 Chapter 10 of the Legends and Myths of Hawaii. This is a LibriVox recording, or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Legends and Myths of Hawaii by King David Kalakaua. Chapter 10 The Iron Knife. Characters Kala Unuio Hua, King of Hawaii. Kamaluo Hua, King of Maui. Hua Pau Leilei. Ali Nui, of Oahu. Kahou Kuo Hua, King of Molokai. Kukona, King of Kauai. Kahika, Queen of Hawaii. Kuaewa, son of the King of Hawaii. Kapapa, daughter of the King of Hawaii. Wa'ahia, a renowned prophetess. Kualu, adopted son of Wa'ahia. Wakalana, an influential chief of Maui. Kaluiki, a Manu. Hakowa, and Ika, male shipwrecked foreigners. Nelaike, and Malaya, female shipwrecked foreigners. Mano Kala Nipo, son of the King of Kauai. The Iron Knife, a legend of the First War for the conquest of the group. Part 1 Two or three attempts to consolidate under one general government the several islands of the Hawaiian group were made by ambitious and warlike chiefs, previous to the final accomplishment of the project at the close of the last century, by Kamehameha the First. But all these early schemes of conquest and aggrandisement proved unsuccessful, and were especially unfortunate in affording excuses for retaliatory raids and invasions, sometimes extending with more or less persistency and bitterness to generations after. The most disastrous of these ambitious ventures was the First, and connected with it were a number of strange and dramatic incidents, giving to the story of the enterprise something more than a historic interest. It occurred in about AD 1260, and the bold warrior who attempted it was Kala Unu Iohua, King of the Island of Hawaii. He was the grandson of Kalapana, who reconquered the kingdom from Kamei-Yoli, the Yuzerpa, as related in the story of the Royal Hunchback. At that time Kamalu Ohua, the seventh in dissent from Pao Makua, was the Moe of Maui, or rather of the western and greater part of the island. Huapo Leilei, the eighth in line from Mauiki, was the Alii Nui of Oahu, his possessions embracing the districts of Iwa, Wa'inae, and Waialua, while the Kulao and Kona divisions were ruled respectively by Moku Aaloe and Kahu'oi. The Moe of Molokai was Kaho Kuohua, the fourth in dissent in the old Nana'ula line, from Kiyolo Iwa, the brother of Karupipi, the abductor of Hina and desperate defender of the fortress of Harupu, as told in the legend of Hina, the Hawaiian Helen. Kukona was the sovereign of Kauai, he was the great grandson of Ahukini A'la, one of the three sons of the three wives of La Mai Kahiki, as mentioned in the story of the triple marriage of La Mai Kahiki. The contemporary rulers of the several islands are thus referred to for the reason that they all appear as prominent actors in the several legends from which have been gathered the historic features of this story about to be related, and also for the purpose of keeping partially in view the conspicuous and succeeding representatives of the sovereign families of the group. Kala'unu Iohua, or as he will be called here after, Kala'unu'i, inherited something of the military spirit of his warlike grandfather, and is referred to by tradition as an ambitious and aggressive sovereign, courageous in enterprise but lacking in judgement and discretion. This estimate of his character is abundantly sustained by the record of his acts. Waipio have been made the focus of sovereign authority by Kahai Moelia, the royal father of Kala'unu'i, and continued to be the most attractive and consequential point in the kingdom. The royal grounds and edifices have been enlarged and improved from time to time, until barbaric taste and skill seemed to be able to add nothing more to their grandeur or beauty. Not far from the royal mansion was the great Hayao of Paka'alani, partially built by Kala'pana and completed by his successor. Its taboos were the most sacred on Hawaii, and a descendant of Pao, officiated there as High Priest. It was connected with the palace enclosure by a sacred stone pavement, which it was death for any but royal and privileged feat to touch, and on its walls were over a hundred gods. Kala'unu'i was proud of his ancestry, which carried back his lineage both to Pili and Marwaki, and united in his veins the foremost blood of the pioneers of the 5th and 11th centuries. He had two children, a son named Kua'iwa, and a daughter, Kapapa, whose full name was Kapapa Limulimil. At the time of which we are writing she was fifteen, and her brother was three or four years older. Both had been carefully reared. The son had been instructed in all the manly accomplishments of his time, and from her infancy the daughter had been guarded with the most jealous watchfulness. She had grown almost to womanhood without betrothal, for the reason that a husband suited to her rank and personally deserving of her beauty could with difficulty be found in the kingdom. Among the number of the king's retainers are various grades of rank, beginning with the Wohi or chief councillor of royal blood next to the throne, and ending with the Kahu'ali and Puku, or personal and other attendants at the palace, was the young chief Ku'alu. He was large, muscular and handsome, with a bearing indicative of good blood, and through his courage and capacity at arms had been raised to the military position of Pukawa, or captain, and placed in charge of the palace guard, an office which gave him, if he did not before possess it, the privilege of an ayalo, or the right to eat food in the presence of the king. Ku'alu was a chief without possessions. His grandfather, a chief of the old line of Nanna Ula, had been killed in the battle which restored Kalapana to the throne of his fathers, and on the sudden death of his father twenty years before, he had been adopted by Wa'ahia, a Ka'ula, or prophetess, renowned in tradition for her foresight and influence. He was recognised by the Ahaa'ali, or College of Chiefs of Established Lineage, as of noble blood, but belonged to that class of chiefs who, lacking the influence of family and estate, were compelled to rely upon their own efforts for advancement. Although it is claimed that Wa'ahia was of chiefly lineage, nothing is positively known even of her parents. She first appeared in Wa'ipio, more than a generation before, and through an almost undeviating verification of her prophecies, in time became noted and feared by the people, not only as a favoured devotee of Uli, the god of the sorcerers, but as a medium through whom the Uni Pihili, or Spirits of the Dead, communicated. She lived alone in a hut in a retired part of the valley of Wa'ipio, and it is said that a large Pueo, or Owl, which, with the white Allee, was sacred and sometimes worshipped, came nightly and perched upon the roof of her lonely habitation. Of course, a Ka'ula of her sanctity wanted for nothing. The people were only too happy to leave at her door anything of which she might stand in need, and the best of everything in the valley came unbidden to her board. Of her abundance she gave to the needy, and while she seldom spoke to anyone, her looks and acts were kind to all. The priesthood recognised her power, and the king and chiefs consulted her in matters of moment when the key loss of the temple were in doubt. She had reared Ku'alu with the greatest care, and saw him grow to a manhood of which she was proud. She loved him as if he had been her own child, and he repaid her affection by heeding her advice in all things, and by kindness comforting her declining years. She had schooled him in a law which but few possessed, and the most skillful had instructed him in the martial and courtly accomplishments consistent with his chiefly rank. At the age of twenty he became attached to the household of the king, and in time was advanced, as already stated, to the high grade of captain of the palace guard. Although his abilities had commended him to advancement, his early favour with the king was doubtless due to some extent to the influence of his foster mother. Ku'alu's intimate connection with the royal household brought him into frequent companionship with Ku'ai'iwa and his sister, and as the latter grew to womanhood a romantic attachment sprang up between her and the handsome captain of the guard. It was romantic only because it was to every appearance hopeless, for there was a wide gulf between Ku'alu and the daughter of the proudest moi in the all the group, and for whom there seemed to be no fitting mate. The home of Ku'alu was within the palace enclosure, yet he frequently visited Wa'ahia in her lonely retreat, to cheer her with words of affection, and see that she wanted for nothing. It was during one of these visits, not long before the beginning of the leading events of this legend, that the Ka'ula abruptly said to him, Ku'alu, I can see that you are thinking much of Ka'apa. We sometimes meet, replied Ku'alu evasively. It is not well for you to try to gather berries from the clouds, returned the Ka'ula kindly. A neapio of the highest rank alone can reach that fruit. The flying spears bring down what the hand cannot reach, was Ku'alu's significant answer. Wa'ahia smiled at the dauntless spirit of her ward, and after a long pause during which she sat thoughtfully with her eyes fixed upon the ground, said, Your hopes are bold, but the gods are great, come to me to-morrow. The next day Ku'alu was made joyful by the words of Wa'ahia. She told him that she had been given a view of something of his future, and that the augur is promised so much that she could not discourage even the most audacious of his aspirations. But that coming events affecting his life were so mingled with wars, and strange faces of a race she had never seen except in dreams, that she could then advise no definite course of action. With these vague words of encouragement Ku'alu returned to the palace and authoritatively learned what had for some time been rumoured that preparations were to be speedily made for an invasion of Maui, and possibly of the other islands of the group. Having brought to all the districts of Hawaii under his control, Kala'unu'i entertained the ambitious design of United the several islands of the archipelago under one government. In this grand scheme of conquest and consolidation he was sustained by the leading chiefs of Hawaii, hungering for foreign possessions, and large quotas of canoes and warriors were promised. A general plan of action having been adopted, a fleet of 2,000 canoes of all sizes, and an army of 12,000 warriors was speedily collected. Sacrifices were made at the great temple of Paka'alani, the favour of the gods was invoked and the augurers were satisfactory. The king was to lead the expedition in person, and the chivalry of the kingdom rallied to his support. His double canoe, nearly 40 paces in length, was gorgeous in royal colours, and trappings, and more than a hundred others bore at their mastheads the ensigns of distinguished chiefs. No such warlike display had been seen by the generation witnessing it, and the confidence and enthusiasm of the king and his commanding officers were fully shared by the people. Leaving the government in the hands of his young son, Kua'iwa, with Kahika, the queen mother, as principal advisor, Kala'u Nui, ordered the warriors to their canoes, and with his aides and personal attendants repaired to the beach to superintend the departure of the expedition in person. In charge of his high priest, his newly decorated war-god had been taken aboard, and the king was about to follow when Wa'ahia, whose foster son was one of the leaders in the enterprise, approached the royal, Ka'ulua. She was clad in a pow, and short mantle, and her long white hair fell below her shoulders. Her form was bent, and she carried a staff for support. At the sight of the venerable figure familiar to everyone in Wa'ipil, the king turned and said, I am glad you are here. Encouragement comes from the temple. What says Wa'ahia? Good in the beginning. Bad in the end. Was the blunt response of the prophetess. I am instructed by your cheering assurances, adroitly returned the king, observing that her words had been overheard. The true meaning is that it would be bad to abruptly end a good beginning. Saying which, with something of a scow, he hastily stepped into his Ka'ulua, and gave the signal for departure. Without replying, Wa'ahia fully believing that disaster would overtake the expedition in the end, and anxious to be near Ku'alu when it came, entered one of the many canoes set apart for the women and other camp-followers of the invading army, and with the fleet set sail for Maui. PART II While the Hawaiian army cheered by chance of battle and beating of war drums, is buffeting the waves on its way to Maui, let us glance again at the moi of that island and the political condition of his possessions. While Kamalu'u'u'u'ua was the nominal sovereign of the island, the extreme eastern portion of it continued to be governed by independent chiefs. The principal chief of the windward sides was Wakalana, whose residence was at