THE DEPARTURE OF LONOIKAMAKAHIKI FOR MAUI TO VISIT KAMALALAWALU.
Subsequent to the slaughter of the chiefs of Hawaii by Lonoikamakahiki
he consulted his wife Kaikilani for the purpose of going to Maui on a
visit to Kamalalawalu. They decided, and so did all the chiefs, to
allow them to go, in consequence of some plans Lonoikamakahiki had in
view. On the day he was prepared to sail to Maui he selected a
sufficient number of men, including his strongest and best-known
warriors. He also selected his younger brother Pupuakea, well known as
the premier and general, to accompany the party. On this voyage of
Lonoikamakahiki he did not forget Hauna in his capacity as priest and
counselor.
The following is the tradition of Lonoikamakahiki concerning this
voyage:
On Lonoikamakahiki’s arrival at Maui, Kamalalawalu was residing at Hana
on the ahupuaa called Wananalua. When Lonoikamakahiki went ashore at
the canoe landing of Punahoa he was observed by Kamalalawalu,
Lonoikamakahiki and his retinue being sent for and taken to
Kamalalawalu’s royal residence, it being the first time he had cast
eyes on the king of Hawaii, although he had previously heard of him. It
was said that Kamalalawalu was an uncle of Lonoikamakahiki.
A few days thereafter, it being customary at the royal residences of
those times to drink awa, it came to pass that Kamalalawalu wanted the
pleasure of drinking awa with Lonoikamakahiki, so he said to
Lonoikamakahiki: “It is my pleasure that we drink awa.” In compliance
with the wish of the king of Maui the king of Hawaii in like manner
gave his assent.
Kamalalawalu said to Lonoikamakahiki: “Let us go surf riding and by the
time we return the awa will be ready.” They went. Before going,
however, they decided that they would have a chicken as an accompanying
dish to go with their awa, and gave directions to their younger
brothers to prepare the awa and the extra dish before they returned
from their surfing.
The side dish they desired to have with the awa they were to drink was
chicken. Before Lonoikamakahiki started to surf he spoke to Pupuakea
thus: “I’m going in surfing now with the king of Maui. You cook the
chicken in blood [291] and let it be ready when we return from
surfing.” After giving these directions to his younger brother, he
proceeded with Kamalalawalu to surf. As for Kamalalawalu, he also had
given his younger brother Makakuikalani the same instructions as
Lonoikamakahiki gave to Pupuakea. These instructions of the kings were
each given to their brothers separate, apart and distinct from each
other and not in the hearing of each other. Their majesties then went
surfing. Makakuikalani prepared the chicken and awa for Kamalalawalu.
The chicken cooked in blood and the awa masticated he awaited the
return of the king.
As for Pupuakea, however, he made no preparations as he was directed
to, for the reason he knew not how to prepare chicken nor how to
properly chew the awa, being unaccustomed to such things. It was a
surprise to Pupuakea himself that Lonoikamakahiki should have ordered
him to do so, knowing full well that he (Pupuakea) was not accustomed
to preparing chickens.
On the return of their majesties from surfing, Kamalalawalu was ready
for his meal. He inquired of Makakuikalani if it was ready, and he
answered: “It is; the chicken is cooked and the awa is masticated.” So
Kamalalawalu commanded: “Have the food served.” Preparations for the
meal were made, the awa being strained at the order given for
preparation. Lonoikamakahiki after having returned from surfing said to
Pupuakea: “Preparations are being made for Kamalalawalu’s food. Where
is my awa and chicken? Have you prepared them?” When Pupuakea was
spoken to he was engaged playing konane. Upon hearing these inquiries
of Lonoikamakahiki, Pupuakea replied: “No,” and said furthermore: “The
chicken is here somewhere, not killed, nor has the awa been chewed,
because you well know I have no knowledge of how to prepare the things
you directed me to do.”
Lonoikamakahiki became angered, picked up the konane board and struck
Pupuakea across the forehead making the blood flow. Because of this,
Pupuakea was angered. Instantly he reached for the charcoal and
firewood, started the fire, caught the chicken and choked it and tore
away one of its legs. After having it skinned he broiled it over a fire
at the same time reaching for the awa root. While the chicken was being
broiled the awa was being chewed; with three quids [292] of the awa the
legs of the chicken were cooked, the awa strained and the cooked
chicken legs placed on a platter. The awa cup was placed in front of
the king, and also all the other things according to the directions
given to Pupuakea. He said to the king: “The chicken and the awa are
ready; it only awaits you to eat and to drink of the same.” When
Lonoikamakahiki saw that the instructions he gave previous to surfing
had been carried out, he ate before Kamalalawalu drank his awa.
While Pupuakea was preparing the chicken, Kamalalawalu took particular
notice of the peculiar manner in which Pupuakea was doing it and rather
admired the manner in which it was being done.
After partaking of the awa and finishing their meal, the kings played
konane, and during the game Kamalalawalu said to Lonoikamakahiki: “Say,
I rather like your servant. Should you go home, let your servant remain
with me.” Lonoikamakahiki replied: “He is not a servant of mine, he is
my notable and younger brother. You can not have him.” Therefore
Kamalalawalu said: “If he is your notable and your general also, then I
say to you, it is a low shelf which the rats will get at.” [293]
Lonoikamakahiki retorted: “He is a small maika that can cover a long
course.”
