Kawelo

“ No one was more strong or more skilful than his wife’s father. Kawelo sent his wife to the other side of the island to ask her father to teach him to fight with the war-club. She went to her father and persuaded him to aid Kawelo. For many days they practised together, until Kawelo was mighty in handling both spear and club.
After this Kawelo learned the prayers and incantations and offerings upon which good fishing depended. Then he took the fisherman and went out in the ocean to do battle with a [180] great fish which had terrified the people of Oahu many years. ”

“ The grandparents took Kawelo and Kamalama inland and found a beautiful place among taro patches and cultivated fields for their home. It was said that when they came to the beach one young man went down into the water and carried the canoe inland. Kawelo called him and adopted him as one of the family. The boy’s name was Kalaumeke (A-kind-of-ti-leaf) . The boy said he was not as strong as he appeared to be, for he had the aid of many little long-whiskered people; his real power lay in spear-throwing and club-fighting. ”

“ If we whose bones are older cannot throw him, how much less are the chances of yourself, a mere youngster.” Kawelo, however, paid no heed to the remarks made by his brothers, but stood there facing the strong man. At this show of bravery the strong man said to Kawelo: “If I should call out, ‘Kahewahewa, it is raining’,7 then we begin.” Kawelo then replied in a mocking way: “Kanepuaa, he is biting, wait awhile, wait awhile. Don’t cut the land of Kahewahewa, it is raining.”8 While Kawelo was having his say, the strong man of Kakuhihewa was awarded the privilege of taking the first hold ”

“ E Kamalama e kuu pokii, e hoi.
In this chant of Kawelo’s, his three soldiers, Kamalama, Kaeleha and Kalaumeki, heard it, and they returned. Upon their arrival at the place where Kawelo and the others were standing, Kawelo asked them: “How fares the war?” Kamalama replied: “Kuahulu42 and his companion and a good many of their men are dead; what few are left are those that are climbing the hill, Nounou; and Kauahoa, our relative, is the greatest warrior that is left on the hill.” ”

“ O Kapinaonuianio, o Koinanaulu 1, o Koinanaulu 2.
“These are all the men that are left on the hill,” continued Aikanaka. “Not very many. All the men are dead.” After Aikanaka had told Kawelo of this, he then addressed his priests, fortune-tellers and astrologers: “I must go down and meet Kawelo.”64 Said Aikanaka to the priests: “I thought this land that Kawelo is battling for belonged to him, but [I see] it is not. It is my own; I am above, he is underneath.” The priests then said to Aikanaka: “How can you go and meet Kawelo, for you are a king and he is a servant. ”

“ Only the chiefs to whom the gods belonged could speak their names. When Kawelo uttered their names, the two men cried out, “Those are the men, and Kuka-lani-ehu is their god.” Kawelo was very angry at the desecration of the name of his family god in the mouths of the common men. He stuck his paddle deep into the sea, tearing the coral reef to pieces, but the great fish caught on the coral and Kawelo could not row to the men. They rushed their boat to the beach and escaped. Kawelo then took a part of the captured fish and offered it for sacrifice in the temple at Waianae. ”

“ I cannot be killed, for I am a runner.”
When Kawelo saw Kahakaloa approaching, he stood up and prepared for the conflict. Kahakaloa was also preparing himself and stood on the defensive. Kawelo then raised his club and tapped the forehead of Kahakaloa, and forcing the calabash down over his eyes; before Kahakaloa could uncover his eyes, Kawelo again raised his club Kuikaa and struck Kahakaloa, killing him. [52]
After the death of Kahakaloa, Kaehuikiawakea returned to the top of the hill to report to Aikanaka the death of Kahakaloa. ”

“ Kaeleha and some of Kauluiki’s companions were placed on one side of the war canoe, Kalaumeki with the remainder of Kauluiki’s companions were placed on the other side while Kamalama himself took up the central position. In the battle that followed these preparations, none of Kawelo’s men were killed; but Kauluiki and his companions were so afraid of the warriors of Kauai that they gave up fighting and returned to their canoe. When Kawelo saw them coming, he asked them: “How is the battle?” Kauluiki and his companions answered: “We are beaten. ”

“ At the close of this chant Kamalama answered: “You know that you love your wife; why didn’t you remain? I could have made the trip against Aikanaka by myself.” By these words of Kamalama, Kawelo thought that Kamalama must be angry with him, so he chanted these words: “How could I tell that it was going to hurt your feelings?”
Ma keia paha a Kawelo, pane aku o Kamalama: “Ua ike no ka oe he aloha wahine kou, e noho ia aku nei no e oe, owau no la ke holo e kaua me Aikanaka.” ”

“ Walaheeikio then refused to accept the offer made by Kawelo, saying: “It is not for you to present the warrior with a wife. We are going after you until we kill you; when you shall be offered by Aikanaka upon the altar for a sacrifice. Then the whole of Kauai shall be ours, and we will eat the cooked taro.” Kawelo then chanted as follows:
Hoole mai la o Walaheeikio ia Kawelo: “Aole paha nau e haawi mai ka wahine a ke koa; o oe no ka makou a make ae, hai no o Aikanaka ia oe i luna o ka lele, puni no o Kauai nei ia makou, ai no i kalo moa.” ”