Wailuku. He was a cousin of the moi, and their relations were exceedingly friendly. Two years before a remarkable event had occurred at Wailuku. It was the second appearance in the group of a vessel bearing people of a strange race, described by tradition as white with bright shining eyes. Mention is made of other white people who were brought to the islands, on one or more occasions by the Argonals of early generations, notably by Pao Makua of Oahu, who near the close of the 11th century returned from one of his exploring voyages, with three white persons of unknown race. But this was the second time that a vessel of a people other than Polynesian, had been seen in Hawaiian waters. The first made a landing near Makupu Point, on the island of Oahu, more than a hundred years before. One has preserved the name of the vessel, Ulupana, and of a captain, Mololano and his wife, Malaya. But as it is not mentioned that they remained in the country, it is probable that they soon re-embarked. The second arrival is more distinctly marked by tradition. It was a Japanese vessel that had been dismantled by a typhoon, driven toward the North American coast until it encountered the Northwest trade winds, and then helplessly blown southward to the coast of Maui. It was late in the afternoon that word had been brought to Wakalana, that a strange vessel was approaching the coast. As it was high out of water and drifting broadside before the wind, it appeared to be of great size, and little disposition was shown by the people to go out in their canoes to meet the mysterious monster. Wakalana hastened to the beach, and after watching the vessel intently for some time, saw that it was drifting slowly towards the rocky coast to the westward. Seeming enough to know that certain destruction awaited in that direction, Wakalana hastily manned a stout canoe and started out to see in pursuit. The waters were rough and his progress was slow, but he succeeded in reaching the vessel a few minutes after it struck the cliffs and was dashed in pieces. Seeing whatever they could find to assist them in floating, those on board leaped into the sea. It was hazardous to approach the wreck too nearly, but Wakalana succeeded in rescuing from the waves and returning to Wailuku with five persons, but not before he saw the last fragment of the wreck disappeared in the abyss of raging waters. There is nothing in the names preserved, either of the vessel or its rescue passengers, to indicate their nationality. The name of the vessel is given as Mamala, which in the Hawaiian might mean a wreck or fragment. The name of the captain was Kaluikia Manu, the four others were called Nelaiki, Malaya, Ha'akoa and Hika, all names of Hawaiian construction. Two of them, Nelaiki and Malaya, were women, the former being the sister of the captain. They landed almost without clothing and the only novelties upon their persons were the rings and bracelets of the women and the sword in the belt of the captain, with which he had thoughtlessly leaped into the sea from the sinking vessel. They were half-famished and weak and by gestures expressed their gratitude to Wakalana for his gallantry in rescuing them and asked for food and water. Both were provided in abundance and two houses were set apart for their occupation. They attracted great attention and people came from all parts of the island to see the white strangers. It was noted with astonishment by the natives that these men and women ate from the same vessels and that nothing was especially taboo to either sex. But Wakalana explained that their gods doubted as permitted such freedom and they should therefore not be rebuked for their apparent disregard of Hawaiian custom. The comfort of the strangers was made the special care of Wakalana and they soon became not only reconciled but apparently content with their situation. But the kindness of the chief, however commendable, was not altogether unselfish. He was charmed with the bright eyes and fair face of Nelaiki, the sister of the captain. He found a pleasure that was new to him in teaching her to speak his language and almost the first use she made of Oya was to say yes with it when he asked her to become his wife. Her marriage was followed by that of Malaya to a native chief and of her brother and his two male companions to native women of good family. And here, as well as anywhere, it may be mentioned that through her son Aluia Nelaiki became the progenitor of a family which for generations showed the marks of her blood and that the descendants of the others were plentiful thereafter, not only on Maui but in the neighbourhood of Waimalo on the island of Oahu. The object of the rescued Japanese, which attracted most attention, was the sword accidentally preserved by the captain. No such terrible knife had ever before been seen or dreamed of by the natives. They had pahoas or daggers of wood or ivory and knives of sharply broken flint and shark's teeth. They had stone adzes, axes, hatchets and hammers, with which they could fell trees, hollow canoes from tree-chunks, build houses, manufacture implements of war and industry, and use stone of softer composition. They had spears and javelins with points of seasoned wood hard enough to splinter a bone. But iron and other metals had, for ages, been practically unknown to their race, and the long, sharp sword of the captain, harder than bone or seasoned wood, and from its polished surface, throwing defiantly back the brilliant rays of the sun, engaged their ceaseless wonder and admiration. As an ornament they regarded it with longing, and when they learned that it was a weapon of war they felt that the arm that wielded it in battle must be unconquerable. The captain did not see fit to disabuse the minds of the superstitious natives in their disposition to attribute a power of almost unlimited slaughter to the simplest weapon. On the contrary, he rarely exhibited it, except to distinguish chiefs, and in a few months it began to be mentioned as a sacred gift of the gods, and pledge of victory to him who possessed it. Nor was the knowledge of the existence of a talisman so wonderful, long confined to the windward side of Maui. The fame of the terrible weapon spread from Hana to Ka'anapali, and then to the other islands in the group. And, if but few of the many who came to learn the truth of the report were favoured with a view of the sword, all saw, at least, the strange people who were pointed out as the bearers of it from an unknown land, and the story of its powers was readily accepted. But he who possessed it did not come as a conqueror, and as he showed no disposition to use it offensively, the weapon ceased to be regarded with alarm. And now we will return to Kala'unui, and his army of conquests, last seen on their way to Maui in a fleet of two thousand canoes. Sailing to the western division of the island which was reached in two days, Kala'unui effected a landing of his army at Lahaina. Kamalu'ohua, the Moi of the island, had learned of the projected invasion some days before, and made every preparation possible to meet and repel it. Luna Paes, or war messengers, had been dispatched to the several district chiefs, and an army of seven or eight thousand warriors of all arms had been hastily collected. Wakalana had gone to the general defence with a force of eight hundred men, including Kalu'iki, the Japanese captain, upon whose presence great reliance was placed by the warriors of Wa'iluku, if not by Wakalana himself. Unable to land at Lahaina, which was in possession of the enemy, Kamalu'ohua marched his forces across the mountains, and a sanguinary battle was fought in the neighbourhood of the village. But the Mayans, greatly outnumbered, were defeated and driven back to the hills, and their king was taken prisoner. Throughout the battle, Kualu was especially conspicuous for his might and courage. Armed with a huge stone axe, everything human seemed to fall before him, and where he led the bravest alone followed, for he sought the very heart of danger. The conflict was drawing to a close. The Moi gallantly fighting had been taken prisoner, and his decimated battalions were steadily giving way, when Kualu encountered a body of two or three hundred men, resolutely defending themselves behind a low stone wall. Several ineffectual attempts to dislodge them had been made, and they were sending forth shouts of victory and defiance. Something had inspired them with unusual courage and confidence. Did Kualu divine what it was? Perhaps he did, for hastily rallying to his support a force of sturdy warriors, he fought his way over the wall, and a determined hand-to-hand struggle followed. Meantime a flanking party of spearsmen had made a circuit around the wall, and were menacing its defenders in the rear. Observing the peril of the situation, and that an effort was being made to cut off their retreat to the hills, the Marians began to fall back. As they did so, Kualu was seen to dash forward and precipitate himself almost unsupported upon a score or two of warriors who had apparently rallied to the assistance of some chief in distress. Regardless of danger, he hewed his way through the battling throng until he stood face-to-face with Kaluiki, the white captain in whose hand was the shining blade which had so nerved the arms of the warriors of Waiiluku. With a blow of his battle-axe he struck the sword from the upraised hand of the strange warrior. As it fell to the earth he placed his foot upon it, and yielded no ground until the tide of battle swept around and passed him, forcing the retreat of the lass to present a hostile front of the army of the captive king of Maui. Left alone for a moment by the wild pursuit of the flying enemy, Kualu hurriedly stooped and thrust the sword into the earth, pressing it downward until the hilt was covered. Then, placing a large rock upon the spot, he left the field, numbering as he went his paces to the wall, behind which the Marians had sought protection. The victory was complete, the Maui was a prisoner, and such of his army as had not escaped to the hills lay dead on the field. The country was given over to pillage, and at sunset twenty prisoners were slain in sacrifice in the Hayao near the village. The sacrifices were made to his war-god, and Kala Unui witnessed the solemn ceremonies of the offering. The night was spent in the wildest revelry by the victorious warriors, in the midst of which Kualu sought his foster-mother, who, with the women and non-combatants of the invading army, was encamped near the canoes on the beach. He hastily recited to her the events of the day, and concluded with the information that he had captured the long, bright knife of the strange chief of Wa'iluku, and believing it to be of great value had hidden it in the earth. At this intelligence the eyes of Wa'ahia flashed with satisfaction. You have done well, said the Ka'ula, rising to her feet. I have seen that long knife in my dreams. It will have much to do with your future, but it will be unsafe in your possession. Give it to me, give it to me at once," she repeated, for should Kala Unui, by any chance learn that it was taken in battle, he will claim it. But I am sure no one saw me hide it, replied Kualu. You talk like a boy, returned Wa'ahia. You must be sure of nothing of which there is a possibility of doubt. But no matter, it is not too dark to find the spot tonight. Let us go to it at once. Excited by her words, Kualu now became no less anxious than the Ka'ula, that the sword should be placed in her keeping, and in an indirect way to avoid observation, they repaired to the battlefield. Their only light was that of the stars, and after reaching the wall it was some time before Kualu was able to identify the exact place to which he had extended the line of his hasty measurement. The ground was strewn with the naked bodies of the slain, and occasional groans came from a few who struggles with death were not quite over. But no emotion, either of dread or pity, disturbed the visitors. Satisfied at length that he had found the desired place in the wall, Kualu took a careful bearing, and then stepped briskly toward the north, closely followed by Wa'ahia. Measuring a hundred paces or more, he suddenly stopped, and with alarm discovered what seemed to be the form of a man crouching beside the rock, marking the spot where the sword had been buried. Grasping his pahoa, the only weapon he had brought with him, Kualu sprang forward and placed his hand upon the object. It was cold and motionless, and the young warrior smiled as the thought came to him that some one of the many who had fallen under his axe that day had possibly crawled to the spot to guard his treasure in death. He lifted the body aside, removed the stone, and the next moment pulled from the earth and handed to Wa'ahia the iron blade. She grasped it eagerly, and with a hasty glance at its bright blade glistening in the starlight, wrapped it securely in a piece of kapa, and placed it under her mantle. Without attracting