the two divisions of Lonoikamakahiki and Pupuakea came together, when
there was great slaughter of the rebels. Some escaping, ran upwards to
Ouli at Waimea that night and were there slain by their own men being
under the impression that they were Lonoikamakahiki’s men running away.
Thereby the remaining rebels who escaped from the battle of Puupa were
also killed. It is for this reason that this fight of Lonoikamakahiki’s
was called Puupa, and was the third of his battles.
On the day following the night of battle at Puupa, rumors began to
spread everywhere that Lonoikamakahiki was at Puupa. Those who were
encamped at Haleokapuni in Kawaihae, in accordance with a previous
understanding had by them, would not ascend Puukohola unless a man on
the side of Lonoikamakahiki should be slain; then only would Puukohola
be scaled for human sacrifices. For that reason the rebels rested with
high hopes, based on their former understanding and anticipations of
victory, because Kanaloapulehu and Kanaloakuakawaiea were celebrated
for their great prowess.
On the night following Lonoikamakahiki arrived at Kawaihae with his
force of men, and Pupuakea’s force came by way of Nakikiaianihau, and
revealed themselves. Kanaloapulehu, seeing the force of Pupuakea, sent
out four hundred men to give him battle. At the same time that the men
were on the way to intercept Pupuakea, Lonoikamakahiki had taken
possession of Puukohola by a strategic move made during the night and
was occupying the top of it. Immediately the battle commenced, and
Kanaloapulehu was afterwards made prisoner by Lonoikamakahiki’s
warriors, and Kanaloakuakawaiea was repulsed with what was remaining of
the rebels, Lonoikamakahiki being the victor that night, recording the
fourth night battle won by him.
This battle of Lonoikamakahiki at Puukohola was named the Kawaluna,
because of the night strategy successfully executed by him on that
occasion. Kanaloapulehu, having been made prisoner, was killed and laid
upon the altar (lele). So died the general of the rebels.