“ When he died, the people worshipped him as a god. They said he had become a divine shark, watching over the seacoasts of his island. At last they thought it had become a stone god—one point the head and one the tail, one side red and the other black. His grandson, Kawelo-aikanaka, who became king of Kauai, was born the same day that brought Kawelo-lei-makua into the world. They were always known as Aikanaka and Kawelo. There was also born that same day Kauahoa, who became the giant of Kauai, and the personal enemy of Kawelo. ”

“ Kawelo said the wind was to blame, so Kauahoa, although very angry, could find no cause for fighting. Then the grandparents taught Kawelo to box and wrestle and handle the war spear. Thus the boys grew in stature and in enmity.
After a time the king of Kauai died and Aikanaka became king. The legends say the rats warned Kawelo, and he and his grandparents fled to the island of Oahu. The boat flew over [177] the sea like a malolo (flying-fish) , leaping over the waves at the strong stroke of Kawelo. The rats under their king were concealed in the canoe, and were carried over to the new home. ”

“ This child of yours is going to be a soldier; he is going to be a very powerful man and shall some day rule as king.” Because of these wonderful traits, the old people took Kawelo and attended to his bringing up themselves. It was after this that Kamalama, the younger brother of Kawelo was born.
O na makua o Malaiakalani, he mau mea akamai laua i ka haha a me ka nana i ka wa uuku o ke keiki, aole e nalo ia laua ke ano a me ka hana a ke keiki ke nui ae, ke koa a me ka ikaika, ke keiki ku i ka moku. ”

“ Nolaila, ala ae la oia a holoholo i o a i anei, e kakali ana o ke ao ae, a e manao ana no hoi i ke komo mai o Aikanaka a me Kaeleha, a me na mea a pau loa.
O ko Aikanaka ma wahi i moe ai, he loihi loa aku ia. Aia hoi, ua hoonoho o Aikanaka he kiai no Kawelo, a o ua kanaka ala, ua pili makamaka ia Kawelo. I ko Kawelo ala ana aku, ike mai la ia ia Kawelo, ua ola hou. Ninau mai la ia: “O oe no ia?” Ae mai la o Kawelo: “Ae, owau no.” Ninau aku la o Kawelo i ke kiai: “Auhea o Aikanaka ma?” I mai la ke kiai: “Ua hoi i kahi e moe ai.” Alaila, ninau hou aku la o Kawelo: “Aole nae paha e hoi hou mai.” ”

“ When Kamalama heard the instructions, he proceeded to Waimea, then on to Hanapepe and Wahiawa. When he reached Wahiawa, he saw a great number of people on the plain of Kalae gathering stones; men and women and children. While Kamalama was standing looking at the people, a man came up to him, so he asked: “What are the people doing over there on the plain?” The man replied: “They are gathering stones.” “Stones for what?” asked Kamalama. “For Kaeleha and Aikanaka to fight Kawelo.” Kamalama was thus made sure that the rumors heard by Kawelo were only too true. ”

“ A pau ka ia nei mele ana, nana pono mai la ua aikane nei a ike pono ia Kawelo e huli papu aku ana. Kuemi hope aku la keia, me ka manao paha e pakele. Pane mai na koa: “E kuemi hope ana ka hoi i ke aha? Kai no hoi o ka pii aku a make aku kena wahi kanaka hoonana a kauo ia mai.” Olelo aku ko lakou mea nui: “Aole kakou e pakele. E pau ana kakou i ka make. O Kawelo kela e moe mai la. Ehia auanei mea aloha, o kuu naau a kauhihi ia ae i ka laau; o oukou, he pepehi wale ia iho no, aohe hue ia o ko oukou naau.” ”

“ I keia wa e hanai ia nei o Kawelo, hanau o Aikanaka he keiki alii, a hanau no hoi o Kauahoa no Hanalei ia, akolu lakou ia wa hookahi i hanai ia ai.
Kawelo as a child was a very great eater; he could not satisfy his hunger on anything less than all the food of one umu to a meal. Kawelo ate so much that his grandparents began to get tired of keeping him in food, so at last they began to search for something to entice Kawelo away from the house and in that way get him to forget to eat. One day they went up to the woods and hewed out a canoe. ”

“ A fight follows in which the son-in-law knocks out the old man and proves his competence as a pupil. The Oahu king furnishes a canoe in which Kawelo sets out for Kauai with his wife, his brother, Kamalama, and other followers, of whom Kalaumeki and Kaeleha are chief. ”