a special notice they returned to the beach. When impotuned by Kualu to tell him something definite of his future, Wa'ahia revealed to him much that would happen, but all had not yet been given to her, and she admonished him to keep his lips closed and patiently await the development of the will of the gods. I can see victories to come, said the Ka'ula, but in the end defeat and disaster. But if disaster is to come to us in the end, suggested Kualu, why should it not mean defeat and death to me? I can give no reason why it should not, but the gods seldom explain their acts to mortals, and I am content in seeing your star shining above the ruin of Kala'unui. So spoke the Ka'ula, and cheered by her words, Kualu sought his tent of mats, and on a hard couch of kapa dreamed of a long bright knife, and of battles in which he hewed down armies with it. Taking his royal captive with him, the second day after the battle, Kala'unui set sail with his army for the island of Molokai, of which Kahokuohua was the Eli'inui, or governing chief. No force adequate to cope with the invading army could be rallied, but the chivalrous descendant of the ancient kings of Hawaii was not a ruler to allow his subjects to be plundered without resistance, and hastily gathering an army of four or five thousand warriors, he gave the invaders battle at Kala'u Papa, but he was defeated and taken prisoner, and after ravaging the country for miles around and destroying every captured canoe of which he could make no use, Kala'unui sailed for the conquest of Oahu with the two royal captives in his train. Wa'ahia still accompanied the expedition, but the iron knife was not with her. The king had from some source learned that its glitter had been seen on the battlefield at Lahaina, and she had hidden it in a cleft on the black rocks of the Pali encircling Kala'u Papa. As already stated, Oahu was at that time governed by a number of practically independent chiefs. The most powerful of these, and possibly recognised Eli'inui of the island, was Huapou Leilei, chief of the Iwa and Wa'ianai districts, to which division Kala'unui directed his fleet, landing his forces at Wa'inai. A sanguinary battle was fought near that place, resulting in the defeat of the Oahuans and the capture of Huapou Leilei. Elated with his successes and deeming himself invincible, Kala'unui next prepared for a descent upon Kauai, and the conquest of the entire group. But his plans for so formidable an undertaking were faulty. He took no steps to consolidate his conquest or maintain possession of the land subdued by his arms. He left behind him no friend or stronghold on the conquered islands, blindly trusting, no doubt, that in the persons of his royal prisoners he retained, for the time being, as sufficiently firm hold upon the lands and subjects. Before embarking for Kauai, elaborate sacrifices were offered, and every device known to the priesthood was exhausted, to secure a continuance of the favour of the gods. The moi of that island was Kukona, the fourth in descent from the great La'a Mai Kahiki. Kala'unui recognised that the defensive resources of Kauai were not to be despised, but he as greatly underrated the military abilities of Kukona as he overrated his own, and therefore did not doubt the result. Wa'ahir saw disaster approaching, but knew that Kala'unui would not listen to her voice of warning, and therefore remained silent when the Kilos, anxious to plead the king, shaped their inauspicious auguries into promises of victory. Her greatest solicitude was for Kualu. He had been entrusted with an important command, and could find no honourable pretext for declining to accept the hazard of the final struggle on Kauai. Wa'ahir therefore did not advise him to remain, for she had seen his star shining above the clouds of defeat. She had sought frequent and earnest counsel of the mysterious intelligences of the earth and air. She had seen the answers in the smoke of burning incense, and within the circle of blood at midnight, when the moon was dark, had heard their whispers. Hence it was with confidence that she said to Kualu, on the evening before the departure of the fleet for Kauai, Yes, you must go, I can be of no service to you where the air will be filled with spears, and the canoes will be painted red with blood. I will return to Hawaii. You will be defeated, Kokona is a brave and skilful warrior, and the army of Kala'u Nui will be renting pieces ad thrown into the sea. The slaughter will be great, but circumstances will open away and you will escape. And should I escape, where will I find you? inquired Kualu. Among the owls in the old hut in Waipio replied the Ka'ula. And the long knife? The long knife is where I alone can find it, answered Wa'ahir. Leave the secret to me, it will be of service to our gent. Early next morning the army of Kala'u Nui set sail for Kauai and with it as prisoners the moys of Maui and Molokai and the ali'i Nui of Oahu. At the same time Wa'ahir embarked for Hawaii, taking with her the war god of the king. Traditions differ concerning the circumstances under which the god was delivered to the prophetess. One asserts that she refused to hold her peace or leave the expedition without it. Another that the king, annoyed by her ill omen words and presence, purchased her departure with it. And a third that it was given to her in deference to her declaration that if taken to Kauai it would not return except at the head of a conquering army that would make a tributary kingdom of Hawaii. Certain it is however that Wa'ahir returned to Hawaii from Oahu with the war god of the king. It was the sacred Akua Pa'u or war god of Pa'u and was held in great reverence by the priesthood. Born over the waters by unseen forces the canoe of Wa'ahir was stranded on the beach at Kohola Leili on the island of Hawaii. Not far off was the old Hiao of Manini and thither the god was conveyed and placed in the custody of the high priest of the temple with the injunction that it was never to be removed from the inner court or sanctuary unless the kingdom was in peril. Six generations after it was taken from the Hiao by the giant Ma'u Kaleo Leo and carried at the head of the victorious army of Umi as mentioned in the legend of Umi the peasant's prince of Hawaii. Six generations after it was taken from the Hiao by the giant Ma'u Kaleo Leo and carried at the head of the victorious army of Umi as mentioned in the legend of Umi the peasant's prince of Hawaii. Five hundred canoes have been added to the fleet of Kala'u Nui and the imposing squadron seemed to stretch half across the wide channel separating the two islands. A landing was made at Kohola and the entire army disembarked without opposition. The district seemed to be deserted and not a hostile spear was visible and so continued the peaceful aspect until daylight the next morning when Kukona supported by every prominent chief of Kuai suddenly precipitated upon the invaders from the surrounding hills an army of ten thousand warriors nor this alone along the westward coast was seen approaching a fleet of nearly a thousand war canoes with the manifest design of capturing or destroying the canoes of the Hawaiians and cutting off their retreat by sea. Hesely forming his lines to meet the avalanche from the hills Kala'u Nui dispatched Kualu to the beach with a force of three thousand warriors to protect the canoes. The attacks by land and sea were almost simultaneous and the battle was one of the most stubborn and sanguinary ever fought in the group. As predicted by Wa Ahia the air was filled with spears and the canoes were painted red with blood. Standing in the water to their hips Ku'alu and his warriors met their enemies as they attempted to land and a struggle of the wildest description followed. Canoes were upset men were hauled into them and killed and out of them and drowned and for a distance of three or four hundred yards in the surf along the beach raged a desperate conflict dreadful even to savage eyes. In their fury they fought in above and under the water and hundreds fiercely grappled and without a wound sank to their deaths together. Neither would yield and in the end resistance ceased and Ku'alu saw the beach strewn with dead a thousand tenantless canoes idly playing with the surf and less than as many hundreds of warriors left as he had led thousands into the fight. He had saved the fleet but the sacrifice of life had been terrible. Dispatching a messenger to the king and speedily reorganizing the remnant of his force Ku'alu was about to leave the beach for service where he might most be needed when he discovered with horror that the Hawaiian army had been defeated and in scattered fragments was seeking flight in all directions. Harass by pursuit a thousand or more were fighting and struggling to reach the beach satisfied that the battle was lost to facilitate the escape of the fugitives Ku'alu ordered a large number of canoes to be hastily equipped and launched and then started back to assist in covering the retreat but his men refused to follow him knowing the danger of delay all but a few of them leaped into canoes and paddled out to sea as he could do nothing more he selected a canoe suitable to the four persons who were to occupy it and with his three remaining companions passed through the surf and headed for Oahu. Ku'alu did not escape a moment too soon he had scarcely stemmed the surf before the fugitives abandoning all defence made a precipitous dash for the canoes closely followed by their pursuers in their haste they shoved out in canoes some of which were overburdened and others but half manned a number of the former founded in the surf and such of the latter succeeded in passing the breakers were overtaken by the canoes sent in pursuit nor did but few escape of the two or three hundred who preceded Ku'alu in his flight some of them embarked in double canoes which they were unable to manage and others were either without sails or shorter paddles the result was that less than a hundred of the fugitives escaped capture and if that number probably not more than twenty or thirty succeeded in reaching the other islands of the group for the sea was rough and but few of them were skilled in navigation among these were Ku'alu and his companions almost from the beginning the southern attack of Kokona from the hills had been a slaughter the withdrawal of three thousand spears from the protection of his canoes had weakened the lines of Kala Unui at an exposed point and breaking through them the Kuayans so vigorously followed up the advantage that no effort could save the Hawaiians from defeat they fought bravely and with desperation but the breaking of their lines had left them without any definite plan of action and defeat was inevitable Kala Unui's courage was conspicuous but after an hour's hopeless struggle he saw his brave battalions melting to the earth and giving way at all points recognizing that the battle was lost and that what was left of his army would soon be in wild retreat he attempted to cut his way through to the beach but was intercepted and taken prisoner learning his rank he was taken by his captors to Kokona and a few minutes later the royal chiefs of Maui Molokai and Oahu with their arms cordied behind their backs appeared on the scene deserted by their guards they had been found in a hut not far from the beach and brought to the victorious moi it was a historic group that meeting on the battlefield of Kaloa of the five principal sovereigns of the archipelago had Kokona been ambitious the means were at his command to become the supreme head of the island group but he thought only of the future peace of Kauai and promptly dismissed from his mind all dreams of broader fields of empire well knowing that were he able to seize the mastery of the group he could not hope to long maintain it not a word of jeering or of triumph past between Kala Unui and the captive chiefs as they stood before Kokona for the a ha ali of the period the chiefs of the accepted rank commanded the respect not only of the untitled but of each other even in bondage and in death Kokona had met the ali Nui of Oahu in his own dominion some years before and recognized him at once but the kings of Maui and Molokai were strangers to him being informed of their rank and the circumstances of their captivity he ordered them to be liberated at once and with his own hands removed the cords from the arms of his royal friend from Oahu the rescued princes were at once returned with befitting escort so their own possessions but Kala Unui was retained as a prisoner of war but few of the invading army escaped the victory was celebrated with elaborate sacrifices and general rejoicing throughout the island the captured arms and canoes were divided among the assisting chief and peace reigned again on Kauai Kokona has secured the lasting friendship of the chiefs of of Oahu Maui and Molokai and therefore did not fear the retaliation of Hawaii but as a guarantee of peace he kept Kala Unui a prisoner