422 Fornaiider Collcctio)i of Hawaiian Folk-lore. 



CHAPTER VII. 



KUALIl'S RETURN TO OAHU FROM MOLOKAI. 



After Kualii completed the redivision of the lands of Molokai, those pertaining 

 to the chiefs as well as to the people, he returned to Oahu accompanied by his com- 

 panions, his chief warriors. Upon arriving from Molokai he proceeded on his way to 

 Kailua where he found that the chiefs and people were all living in peace. After re- 

 siding on Oahu for some time Kualii again set out for Hawaii and again took up his 

 residence in Hilo, this being the third time that he decided to go and live there. 

 After Kualii had been living in Hilo for some time word was brought to him that war 

 had broken out on Lanai, caused b}' Kauhi, son of Kauhiakama; the chief of Lanai 

 having taken up arms against the son of Kauhiakama, one of Kamalalawalu's minis- 

 ters. Following is the story of this battle: 



Haloalena, the chief of Lanai, was considered a very good ruler. His great favor- 

 ite pastime was the collection of the skeletons of birds. When the chief's bird tax was 

 about due it was the usual custom of the agents to go out and proclaim the chief's 

 wishes. Following was the proclamation announced by the agents: 



Tomorrow cook the food. 



The following da\', 



[Is] the snaring of birds for the king. 



Pick the feathers off the birds, 



Pick all the meat, 



Be careful with the bones lest you break them. 



If the bones are broken and you are a chief of a district 



You shall no longer be a district chief; 



If you are a chief of an ahupuaa' 



You shall no longer be chief of that ahupuaa: 



If it be a common farmer who breaks the bones of the bird, 



Death shall be his portion. 



This was the king's constant proclamation to the people in order that the}' be 

 informed of his law. After a person has cleaned the skeleton of a bird it is then car- 

 ried into one of the king's warehouses and there made to stand. These skeletons are 

 picked clean of their meat and are stood up in rows in their storehouses. After the 

 king's wishes are carried out he is then sent for to come and look at the skeletons. 

 After looking through one house he would go to the next one and inspect the skeletons 

 in that house. This was Haloalena's usual way of passing his time. After inspection 

 the king would retire to his house. 



Once upon a time Kauhi happened to be in Lanai and saw the king returning 

 to his house one day after inspecting his skeletons. Kauhi then went into Haloalena's 

 storehouses with long poles and knocked down all the skeletons from their places, and 

 lie kept this up until he had gone through all the storehouses of the chief of Lanai. 

 When the king heard that Kauhi had entered the storehouses and had destroyed all his 

 skeletons he sent for the son of Kauhiakama and asked him: "Whose mischievous son 



^Ahupuaa, a division of land larger than an Hi. 