“ Kawelo divided the districts of Kauai among his warriors. Kaeleha received the district in which Aikanaka was sheltered. Soon this adopted son of Kawelo met the daughter of Aikanaka and married her. After a while he wanted Aikanaka to again rule the island. He proposed rebellion and told Aikanaka that they could destroy Kawelo because he had never learned the art of fighting with stones. He only understood the use of the war-club and spear. They ordered the women and children to gather great piles of stones to hurl against Kawelo. ”

“ Ma keia hailukuia ana o Kawelo, he mea kupanaha loa ia ma ka noonoo ana iho, i ko Kawelo make ole i loko o keia kaua ana. Ua uuku loa kona wahi ola i koe, aole nui loa, a he wahi hanu uuku no hoi i koe i loko ona, aole nae he ike ia, nolaila, ua pakele oia i ka pepehi maoli ia e kona mau enemi. ”

“ A ike mai o Kawelo, ninau mai la oia: “He uwe aha hoi keia?” Hai aku keia: “He uwe make. Ei ae ka huakai la ke kii mai nei ia’u.” “Hoi ae hoi ha oe mahope e nee aku au mamua.” Hoi ae la ua kaikoeke nei mahope, neenee aku la o Kawelo a hiki imua o ka pali, ku ana ka huakai malalo pono o ka puu. A kahea no ke aikane a ia nei: “Hookuu ia mai ke alahaka i hiki aku makou.” Ui ae la keia i ke kaikoeke, “E! hookuu ia ae hoi ke alahaka.” He mea ole ia, ku ana ke alahaka ilalo. O ka hoomaka mai la no ia o ke aikane a ia nei e pii me kona mau koa. ”

“ His wife asked him: “What is the matter with you, Kawelo?” Kawelo replied: “I was ashamed for you,66 because they said I was a born servant.” Kanewahineikiaoha then said: “How strange of you! You must first consider whether you are a born servant. Had I not seen you, you would have been killed.” Kawelo then thought for a while, and chanted as follows:
A lohe o Kawelo i keia olelo a na kahuna, kaa aku la ia i ka pali, a ike o Kanewahineikiaoha i ke kaa ana o Kawelo i ka pali, hoolei aku la ia i kana pikoi, a paa [61] mai la o Kawelo. ”

“ E waiho kakou no laua nei, a e kii ae kakou no na makua o Kawelo i Kauai. Aia i na makua o Kawelo e noho ana me ka pilikia, holo mai la kekahi mau kanaka e kii mai ia Kawelo i Oahu nei. O ka laua i’a o ka holo ana mai, he mau wahi pikao popolo, a me na kauna uku. A hiki ma ka hale o Kamalama ma, ninau aku o Kamalama, “Heaha mai nei ka olua?” “I holo mai nei maua e kii ia Kawelo. O ka makuakane ona, ua kipaku ia e Aikanaka. Oia ko maua hiki ana mai nei.” ”

“ Kauahoa! Your older brother is in trouble. They have been placed in a dangerous position by your younger brother, Kawelo.” At that moment he awoke and said: “Return and I will follow.” He immediately bestirred himself and as his weapon, Kahihikolo, which was sacred to Kumakaohuohu, his superior younger brother, stood near at hand, the sacredness was ignored; he uprooted it, trunk and leaves, and went down and stood at the landing. His younger brother saw and recited his chant, as follows:
Pupuu a hoolei loa ku ana ua wahi elele nei i ke kahawai o Hanalei a kahea ana. ”

“ A pau ka paha ana a Kawelo, olelo, aku o Kamalama ia Kawelo: “Kulikuli! He kanaka lohe no ka hoi oe, kena hoi oe ia’u e hele i kela wahi makamaka ole. E hoi ana au e ai he pololi ko’u.” Kena aku la ia i ka laua aipuupuu ia Puikikaulehua, i ai, i ia, lawe mai la ia hookahi kanaha kualapaa, hookahi kanaha laulau puaa, ai iho la o Kamalama a maona, hiki mai la ko laua makuahunowai me ka wahine. ”

“ Nolaila, hoomoe ia iho la o Kawelo, uhi ia iho la a paa i ka lau maia. Ma keia moe ana o Kawelo, ua loaa ia ia ka oluolu a me ka maha no kona mau eha. A ua ikaika hou kona kino e like me mamua; nolaila, noonoo iho la ia me kona manao, ua hala kona wa make a me ka poino. Eia wale no kona manao ia wa, o ka pepehi aku i kona mau enemi a pau loa i ka make, oia no kana keiki, o Kaeleha, o Aikanaka.
HOW KAWELO CAME TO LIFE AGAIN.
KE OLA HOU ANA O KAWELO.
We will here see how Kawelo came to life again and how he overcame his enemies. ”

“ The other replied with fear: “The ladder will not be lowered for you. Only with the greatest strength can the top be inspected.” The man replied: “Whence, indeed, is that power of resistance of yours? I supposed you were stationed to care for the corpse, but lo! you two are placed to resist. What of it, anyhow? I am going back and report this action of yours to the king; I will explain that the corpse of Kawelo cannot be obtained, except only with force shall it be secured.” ”