rightly surmising that if the ruling powers of Hawaii really valued the life of the captive king they would not imperil it by attempting his release by force and if they did not greatly value it he would be left to his fate or the chances of peaceful negotiation end of chapter 10 chapter 11 of the legends and myths of Hawaii this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the legends and myths of Hawaii by King David Kalakaua chapter 11 the iron knife continued part 3 escaping from Kaloa Kualu and his companions made sail for Hawaii stopping for supplies at such intermediate points as they deemed safe on the coasts of Oahu, Molokai and Maui and on the evening of the sixth day arrived at Waipio they were the first to bring to Hawaii the news of the defeat of Kala Unui on Kauai and when the people learned that the army had been destroyed the land was filled with wailing appearing at once before Kahika and her son Kualu recited to them the story of the dreadful battle but was unable to tell them definitely of the fate of Kala Unui the grief of the queen was great and found strange and unreasonable expression in charging Kualu with cowardice and ordering him from the palace in vain he protested against the ungenerous treatment she had never liked him especially since discovering that he had secured something more than the goodwill of Kapapa and it seemed monstrous to her that he should have survived Kala Unui and the scores of gallant chiefs who fell with him she cruelly intimated that it was more than probable that with the force sent to protect the fleet he had embarked in the canoes without striking a blow thus treacherously depriving the defeated army of its sole means of escape had these monstrous charges been made by a man Kualu would have answered them with blows but as they were the foolish and inconsiderate ravings of a woman without venturing further reply he took his leave and with a heart filled with stifled rage and anguish strode from the palace proceeding up the valley Kualu entered the hut of Wa Ahia he found the Kaula alone as usual she knew he was coming but was nonetheless rejoiced to meet him with a word or two of greeting he sat down in silence the cruel words of Kahika still stuck like thorns in his throat while Ahia regarded him intently for a time and then said I know it all Kala Unui's army has been destroyed you escaped in a canoe with three others and Kala Unui questioned Kualu not a little amazed at the correctness of her information is a prisoner replied the Kaula thank the gods for that exclaimed the chief vehemently he must be liberated for he can tell her that in escaping I acted neither with cowardice nor treachery tell whom inquired the Kaula Kahika answered Kualu she charges me with cowardice and desertion then Kahika accuses you of what I know to be false said Wa Ahia yes returned the chief but the witnesses to my fidelity are few and humble and the words of the king can alone relieve me in the eyes of the aha Ali of the disgrace with which the charges of Kahika will cover me true replied the Kaula encouragingly but the disgrace will not be lasting for the king will return to do justice when will he return eagerly inquired the chief I cannot tell answered Wa Ahia but I know that his rule is not yet at an end in Hawaii and you must be patient and Kualu promised to be patient and for a few days bore the neglect and frowns of his former friends and the sneers and covert insults of his enemies but when the heartless accusations of Kahika passing from tongue to tongue with the news of the dreadful slaughter became generally known and almost as generally believed notwithstanding the statements of his three companions to the contrary Kualu's indignation could no longer be restrained and he challenged to combat and slew on the spot a chief who in the presence of a party of friends repeated the charges to his face great excitement followed and in his desperation and wrath Kualu invited the friends of his fallen defamer one and all to test his courage then or thereafter as the life of Kualu was now in constant and undoubted peril while Ahia advised him to leave Hawaii for a time and together they set sail for Molokai and took up their residence at Kalaupapa but before leaving Waipio the Kaula called upon the high priest by whom she was held in great respect and told him where she might be found on Molokai should her services be required and they will be required said Wa Ahia significantly Kala Unui is not dead and when you shall have failed in all your efforts to liberate him tell Kahika to think better of Kualu and send for me how know you that Kala Unui still lives inquired the priest should the high priest of Paka Alani asked me that question replied what are here where are his seers where are the kilos of the temple who in the heavens saw victory for Kala Unui where I beheld defeat have they not been consulted all do not see with the eyes of what are here returned the priest evasively flattered by this recognition of her superiority the Kaula said as she turned to depart you will know more tomorrow and an hour after accompanied by Kualu she left Waipio for Molokai the priest was not deceived by Wa Ahia for the day after authentic intelligence was received from Maui to the effect that Kala Unui's campaign had been a failure in Kauai and the king was a prisoner in the hands of Kokona the leading chiefs were called together in counselling and several projects for the liberation of the king were advanced and discussed Kahika was in favour of raising a powerful army at once and bringing her royal husband back by force but when it was considered by cooler heads that Kokona was undoubtedly well prepared for war and had secured the friendship and in an emergency could command the support of the chiefs of Maui Ohahu and Molokai the suggestion was dismissed as dangerous and impracticable under the circumstances it was finally resolved to attempt the liberation of Kala Unui through negotiation and to this end messengers were dispatched to Kauai with offers of a large number of canoes spears and other war materials in exchange for the royal prisoner but the surrender of Kala Unui's fleet and the capture of thousands of spears and other arms had given Kokona a great abundance of both and he declined the offer failing in this after a lapse of some months messengers were again sent to Kokona with a profit of twenty full-sized mamos or royal feather clothes a canoe load of ivory and whale bone and a thousand stone lippies or axes of a superior kind peculiar to Hawaii the messengers were courteously received and listened to but the offer was not accepted war was again urged by Kahika but the chiefs refused to embark in an undertaking so hazardous and without their support she could do nothing and so for more than two years Kala Unui remained in captivity when a third attempt to ransom him was made Kahika dispatched to Kauai to ambassadors of high rank offering her daughter Ka Papa in marriage either to Kokona or his son Mano Kala Nipo and promising perpetual peace between the islands this offer was also declined and Kokona refused to name to the ambassadors the terms upon which he would treat for the liberation of their king it now became a question either of war or the abandonment of Kala Unui to his fate in the dilemma the priests and Kaulas were consulted but their predictions were vague in their council's unsatisfactory remembering the words of what are here the high priests sought the presence of Kahika and advised her to send for the old prophetess who was living with her foster son at Kala U Papa this after some persuasion she consented to do and dispatching a chief of high rank to Molokai with the admission that she had accused Kualu unjustly the Kaula was induced to return with the messenger to Waipio but Kualu did not accompany her she was suspicious of Kahika and advised him to remain at Kala U Papa arriving at Waipio the Kaula feeling that the game was now in her own hands informed the high priest that she would communicate with the leading chiefs of the kingdom convened in council the chiefs were accordingly assembled and what are here appeared before them Kahika was present as the Kaula desired with a staff in her hand capped with the head of an owl and her long white hair falling to her waist there was something weird and awe-inspiring in the appearance of the venerable prophetess as she entered the council room and bowed low before Kahika and the assembled chiefs it was not her privilege to break the silence without permission and when it had been formally accorded she raised her eyes and without especially addressing anyone said why have I been sent for no one could answer not even Kahika at length an old chief after conferring with those around him replied you have been sent for on the word of the high priest and with the hope that you might be able to point out a way for the return of Kala Unui to Hawaii can you do so I can speak of no way answered the Kaula then you can do nothing returned the chief my words were that I could speak of no way nor can I said the Kaula yet keeping my own council I might possibly be able to accomplish what you all desire and will you undertake to do so inquired Kahika yes on one condition was the prompt reply well what do you ask for attempting to save the life of your king returned the queen in a tone of rebuke what Ahia did not like the spirit of the inquiry and a scowl darkened her wrinkled face as she replied I might ask that if the gods willed that I should fail Kahika would not charge me with treachery this reference to the treatment of Kualu created a feeling of uneasiness among the chiefs but without inviting remark or explanation the Kaula continued what I require is a pledge from every chief here that should I succeed in liberating Kala Unui the terms of the release whatever they may be will be complied with the chiefs hesitated as it was not impossible that the sovereignty of the island might be offered to Kokona by the prophetess and they could not pledge themselves to a sacrifice involving their own ruin what Ahia relieved their apprehensions however by assuring them that the pledge would not be considered binding if the terms affected either the sovereignty of the island or the lives possessions or prerogatives of its chiefs with this assurance the members of the council after briefly discussing the possibilities of the obligation consented to accept it thereupon the pledge was carefully repeated thrice by the chiefs and each in turn solemnly invoked upon himself should he fail to keep and observe it in its fullness the wrath of Hikapoloa the divine Trinity and the swift and his special vengeance of Kuahana the slayer of men are you satisfied now inquired Kahika I am satisfied replied the Kaula do you require assistance this inquiry came from more than one only of the gods was the impressive answer of what Ahia as she left the council and slowly wended her way up the valley all night long strange lights flashed at interval through the weather rent openings in the Kaula's hut shadowy forms were seen to move noiselessly around it owls came and went as the lights vanished and reappeared and just as the sun began to paint the east what Ahia proceeded to the beach and with a single sturdy assistant of supernatural aspect embarked in a canoe which seemed to be equipped and provisioned for a long voyage this was the ghostly narration of two or three of the nearest neighbors of the prophetess and the truth of the story was not doubted even when it reached the palace doubtless the plain facts were that what Ahia spent the most of the night in preparing for the voyage and set sail early in the morning with an assistant known to be trustworthy and familiar with the sea what Ahia proceeded very leisurely to Kawhi the annual feast of Lono was approaching and as she desired to arrive there during the festival which would not be for some days she spent the intervening time in visiting many sacred spots and noted temples on Maui Oahu, Molokai and Lenai perhaps the commune with the honoured dead she made a pilgrimage to the sacred village of Yao on the island of Maui where were buried many of the distinguished kings and chiefs of the group she stopped at Kalaupapa on Molokai to confer with Kualu and while there paid a visit to the home near Kaluakoi of Laamaomao the wind god who came from the south with Moikiha more than a century before and in the same valley visited the dreaded spot where in the rain of Kamaua the father of Kaupipi the abductor of Hina near the close of the 11th century sprang up in the night the poisoned grove of Kalaipahoa or according to another tradition where that goddess belonging to a family of southern deities visited the group with two of her sisters and entered and poisoned a small grove of trees of natural growth from one of these poisonous trees the famous idol of Kalaipahoa was made so poisonous was the wood that many died in cutting down the tree and carving the image for