126 Povnandcr Collection of Hawaiian Folk-lore. 



Some time after this, Kuapakaa heard that the season for flying-fish had com- 

 menced at Kohala, so very early one morning he came upon a couple of fishermen, who 

 were fastening on the lashings of their canoe, making preparations for going out fish- 

 ing for fiying-fish. When he saw the men, he said: "What are you two going to do with 

 the canoe?" "We are making ready to go out fishing for flying-fish." "Will you let 

 me accompany you in your canoe?" "No, it will be too nuich of an extra load for the 

 canoe?" Kuapakaa rei)lied: "Do you think so? I believe every canoe ought to have 

 a bailer. If I accomi)any you, I know that I don't share with you on your catch. I 

 know how to fish, and if I make a large catch, I will have to share with the rowers; 

 and even if the catch be small, I must share with you on my catch. In this way, you 

 can see, I will not in any way be entitled to a division of your catch." As the boy 

 spoke pleasantly and in a way, wisely, the men gave their consent and expressed their 

 willingness to take Kuapakaa along with them. 



Upon coming to the fishing grounds, several flying-fish were caught, a fair divi- 

 sion was then made and they headed for home. On their return they met a canoe which 

 was manned by six jwddlers, while the canoe in which Kuapakaa was a paddler had 

 only three. When Kuapakaa saw the other canoe, he said to his two companions: 

 "Let us have a race with that canoe, and make a wager,"*" our flying-fish, that we can 

 beat them." This proposition angered one of his companions, who said: "Why, who 

 .«aid so? How can you beat six men in a canoe race?" Kuapakaa said to the one who 

 made the answer: "You had better get into that other canoe, making seven of you, 

 and the two of us will race the seven of you." 



The other man then replied: "I am afraid I will be deprived of my share of our 

 catch. How can our strength be compared to the strength of all such full grown men? 

 We will never be able to beat them." When Kuapakaa heard this, he said to the man: 

 "You can take the other canoe then, making eight of you, while I shall take this canoe 

 all by myself; and let us place our shares as our wagers. If you get ashore first, you 

 can have my catch and if I make land first I will take your catch." 



This satisfied the others and they asked that Kuapakaa hand over his share of 

 the fish for them to hold; but to this Kuapakaa replied: "No, 1 think you ought to give 

 me the fish and I act as the stake-holder; because if I beat you, you will be apt to keep 

 the stakes, and if I juni]) in to take it from you, you would beat me, for there are too 

 many of you and 1 am all alone. But on the other hand, if you beat me, I will not be 

 able to keep the stakes away from you for you are too many for me, you can take the 

 stakes away from me anyhow." There was nothing wrong in this, so it was agreed, 

 and the fish were handed over to Kuapakaa. Soon after this, the ])reparations for the race 

 commenced and the canoes were brought to the mark. As soon as the word was given, 

 the paddles all came down with a jerk and away the two canoes went. 



On the start the canoe containing the eight men took the lead, while the one con- 

 taining Kuapakaa was left to the rear. As soon as Kuapakaa saw this, he called out 

 to his grandmother, Laamaomao, to send him three surfs to carry his canoe to shore. 

 Soon after the call, a large surf came from behind him and then another and another ; 



"Wager our sliarcs. A sluirc of fish, a kaao, was forty. 