After Lonoikamakahiki had finished talking, Kamalalawalu, pointing to
Makakuikalani, said: “There is my notable, my general, and my younger
brother also.”
Because Kamalalawalu ridiculed Lonoikamakahiki’s general, Pupuakea,
Lonoikamakahiki, referring to Kamalalawalu’s statement, “This my
notable,” remarked: “He is hollow; the swirl of the war club would
stagger him; a touch of the club would kill him.” In consequence of
this remark of Lonoikamakahiki, Kamalalawalu replied: “He is the
shrivelled banana of Kaea, which will not ripen in ten days.”
The passage of words between Lonoikamakahiki and Kamalalawalu were
treasured and stored up within themselves. After a considerable time
following the events narrated, and subsequent to the return of
Lonoikamakahiki from his tour, Kamalalawalu entertained the idea to
destroy by war the chiefs of Hawaii in consequence of reports having
been brought of Lonoikamakahiki’s strength and his success in war.
Kamalalawalu dispatched his own child Kauhiokalani, otherwise known as
Kauhiakama, for Hawaii instructing him thus: “You go to learn the
number of people there are on Hawaii, and on your return report to me.”
In accordance with the wish of Kamalalawalu, Kauhiokalani, otherwise
known as Kauhiakama, sailed for Hawaii. He arrived at Kohala at a
landing place for canoes known as Puakea. Having arrived there, the
canoes were put ashore and he began his itinerary along the coast of
Kohala until he reached Kawaihae. On his journey he found very few
people.
Kauhiakama thence travelled on from there to Kona Kapalilua, at the
boundary of Kau and Kona, not meeting many people. He continued on
until he made the circuit of Hawaii, without seeing a great many
people. At Kapaau, Kohala, on his homeward journey, there was
congregated a large concourse of people at the athletic grounds called
Hinakahua, it being customary for the people to gather together at this
place for athletic contests.
Kauhiakama remarked: “I thought Hawaii had more people, but not so; it
is only noted as being a large island, but as to the inhabitants there
are very few. If the people on the route of my travel were only as
numerically large as the people of this place, it would be something,
but I find it is not so.”
Kauhiakama, having observed the population of Kohala during this
circuit, returned to Maui. Upon arrival there, Kamalalawalu asked him:
“How is Hawaii?” Kauhiakama replied: “Kohala is depopulated; the people
are only at the beach, because during my circuit of Hawaii I did not
find a large number of them. I first arrived at Kohala, then traveled
along its shore until Kawaihae was reached and did not meet a solitary
man. At the place of my landing, however, I met a few, not exceeding
forty, perhaps, and at Kawaihae there were some places with few men. I
proceeded from Kawaihae through Kona to a part of Kau, all the way not
meeting many people. That is the most desolate place, composed of
nothing but clinkers. I continued my circuit from Kau to Puna, Hilo and
Hamakua. I do not recollect coming in contact with three four hundred
(1200) men. On my way to Kohala I found it to be the only locality
which contained some people. Kohala is depopulated; the people are only
at the beach.”
Kamalalawalu having heard this report from his son Kauhiakama ordered
Makakuikalani to make preparations for war. It has been mentioned in
this narrative that two men came from Hawaii who urged Kamalalawalu to
give battle to Hawaii, being Kauhipaewa and Kihapaewa, the sons of
Kumaikeau and another. According to the old historians it was
Lonoikamakahiki himself who sent these two men to urge Kamalalawalu to
go to war with Hawaii. And this is the story told concerning the two
men.
Because of Lonoikamakahiki’s intense desire to wage battle with
Kamalalawalu, the former sent Kauhipaewa and Kihapaewa to consult
Kamalalawalu concerning it. These two men arrived before Kamalalawalu
without the latter knowing that they were emissaries from
Lonoikamakahiki. On the occasion of the two men meeting Kamalalawalu,
they remarked: “Go and make war on Hawaii, as you can take it if you
give battle, because Lonoikamakahiki has no power, nor has his general
either.” Because of the remarks of these two men to Kamalalawalu, he
harbored the idea of going to Hawaii to wage war.
The following is said by some of the ancient historians to be the
correct narrative: Because of Lonoikamakahiki’s desire to test the
strength of their two generals, putting into effect the compliments
exchanged between them at the time of the awa drinking both Kihapea and
Kauhipea said to Kamalalawalu: “If you should sail for Hawaii to give
battle to Lonoikamakahiki, let us carry on the war from the top of
Puuoaoaka and Hokuula. Let us occupy these places first; we will then
possess the stones [294] on the heights and compel Lonoikamakahiki to
do his fighting from below; we, being above, would only have to roll
the rocks and thus will the people of Hawaii be defeated by those of
Maui.”
So said these men to Kamalalawalu, which was nothing more nor less than
deception, expressed so as to bring about Kamalalawalu’s destruction.
It was only by such means that Kamalalawalu’s high ambitions were
aroused to wage war against Lonoikamakahiki.