all perished whose flesh was touched by the chips but the workmen finally covered their bodies with kappa including masks for their faces and wraps for their hands and thus succeeded in completing the dangerous task without further loss of life but a single image was made it remained with the ruling family of Molokai until the subjugation of the group by Kamehameha the first when it came into his possession and at his death in 1819 was divided among a few of the principal chiefs two fragments of the image it is said are still preserved but they are carefully guarded and never exhibited to eyes skeptical or profane long before Wa'ahir visited the spot the last vestige of the grove had disappeared but for many acres around where the terrible trees once stood the earths was black and bare within the dreaded area no living thing was seen and birds fell dead in flying over it but the Ka'ula entered it and returned unharmed to the amazement of more than one witness Wa'ahir next visited the Hiao of Ka'umolu which was then Apu'humua or place of refuge and in another temple near the coast offered sacrifices to the shark god Mu'u'aliye by reputation she was generally known to the priesthood of the group and was nowhere regarded as an intruder in places sacred to worship stopping at Iwa on the island of O'ahu she saw for the first time the hallowed enclosure of Kukani Loko the creation of Nana Ka'oko son of Nana Ma'oa the earliest arrival from the south of the migratory stream of the 11th century chiefs born there were endowed with special prerogatives and distinctions and the beating of a sacred drum called Hawiya they've noticed without of the birth of a taboo chief part four the winter solstice which marked the end of the hawaiian year was at hand to be followed by the usual five days feast of lono and Wa'ahir so timed her voyage as to arrive on Kauai the day before the festival began she quietly landed at Koloa and as far as possible avoided observation by taking up her residence in a small hut secured by her companion well back in the neighbouring hills these annual festivals of lono were seasons of universal merriment and rejoicing the god was crowned and ornamented with lays of flowers and feathers and unstinted offerings of pigs fowls and fruits were laid upon the altars of the temples consecrated to his worship chiefs and people alike gave themselves unreservedly over to feasting dancing singing and the indulgence of almost every appetite and caprice and the satanalias of the old romans gave the masses scarcely more license than the festivals of lono every instrument of music known to the people and they possessed but four or five of the simplest kinds was brought into acquisition and for five days there was almost an uninterrupted tumult of reverie like a carney the hula god was decorated and brought out and every variety of the dance was given some of them to the time of vocal recitation and others to the noisier accompaniment of pipes drums and rattling calabashes in the midst of these enjoyments long bearded bards appeared before the king and distinguished chiefs and while some of them recited wild historic tales of the past others chanted the mele inoas and sang of the personal exploits of their titled listeners our and other intoxicating drinks were freely indulged in by those who craved them and the festivals were usually followed by a week or more of general angua and worthlessness it was the third day of the festival of koloa the gates of the enclosure had been thrown open and thousands of people thronged around the royal mansion in a grove near which large quantities of refreshments were spread out on the ground in huge wooden trays and calabashes the feast was free to all and kukona lounged on a pile of kappa in the deep shade of the trees in front of the palace happy in witnessing the enjoyment of his subjects around him was standing a number of chiefs of high rank a kahili of bright feathers was occasionally and unobtrusively waved above his head by the pa a kahili and the iriku a mo'o ayi puu puu and other of his personal attendance all of the lesser nobility stood in readiness to respond to his slightest wishes a guard of inferior chiefs kept the crowd from pressing too closely the distinguished group but from time to time as permission was granted select bands of dancers and musicians and chances of ability were allowed to approach and entertain the royal party with specimens of their skill and erudition a company of dancers had just retired when what are here with a staff in her hand and wearing a short mantle indicating that she claimed privileges of dress which were not accorded to women generally asked permission to be admitted to the presence of the king her strange appearance excited the curiosity of kukona and she was allowed to approach kneeling and touching her forehead to the ground she rose and asked if it was the pleasure of the king to hear her as these ceremonies due to supreme authority were usually waived on such occasions it was surmised that the woman must be a stranger in kawai she was told to speak a mo'o ilo or historic chant was expected but in a full sharp voice she chanted these words oh the long knife of the stranger of the stranger from other lands of the stranger with sparkling eyes of the stranger with a white face oh long knife of lono the gift of lono it flashes like fire in the sun its edge is sharper than stone sharper than the hard stone of hua la lai the spear touches it and breaks the strong warrior sees it and dies where is the long knife of the stranger where is the sacred gift of lono it came to wa'iluku and is lost it was seen at lahaina and cannot be found he is more than a chief who finds it he is a chief of chiefs who possesses it mawai cannot spoil his fields hawaii cannot break his nets his canoes are safe from kawai the chiefs of oahu will not oppose him the chiefs of molokai will bend at his feet oh long knife of the stranger a bright knife of lono who has seen it who has found it has it been hidden away in the earth has the great sea swallowed it does the kilo see it among the stars can the ka'ula find it in the bow of the black hog will a voice from the anu answer will the priests of lono speak the kilo is silent the ka'ula is dumb oh long knife of the stranger a bright knife of lono it is lost it is lost it is lost at the conclusion of the chant which was listened to with attention the ka'ula bowed and disappeared into the crowd kukona had heard of the long knife and what are he his description of its powers interested in greatly he dispatched a messenger to the high priest ordering that the diviners at once be put to the task of discovering the hiding place of the sacred weapon on the following afternoon what are here appeared before the king and his chiefs and with the same ceremonies repeated her chant of the day before the high priest was summoned and informed the king that his diviners had as yet discovered no trace of the long knife the third day what are here appeared and repeated her chant before the king and silently withdrew as before again the high priest was summoned but was able to offer no assurance that the long knife would be found by the ka'unas they had resorted to every means of inspiration and magic known to them but could discover no clue to the mystery who is this woman who for three successive days has told us of the lost knife inquired kukona addressing the chiefs surrounding him no one seemed to be able to answer finally the master of ceremonies stepped forward and replied the woman I think is what I hear the notice prophesies of Hawaii I saw her 15 years ago in Waipio and I'm quite sure that I remember her face the name if not the face of the distinguished seer s was known to the king and many others present and the high priest anxious to explain the failure of his magicians bowed and said the master of ceremonies has doubly spoken truly the woman must be what are here her powers are great and a secret in her keeping is beyond the reach of the ka'unas accepting this explanation of the high priest kukona ordered the prophetess to be found and respectfully conducted to the royal mansion but after a fruitless search of two days it was reported that she had probably left the valley and therefore could not be found irritated at what seemed to be the inefficiency on neglect of his ka'unas and chiefs kukona was about to attach a death penalty to further failure when what are here suddenly entered the royal enclosure and approached the palace her appearance was most welcome to the attending chiefs and she was ushered at once into the presence of the king so delighted was kukona at the unexpected visit that he rose unconsciously to his feet and greeted the prophetess this breach of courtly form amazed the attendance of the king and suggested to them that the strange visitor must be of supreme rank but before any explanation could be gathered they were ordered to retire even to the pa'akahili and kukona was left alone with the ka'ula the king motioned his visitor to a lounge of kapa for she seemed to be old and feeble and he had a favour to ask seating herself as requested the king approached and in a voice that could not well be overheard said are you what are here the prophetess of hawaii i am what are here answered the ka'ula you have chanted of the long knife of the stranger of the bright knife of lono of the lost knife of why lucu resumed kukona our diviners can give me no information concerning it what are here smiled significantly but made no reply and the king continued they say you have tabooed the secret and others therefore cannot share it is it so perhaps was the brief reply then you confined the sacred knife eagerly suggested kukona i confined it was the ka'ula's emphatic answer then find and bring it to kukona and for the service claim what you will was the prompt proposal of the king with the way that's broadly opened what are here announced that the price of the knife must be the liberation of kala unui and was astonished at the promptness with which the terms were accepted it was manifest to what are here that he either placed a very high value upon the talisman or had kept his royal prisoner about as long as he cared to detain him or the peace of his kingdom required in either event his unhesitating acceptance of the main consideration warranted what are here in at once naming one or two other conditions which were just as promptly agreed to by the king one of these conditions was that kala unui should agree as the only consideration for his release to be known to him that his daughter kapapa should be given in marriage to the chief kualu not only as a fitting union but as a measure of atonement for the unjust and disgraceful charges made against that worthy young chief by kahika and that kukona and kala unui should mutually pledge themselves to the fulfilment of the compact the other condition was that on the delivery of the knife to kukona he was to release the captive king at once and return him to hawaii in company with three high chiefs of kuai who were to remain in waipio until after the consummation of the marriage of kapapa and kualu kala unui was communicated with for nearly three years he had been confined and closely but respectfully guarded within a square of high stone walls enclosing a single hut utterly unable to account for kukona's interest in kualu he nevertheless accepted the term submitted to him for his release and what are here started at once for kala upapa promising to be back within six days for the voyage she accepted a canoe larger and more commodious than her own and the services of five additional rowers arriving at kala upapa on the morning of the third day from koloa what are here startled kualu by informing him that kala unui was about to be released and that in 12 days he must return without further notice to waipio where he will be relieved of all disgrace by the king and become the husband of kapapa coming from what are here he believed the words as if they had been flashed from the heavens and asked for no confirmation as the kaula abruptly left him and proceeded alone toward the hills a few hours later what are here re-embarked for kawai taking with her securely wrapped in a number of kapa folds the sword of kalu wiki she reached koloa within the time promised and proceeding to the palace delivered to the king in person and alone the glittering blade which rumor had clothed with extraordinary sanctity and power kala unui renewed his pledge to kukuna and the next morning embarked for hawaii in a large double canoe accompanied by three of the leading chiefs of kawai and their attendants stepping into the kaulua as it was about to be shoved into the surf kala unui caught sight of what are here for the first time for years as she stood leaning upon her staff near the water kualu's part in the agreement with kukuna was explained at once by what are here's presence in koloa but what was kualu to kukuna and if nothing what influences had the