Legend of Kaipalaoa, the Hoopapa Young-ster. 



KAIPALAOA was born in Waiakea, Hilo. His father was Halepaki and his 

 mother was Wailea the sister of Kalenaihaleauau, the wife of Kukuipahu, the 

 king of Kohala. After Kaipalaoa was grown np his father went off to Kanai 

 where he was killed by Kalanialiiloa, a kapu chief of Kauai. This chief was in the 

 front rank of those who took up the profession of hoopapa,' who by reason of his great 

 skill had his house enclosed in a fence of bones/ This fence was almost completed and 

 ever}- bone in it had come from those he had defeated in the profession. 



Halepaki, the father of Kaipalaoa, was also educated in the profession but was 

 not classed as an expert; so when he journeyed to Kauai he was challenged and defeated, 

 and was killed by Kalanialiiloa. Pueonuiokona ' was the king of Kauai at this time. 

 Because of this death of Halepaki, Kaipalaoa took up the profession of wrangling or 

 disputation. Wailea, his mother, was skilled in the profession and so took the education 

 of her son upon herself until all she knew had been imparted to the boy. She then 

 said to him: "Go to your aunt who lives in Kohala, the wife of Kukuipahu, Kalenai- 

 haleauau by name. She will complete your education." 



When he arrived in Kohala his aunt began her instructions. She taught him 

 all she knew relating to the profession: the things above and the things below, in the 

 uplands and in the lowlands; the things that happen by day and the things that hap- 

 pen b}' night; of death and of life; of good and of evil. She taught him all that she 

 knew, whereupon he was classed as an expert, and soon after arose and went in search 

 of his father. He took along with him a calabash * in which were stored all the things 

 relating to his profession and proceeded to the sea coast where a canoe was lying. He 

 took the canoe and started on his journey, first landing at Keoneoio at Honuaula where 

 he spent the night. Early the next morning he again boarded his canoe and set sail 

 landing at Kaunolu, Lanai. From this place he again set sail and landed at Kalaau 

 Point near Kaunakakai, Molokai, where he staid over night. On the next day he left 

 Molokai and set sail for Oahu, landing at Hanauma where he left his canoe and pro- 

 ceeded overland; he first stopped at Kaimuki, then at Niuhelewai, where he took a bath, 

 then continued on his way till he came to Pokai, in Waianae, where he spent the night. 

 When he woke up the next morning he saw the canoes of Pueonuiokona, from Kauai, 

 preparing for their return, so he proceeded to the landing place and asked of the men 

 that he be allowed to accompany them to Kauai. At this request the men said: "Be off, 

 you shameless youngter, you shall not take passage in the king's canoes." 



When the king heard his men talking he called out: "Young man, come here 

 to me." When the boy stood in the presence of the king, the king asked him: "What 



' Hoopapa, disputing, wrangling, wordy contentions, enclosing the house of a robber chief who waylaid trav- 



ilebiite; a profession evidently wherein the interpreta- elers passing his province. It is coincident in these two 



lion of' and play on words afford occasions of witticisms bone enclosures that they both lacked one victim for 



in contests for entertainment, or on wager; sometimes completion, 



of serious moment. ^ Pueo-nui-o-kona, great owl of Koua. 



= /"a /?»'/, fence of bones here referred to, was not a testi- ■< it is not clear what the articles of a professional 



mony of Kauai chiefs' supremacy only, in utilizing the wrangler would be beyond his mental powers, though 



bones of his victims, for the vicinity of Fort Shaffer, doubtless he was equipped for sleight of hand and such 



near Honolulu, had its pa iwi, a fence of human bones, like contests. 



{ 574 ) 



