Legend of Maniniholokuaua and Keliimalolo. 



MAXINIHOLOKUAUA was a man noted for his great strength and fleetness 

 i)f foot; he lived in Molol<ai. He was without equal in the carrying of great 

 hea\ V ohjects such as canoes and other things. Keliimalolo on the other 

 hand was the greatest runner on the island of Oahu, he being able to make five com- 

 plete circuits of Oahu in unv day; he had no equal on that island as a runner. 



]\Ianiniholokuaua lived at Kaunakakai in Molokai, while his lizard grandmother 

 lived in the uplands at a place called Kalamaula, in a large cave which served her as a 

 dwelling place. It was ]\Ianiniholokuaua's custom to steal and carry away to the cave all 

 the canoes and other valuables from the strangers who landed at Kaunakakai. 



Keliimalolo of Oahu once upon a time, desiring to visit Molokai. set out in his 

 best canoe taking with him his nets, plenty of food and all other things necessary for 

 the visit, and landed at Kaunakakai, Molokai. As he landed the people of the place 

 called out to him : "Say, Keliimalolo, bring your canoe and leave it in the canoe shed, 

 otherwise it will be stolen by Maniniholokuaua, the boy who steals and carries away 

 canoes." Keliimalolo then re])lied; "How can he get awav with mv canoe, is he a fast 

 runner?" With these words Keliimalolo went to a pool of water, disrobed, left his 

 clothes on the edge of the pool and jumped in for a wash. 



Soon after this Maniniholokuaua arrived and approached the canoe. He then 

 patted the sides of the canoe and said: "My canoe, my canoe. I will own this canoe, I 

 will own this canoe." Keliimalolo answered: "Leave my canoe alone; don't take it. 

 Leave my canoe alone; don't take it." While Keliimalolo was talking, Maniniholokuaua 

 lifted the canoe on his back with everything it contained and ran otT at great speed. Ke- 

 liimalolo upon seeing this came out of the water and chased after the thief; but he 

 was not able to catch up with Maniniholokuaua. As soon as Maniniholokuaua arrived 

 at the cave, he called out; "Oi)en up, O cave." The cave opened and Maniniholo- 

 kuaua entered with the canoe. As soon as he was within, he again called: "Close up, O 

 cave," and the mouth of the cave was closed. No sooner than this was done when Ke- 

 liimalolo arrived on the outside of the cave and began feeling for an opening; but 

 after hunting in vain he returned heavy hearted. 



Because of this loss of his canoe, he immediately returned to Oahu and soon 

 after set. out for Kauai, in search of some one who would be able to return him his 

 canoe. He wished to get a good runner. On this trip to Kauai he first landed at Mana; 

 after he landed he carried his canoe ashore and went for a swim. Upon coming to the 

 pool he disrobed and jum])ed in. Just as he got into the water, Kamaakamikioi and 

 Kamaakauluohia arrived from Niihau. They were the sons of Halulu. These two men 

 were noted for their fleetness and could make ten circuits of Kauai in one day. Being 

 very swift they could run on land and sea and from the earth to the skies. They were 

 greater runners than either Keliimalolo or Maniniholokuaua. As soon as they ar- 

 rived at the ])ool they picked uji the malo of Keliimalolo and ran away with it. Kelii- 

 malolo got out of the ])ool and started to chase the two to try and recover his malo; 

 Ijut he could not catch u]) with them. The two ran out onto the sea, on the surface, and 

 when at some distance from the shore they stood and looked at Keliimalolo. Kelii- 

 (164) 