kaula been able to bring to effect his release upon such conditions no matter kala unui was too happy in his liberation to quarrel with the means through which it had been secured and he turned with a look of gratitude toward the prophetess as the canoe shot out into the breakers the return of their captive king was joyously celebrated by the people of hawaii and a few days after kapapa became the willing wife of kualu the union was distasteful to kahika but she was powerless to prevent it the agreement was faithfully fulfilled by kala unui and he spent the remainder of his days in peace leaving the kingdom to his only son kua'iwa between whom and kualu a lasting friendship was established kualu with kapapa became the head of an influential family one of his direct descendants having been the wife of maka oku a son of kihar and brother of liloa one of the most noted of the kings of hawaii the sword of kailuiki the ransom of a king remained for some generations with the descendants of kukona but what became of it in the end tradition fails to tell end of chapter 11 chapter 12 of the legends and myths of hawaii this is a liberivox recording all liberivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit liberivox.org recording by k hand the legends and myths of hawaii by king david kala kua chapter 12 the sacred spear point characters kakae and kakaa leneo joint moise of maui kakekili son of kakae k'ulu la'au son of kaka leneo waolani a high priest of maui kallona iki king of oahu leia a'iwa sister of the queen of oahu kama ka'ua a companion of k'ulu la'au kaholanu ma'u king of hawaii neula queen of hawaii nomakua a chief of kohala hawaii pele goddess of kilauea k'uakepo brother of pele mualeo a gnome god of molokai pu'eoli a winged demon of oahu the sacred spear point the adventures of k'ulu la'au prince of maui one k'ulu la'au was one of the sons of kakaa leneo brother of and joint ruler with kake in the government of maui the latter was the legitimate heir to the moise ship but as he was weak-minded kakaa leneo ruled jointly with him and was the real sovereign of the little kingdom the court of the brothers was at leilei now lahaina and was one of the most distinguished in the group the mother of ka'ulu la'au was kaneke kana lula of the family of kama'ua'ua king of molokai through his son ha'ili who was the brother or half brother of k'ulu'a and k'upepe the latter it will be remembered was the abductor of the celebrated henna of hawaii and the family was of the old strain of maweki k'ulu la'au was probably born somewhere between the years 1390 and 1400 he had a half sister whose name was wow and a half brother k'ili walua who was the father of luaya who became the husband of a daughter of pili wali moi of wahu and brother of lola lei he doubtless had other brothers and sisters since his father was blessed with two or more wives but the legends fail to refer to them kaha'i'i son of kake and who becomes the successor in the moise ship was of near the age of his cousin ka'ulu la'au and the two princes grew to manhood together they were instructed by the same teachers schooled in the same arts and chiefly accomplishments and chanted the same genealogical meleis yet in disposition and personal appearance they were widely different from his youth kaha'i'i was staid sober and thoughtful bred to the knowledge that he would succeed his father as moai of the island he began early in life to prepare himself for the proper exercise of supreme authority and at the age of 20 was noted for his intelligence dignity and royal bearing he had been told by a prophet that one of his name would be the last independent king of moai and the information rendered him solicitous for his future and drove many a smile from his lips yet with all his austerity and circumspection he was kind-hearted and affectionate and his pastimes were such as comported with his dignity in height he was somewhat below the chiefly medium and his features were rugged and of a papuan caste but all knew that he was royal in heart and thought and the respect due to him was not withheld ka'ulu la'au was unlike his royal cousin in almost every respect he was noted alike for his intelligence his manly beauty and his rollicking spirit of mischief and merriment he did not covet the scepter he thought more of a wild debauch with music dancing and a kalabash of awa then the right to command downward or upward the face and since kajakili was the designated successor of his father he claimed the right as a favored and taboo subject of the realm to enjoy himself in such manner as best accorded with his tastes as he could not make laws he found a pleasure in breaking them he was neither wantonly cruel nor malignant but recklessly wild and mischievous and neither the reproofs of his father nor the mild persuasions of his cousin or sufficient to restrain him his bantering replied to the latter was when you become king i will act with more propriety two moise can afford one wild prince he had a congenial following of companions and retainers who assisted him in his schemes of mischief with feasting and hula dancing he would keep the village in an uproar for a dozen consecutive nights he would send canoes adrift open the gates of fish ponds remove the supports of houses and paint swine black to deceive the sacrificial priests he devised an instrument to imitate the death warning notes of the ale'i and frightened people by sounding its near their doors and to others he caused information to be conveyed that they were being prayed to death notwithstanding these misdemeanors cal lua luau was popular with the people since the chiefs or members of the royal household were usually the victims of his mischievous freaks he was encouraged in his disposition to qualify himself for the priesthood under the instruction of the eminent high priest and prophet waa oolani and had made substantial advances in the calling when he was banished to the island of lanai by his royal father for an offense which could neither be overlooked nor forgiven at that time lanai was infested with a number of gnomes monsters and evil spirits among them the gigantic moo moaleu they ravaged fields uprooted coconut trees destroyed the walls of fish ponds and otherwise frightened and discomforted the inhabitants of the island that his residence there might be made indurable ca'ulu la'au was instructed by the calus and sorcerers of the court in many charms spells prayers and incantations with which choresus the powers of the supernatural monsters when informed of these exercising agencies by calua luau his friend the venerable high priest waa oolani told him that they would avail him nothing against the more powerful emma lignant of the demons of lanai disheartened at the declaration ca'ulu la'au was about to leave the hey au to embark for lanai when waa oolani after some hesitation stayed his departure and entering the inner temple soon returned with a small roll of kappa in his hand slowly uncording and removing many folds of cloth and ivory spear point a span in length was finally brought to view holding it before the prince he said take this it will serve you in any way you may require its powers are greater than those of any god inhabiting the earth it has been dipped in the waters of po and many generations ago was left by lono upon one of his alters for the protection of a temple menaced by a mighty fish god who found a retreat beneath it in a great cavern connected with the sea draw a line with it and nothing can pass the mark affix it to a spear and throw it and it will reach the object no matter how far distant much more will it do but let what I have said suffice the prince eagerly reached to possess the treasure but the priest withdrew it and continued I give it to you on condition that it pass from you to no other hands than mine and then if I am no longer living when you return to Maui as you someday will you will secretly deposit it with my bones swear to this in the name of lono ca'ulu la'au solemnly pronounced to the required oath the priest then handed him the talisman wrapped in the capa from which it had been taken and he left to the temple and immediately embarked with a number of his attendants for lanai reaching lanai he established his household on the south side of the island learning his name and rank the people treated him with great respect for lanai was then a dependency of Maui assisted in the construction of the houses necessary for his accommodation and provided him with fish poi fruits and potatoes in great abundance in return for this devotion he set about ridding the island of the supernatural pests with which it had been for years afflicted him in the legend of Kalea the surf rider of Maui will be found some reference to the battles of ca'ulu la'au with the evil spirits and monsters of lanai his most stubborn conflict was with the gnome god moaleo he imprisoned the demon within the earth by drawing a line around him with a sacred spear point and subsequently released and drove him into the sea more than a year was spent by ca'ulu la'au inquiating and expelling from the island the malicious monsters that troubled it but he succeeded in the end in completely relieving the people from their vexatious visitations this added immeasurably to his popularity and the choices of the products of the land and sea were laid at his feet his triumph over the demons of lanai was soon known on the other islands of the group and when it reached the ears of caca'a leneo he dispatched a messenger to his son offering his forgiveness and recalling him from exile the service he had rendered was important and his royal father was anxious to recognize it by restoring him to favor but ca'ulu la'au showed no haste in availing himself of his father's magnanimity far from the restraints of the court he had become attached to the independent life he had found in exile and couldn't think of no comforts or enjoyments unattainable on lanai the women there were as handsome as elsewhere the menanas were as sweet the coconuts were large the awa was as stimulating and the fisheries were as varied and abundant in product he had congenial companionship and bands of musicians and dancers at his call the best of the earth and the love of the people were his and the apapani sang in the grove that shaded his door what more could he ask what more could he expect should he return to Maui his exile had ceased to be a punishment and his father's message of recall was scarcely deemed a favor however ca'ulu la'au returned a respectful answer by his father's messenger thanking caca'a leneo for his clemency and announcing that he would return to Maui sometime in the near future after having visited some of the other islands of the group and three months later he began to prepare for a trip to Hawaii he procured a large double canoe which he painted royal yellow and had fabricated a number of cloaks and capes of the feathers of the uhu and mamon at the prow of his canoe he mounted a carved image of leneo and at the top of one of the masts a place was reserved for the proud taboo standard of an aha ali'i this done with a proper retinue he set sail for hawaii two on his visit to hawaii ca'ulu la'au was accompanied by a number of companions of his own disposition and temperament among them was kama kua'u a young Maui chief who had followed him into exile and was thoroughly devoted to his interests he was brave courtly and intelligent and in personal appearance somewhat resembled the prince the crew and most of the attendants of the prince had been selected by kama kua'u including the chief navigator and astrologer and however competence they may have been in their respective stations it was discovered during the voyage that they were no less efficient as musicians and dancers hence there was no lack of amusement as the huge double canoe breasted the waves of the elenui ha ha channel and on the morning of the third day stood off the village of Waipio in the district of hamakua hawaii at that time kohalanui mahu father of the noted kia was king of hawaii his wife was neula a chiefess a maui who had inherited very considerable possessions in the neighborhood of hanalulu on that island as the climate of the locality was salubrious and the neighboring waters abounded abundantly in fish the royal couple made frequent and sometimes lengthy visits dither these visits were usually made without the knowledge of kakalaneo and the unexplained attachment of the hawaii king to the comparatively small inheritance of his wife on the neighboring island began to be regarded with suspicion and had become a theme for speculation and inquiry at the court of lahena at the time of the visit of ka'ula luau to waipio kahulunaui had been absent for some months on maui leaving neula in charge of the government of hawaii attributing the absence of the king to deliberate neglect neula had become greatly dissatisfied and whispers of coming trouble were rife throughout the island all this was doubtless known to ka'ula luau and as the royal residence was at waipio it was upon the beach below that he landed with his party and drew up his double canoe the presence and state of the strangers were soon heralded to the queen and she promptly dispatched messengers courteously inviting the prince and his personal retainers to become her guests at the royal hall at the same time giving orders for the accommodation of the humbler of his attendants and followers as was the hospitable custom of the time accepting the invitation ka'ula luau and four of his chiefly companions were provided with quarters within the palace enclosure and their food was served from the royal table in the afternoons ka'ula luau was accorded an audience with the queen during which he presented his friends including kamakua the prince wowed away nearly a month at waipio and many formal entertainments were given in his honor neula was unusually agreeable and was soon on terms of friendly intimacy with both the prince and kamakua this was exactly what ka'ula luau desired since it enabled him to devise and assist in the execution of a scheme for bringing the king back from mawai and keeping him thereafter within his own kingdom under the instructions of ka'ula luau kamakua assumed to be greatly smitten with the charms of the queen as she was a comely woman and somewhat vain of her personal appearance the conquest of the handsome chief gratified her but his attentions developed the fact that he had a rival and no kua a chief of koala this discovery simplified the plans of the prince and relieved kamakua of a dangerous duty in the end impressing his suit he found a pretext for informing the queen that the continued absence of the king was due to the fact that he had taken another wife with whom he was living at hanalu and that he had ceased to care either for his kingdom or his family while kamakua was pouring this poison into the ears of neula ka'ula luau who had made the acquaintance of noakua was planting in the mind of the chief the seeds of sedition he flattered him with the opinion that he was made to rule and by degrees developed to him a plan through which with the favor of the queen he could seize the government unite the principal chiefs in his support and prevent ka'ulani from returning to hawaii the ambition of noakua and the anger of the queen if presumed neglect and infidelity of her husband soon harmonized them in a plot against the absent king preparations for the revolt began to be observed and when ka'ulu luau not wishing to be openly identified with the dangerous movement quietly embarked with his party for hilo where he remained to watch the progress of the struggle which he had been instrumental in originating the prince had been in hilo but a few days when eluna pai arrived from huapio submitting the chief of the district to repair thither with 800 warriors and announcing the assumption of the sovereignty of the island by neula similar notifications were sent to the chiefs of the other districts of the kingdom and soon all was excitement from ka'ul to kohala hearing of the revolt ka'ulani who had been engaged in constructing a fish pond at kiyonio yo in the neighborhood of hanaru left maoyan once with less than a hundred spears and landing in kona whose chief could be relied upon he started overland for huapio the revolution was unpopular and with great unanimity the chiefs and people rallied to the standard of the king the struggle was brief a battle was fought near wemiya resulting in the defeat of the rebel army and the death of noakua this ended the revolt as a punishment to neula the king took another wife but the object of ka'ula laao was accomplished for ka'ulani never again visited maoyan although the queen spent much of her time here after at hanaru lu where her favorite guest and friend was kama ka'ua leaving hilo ka'ula luau and his party leisurely drifted along the coast of puna till they reached the borders of kao when they landed at kairu to spend a few days in fishing and surf riding weary of the sport ka'ula laao left the bathers in the surf one afternoon and threw himself under the shade of a halla tree near the shore watching the clouds and the sea birds circling in the heavens above him he fell asleep and when he awoke his eyes fell upon a beautiful woman sitting upon a rock not more than a hundred paces distant and silently watching the swimmers as they came riding in on the crests of the rollers her skirts were a power spangled with crystals and over her shoulders hung a short mantle of the colors of a rainbow her long hair was held back by a lay of flowers and her wrists and ankles were adorned with circuits of tiny shells of pink and white the appearance of the woman dazzled him and after gazing for some time and rubbing his eyes to be sure that he was not dreaming he rose to his feet and approached the radiant being advancing within four or five paces of the woman apparently unobserved he stopped and with a cough attracted her attention turning her face toward him he greeted her courteously and requested permission to approach nearer and converse with him her appearance indicated that she was a person of rank and he did not feel like trespassing uninvited upon her privacy she did not dane to make any reply to his request but after scanning him from head to foot turned her face toward the sea again with a contemptuous toss of the head he hesitated for a moment and then turned and strode rapidly down to the beach where his double canoe had been safely drawn up on the sands in the guise of a bather thought the prince she evidently mistakes me for a servant I will approach her in the garb to which my rank entitles me and see what effect that will have entering the canoe he girded his loins with a gaudy morrow hung round his neck a paloa and through over his shoulders a royal mantle of yellow feathers then crowning his head with a brilliant feather helmet he selected a spear of the length of six paces and stepped from the canoe as he did so he stumbled this means that I have forgotten or admitted something of importance said the prince to himself stopping and in detail scanning his equipment at that moment a lizard ran across his path and entered a hole in the earth this brought to mind his battle with a gigantic gnome on lanae and with a smile he re-entered the canoe taking from a calabash where it had been for months secreted the charmed spear point of lono he affixed it firmly to the point of a javelin and thus equipped again sought the presence of the fascinating being by whom he had been repulsed advancing as before he once more craved permission to approach near enough to drink in the beauty of her eyes but she seemed to be a no mood to consent scanning him and his changed apparel with an air of indifference she said you need not have taken the trouble to bedeck yourself with royal feathers I knew you before as I know you now to be ka'ula la'au son of kaka lanae moe of Maui I do not desire your company since you know who I am I must claim the right to insist upon my request unless you can show indeed that you are of equal or better rank saying this the prince took a step forward then come replied the woman since you are rude enough to attempt it sit at my feet and tell me of your love and I will search the caves for squid and beat the kappa for you the prince advanced joyfully and was about to see himself at the feet of the lovely being when with a cry he sprang back the rock he had touched was as hot as if it had just been thrown for the crater of a volcano come said the woman tauntingly do you not see that I am waiting for you again the prince advanced but the earth for two or three paces around her was glimmering with heat and he hastily withdrew to where the ground and rocks were cool he was now satisfied that he was dealing with someone wielding supernatural powers and resolved to test the efficacy of the charmed point of his javelin why do you not come continued the woman in a tone of mingled defiance and reproach because the earth where you are sitting is too warm for my feet replied the prince innocently come where I am standing and I will sit beside you and with the point of his javelin he marked upon the ground the boundaries of a space around him retire some paces and I will do so replied the woman confidently the prince withdrew as requested and she quietly removed to the spot where he had been standing now come said the woman receding herself perhaps you will find it cooler here I hope so returned to the prince as he began cautiously to advance he crossed the line marked by the point of his javelin and felt no heat he took three more steps forward and the earth was still cool another step which brought him within two paces of the enchantress convinced him that her powers were impotent within the boundaries of the line he had drawn and with a sudden leap forward he caught her in his arms astounded at the failure of her powers and humiliated at her defeat the woman struggled to free herself from the embrace of the prince but within the charmed circle she possessed but the strength of a simple woman and was compelled to yield to the supreme indignities of superior force exasperated beyond measure she at length succeeded in eluding his grasp and springing beyond the fatal line the prince followed but she was now herself and he could neither overtake nor restrain her retreating some distance up the hill she suddenly stopped and awaited his approach she permitted him to advance within forty or fifty paces of her when in the space of a breath she abandoned her captivating disguise and stood forth in the form of Pele the dreadful goddess of Kilauea her eyes were bright as the midday sun and her hair was like a flame of fire the prince stopped and dismay the goddess raised her hand and at her feet burst forth a stream of molten lava rolling fiercely down upon the prince as if to engulf him he started to escape by flight but the stream widened and increased in speed as it followed fearful that it would overtake him before he could reach the sea he thought of his javelin and with the point hastily drew a line in front of the advancing flood continuing his flight and looking back he discovered to his great relief that the stream had stopped abruptly at the line he had drawn and could not pass it passing into a ravine the angry flow sought to reach the sea through its channel and thus cut off the retreat of the prince but he crossed the depression marking in line as he went and the fiery avalanche was stayed at the limit observing that she was thwarted by some power whose element seemed to be of the earth Pele summoned her brother Kea Kepo from Kilauea and a shower of fire and ashes descended on Kaula Laau and his companions leaping into the sea to avoid the fire they dragged the double canoe from its moorings and swimming and pushing it through the breakers escaped from the coast with but little injury three having embroiled himself with the divine and political powers of Hawaii Kaula Laau rounded the southern point of Lalei and set sail for Molokai he spent a month on that island with the royal relatives of his mother by whom he was appropriately received and entertained he visited the home of Laau Mau Mau the wind god the poisoned grove of Kalei Pahoa and the demolished fortress on the promontory of Haupu where the gaolin to Kaopepe of whose blood he was met his dramatic death he then set sail for Oahu the island of Oahu was at that period one of the most prosperous in the group it was under the government of Carlona Iki one of the two sons of Malekur Kahi who during his reign had instituted a code of laws giving better protection to the poor making theft punishable with the death and claiming as the wards of the government the first born male children of all families without regard to rank or condition. Carlona continued the peaceful and intelligent policy of his father and his court was noted alike for the brilliancy of its chiefs and the beauty of its women his principal place of residence was Waikiki although he had sumptuous temporary resorts at Ua and Wailua Kaula Laau first touched at Wailua but learning that the king was at Waikiki he ordered his canoe to proceed around to the south side of the island in charge of his chief navigator while he and Kamakau concluded to make the journey overland dispensing with all insignia of rank and inhabited like simple commoners the prince and his companions started unattended for Waikiki both were armed with javelins but the one born by Kaula Laau was tipped with a charmed point of lino proceeding along the foot of the Ka'ala range of mountains in the afternoon they sat down to rest in the shade of a hala tree and a ravine below them five or six men were working and scattered along its banks were a number of huts soon a tumult of screams reached them and men women and children were seen running hither and thither in a state of great excitement the travelers sprang to their feet and as they did so a gigantic bird swept immediately over their heads and winged its way toward the hills it passed so closely that the branches of the hala tree were swayed by the motion of its mighty pinions and its outspread wings seemed to measure scarcely less than twenty long steps from tip to tip while watching the monster with amazement a woman approached and to the questions of the prince replied between wails of anguish that the great bird the pale ali'i as she called it had just killed her only child in front of her hut with a stab to the heart resembling the cut of a knife she hurriedly gave the additional information that for many years past the same bird had at intervals visited different districts of the island killing children pigs and fouls and that the priest had declared it to be a Pueyo or owl sacred to the gods and which could not therefore be molested with safety even if harm to it were possible from human hands better learned in the inspiration and purposes of such visitations since he had been instructed by the eminent high priest Waolani and having had many conflicts with malignant spirits he doubted that the monster he had just seen was of the sacred Pueyo family and requested that he be shown the dead child proceeding to the hut and inspecting the wound he observed that the fatal cut was upward and not downward as it would have been had it been made by the beak of an owl this confirmed him in the correctness of his first impression and requesting Kamakahua to follow him he started toward the hills in the direction taken by the bird they could still see it in the distance like a dark cloud against the mountain after following it for some time the bird swooped down to commit some fresh depredation and then rose and alighted upon a rocky ridge with precipitous face sweeping down from the main summit of Ka'ala why go farther said Kamakahua we cannot reach the bird and if we could our spears would be like straws to such a monster as if by a strong hand the javelin in the grasp of the print forcibly turned and pointed toward the bird smiling at the augury Ka'ula replied look you carefully back and see if we are followed Kamakahua turned his face in compliance and as he did so the prince poised his javelin and hurled it in the direction of the bird in 20 pieces the point did not droop in 40 it did not fall to the ground in a hundred a new energy seized it and like a flash of light it sped out of sight a moment later the prince saw the bird sink and disappear I can see no one said Kamakahua after carefully scanning the ground of which they had passed nor can I now see the bird continued looking toward the ridge where can it be at the foot of the cliff replied the prince with the point of my javelin in his heart having been with the prince on Molokai Kamakahua received the strange information without question or great wonder and hastening to the base of the precipice they found the monster dead with the javelin buried in its breast removing the weapon they cut off the head and one of the feet of the bird pulled from its wings four of the longest feathers and with them returned to the holotree under which they had found shelter from the sun the burden taxed their strength to the utmost the weight of the head which was borne by the prince was scarcely less than that of his own body while the feathers were seven paces in length and the claws two paces between their extreme points great excitement followed the spreading of the news that Pueo Ali had been killed by strangers the sufferers through its visitations were disposed to commend the act and others condemned it as an insult to the god which would probably bring broadcast calamity upon the whole island to placate the anger of the gods that was proposed to sacrifice the strangers at the nearest Hia'u and respectfully wrapping the head of the bird in Kapa Ka'ula La'au and his companion were conducted with their trophies to the sacred temple of Kunkani Loko which was not far distant they were accompanied by a crowd which constantly swelled in numbers as they proceeded and on arriving at the Hia'u they were surrounded by four or five hundred men and women many of them armed and clamoring for their blood Ka'ula La'au was in no wise alarmed but rather enjoyed the situation the high priest of the temple appeared and the matter was laid before him looking at the foot and mighty feathers of the bird he turned to the strangers and said you have slain a creature sacred to the gods and my thought is that you should be sacrificed to avert their wrath be careful in your judgment priest replied the prince how know you that the bird was sacred for years it has been so regarded returned the priest how know you that it was not does it become the high priest of Kukani Loko to ask such a question said the prince but I will reply to it when you answer this with the javelin now in my hand I killed the bird at a distance farther than from where we stand to yonder hills could it have been done by human hand without the special favor of the gods if not then how have the gods been angered the priest was confounded and when the prince proposed to submit the question of his guilt to the king the suggestion was accepted it now being near nightfall Ka'ula La'au and his companion were removed within the enclosure of the temple for safe keeping and knowing that they would be deprived of their weapons the prince removed the charmed point from his javelin and secreted it in the fold of his morrow early next morning the high priest and his two prisoners who were kept under no market restraint accompanied by a large concourse of people carrying the head foot and feathers of Pe'u La'ii started for Waikiki everyone seemed to know that the great bird had been killed and many stood by the wayside to see the feathers that had been torn from its wings and to catch a glimpse of its destroyer near the middle of the day the great gathering arrived at Waikiki as many carried spears it resembled an army in its march and messengers were dispatched by the king to ascertain its meaning halting near the shores of the harbor and not far from the royal mansion to report the arrival of the prisoners and learn the pleasure of the king the prince observed his double canoe drawn up on the beach and requested permission to approach it that he might secure the council of his master Ka'ula La'au son of the Moe of Maui the favor could not well be denied and under guard of two inferior priests of Kukani loko the prince was conducted to the canoe as but three or four of the crew were present and their attention was wholly absorbed in the gathering around the Royal Halle the prince stepped unobserved by them into the canoe and passed quickly into his private quarters a close wicker work apartment eight or ten feet in length by the breadth of both canoes and with a height of six feet or more from their bottoms to the top screen hurriedly investing himself with his regalia of rank including helmet feather mantle and spear he stepped into view and sounded a blast upon a shell soon a number of his attendants made their appearance and with such following as we fitted a prince he started for the Royal Mansion the guards who escorted him to the canoe did not recognize him as he left it and after passing the crowd surrounding the palace his name and rank were announced to the king he was promptly met and courteously welcomed at the door by Kalona and informed that messengers of greeting and invitation would have been dispatched to him had his presence at Waikiki been known Ka'ula La'au then apprised the king that he had but just arrived overland from Waialua while his double canoe had been sent around to meet him at Waikiki and then it was his purpose to spend some days on Oahu the hospitalities of the Royal Halle were then tendered and accepted after which the king explained to his distinguished guests the cause of the large gathering around the palace and invited him to an inspection of the head feathers and claws of the mighty Pe'ua Ali'i and to listen to the story of the slayer of the sacred bird should he deem it of sufficient interest Ka'ula La'au accompanied the king to a large dancing pavilion within the royal enclosure to which had been conveyed the severed parts of the gigantic bird after the claws and feathers had been examined with awe and amazement the king ordered the slayer of the bird to be brought before him the high priest of Kukani Loko bowed and turned to execute the order when the guards placed over the prince came from the beach with the information that their prisoner had escaped the priest was savage in his disappointment either find him or take his place upon the altar he hissed to the unfortunate guards and then led Kamaka'au before the king with the explanation that the other prisoner had managed to allude the vigilance of his guards but would doubtless soon be found Kamaka'ua discovered the prince at the side of the king and could hardly restrain a smile one question he denied that he killed the great bird but admitted that he assisted in removing the head feathers and one of the feet this is trifling said the king turning to the priest with a scowl where is the other prisoner he is here great king exclaimed Ka'ula La'au bowing before Kalona to the establishment but great relief of the priest favored by the gods I slew the manglignet monster your priest called by the sacred name Peyu'ali'i their skills should have instructed them differently will the king favor me by ordering the kappa covering to be removed from the head the order was given and the uncovered head was raised beak upward before the king in a moment it was observed that the head was not of a pu'eo or owl nor did it bear resemblance in form to that of any bird known it was narrow between the eyes which in color were those of a shark and its long and pointed beak both of the upper and under jaws turned sharply upward it is not a pu'eo was the general exclamation are you satisfied priest inquired the prince I think it is not a pu'eo responded the priest reluctantly you think it is not a pu'eo exclaimed the king indignantly do you not know it what pu'eo ever had such eyes and such a beak the priest hung his head in confusion and the prince having completely discomforted him now came kindly to his relief by remarking the mistake might well have been made for on the wing and at a distance the bird much resembled a pu'eo you are kind to say so prince said the king but the priests and the kalua's have been greatly at fault for years the bird has preyed upon the people and no one has dared to molest it since you killed it knowing it was not sacred perhaps you may be able to tell me something of its unnatural birth and appetites thus appealed to ca'ulu la'ao modestly replied if I may rely upon what seemed to be a dream last night the bird was possessed by the spirit of Hilo al-Lakapu one of the chiefs of Hawaii who evaded Oahu during the reign of your royal father he was slain at Waimano and his head was placed upon a pole near Honolulu lili for the birds to feed upon he was of a ku'a blood and through a bird god relative his spirit was given possession of the monster with jul'gads enabled me to slay the spirit of Hilo had been brought in with the head of the dead bird and with the utterance of these words by the prince the eyes rolled the ponderous jaws open and closed and with a noise like the scream of an ale'i the magnolignant spirit took its departure the truth of the dream of ca'ulu la'ao thus being verified the king publicly thanked him for ridding the island of the monstrous scourge and ordered a special honors to be paid him by all classes so long as it might be his pleasure to remain in the kingdom in return the prince presented to the king the head claws and feathers of the bird the ladder to be made into a mammoth cahili and then made Kamakawa known to him together with such other chiefs in his train as were entitled to royal recognition ca'ulu la'ao became at once the hero of the court as well as the idol of the people he remained more than a month at Oahu enjoying the unstinted hospitality of the king and his district chiefs he was a favorite with the fairest women of the court but he gave his heart to the beautiful Laia A'ua sister of the wife of Kalona and with her returned to Maui landing at Lahena after his long absence he was joyfully welcomed home by his royal father who had heard of his adventures and fully forgiven the faults of his youth with grief he learned that his friend the high priest Waolani had died some months before remembering his oath he found the burial place of the priest and with his remains secretly deposited the sacred spear point of Lono which had served him so effectively he devoutly kissed the relic before he hid it forever from view and afterwards knelt and thanked Lono and the priest for its use lands were given him in ca'ulu la'ao where he resided until the end of his days Laia was his only wife and they were blessed with six children whose names alone are mentioned by tradition end of chapter 12