Legend of Kapakohana. 



KAPAKOHANA was the strongest man on Kauai' and because of his s^reat 

 strength he, too, was reigning in place of Ola," the great king of that island. 

 When rumors of the great strength of Kalaehina reached him he became very 

 anxious to meet Kalaehina. After making his preparations he set sail from Kauai and 

 first landed on Oahu; from Oahu he set sail for Maui, landing at Honuaula, where he 

 left his canoe and walked to Kipahulu. That night he slejjt at a house where he was be- 

 friended. 



The people of the place asked him: "Where are you going and where are you 

 from?" He re])lied : "I am from Kauai and am on a journey of sight seeing. I am 

 going to Hana and from there 1 will make a complete circuit of the island of Maui. 

 After that I shall return to Kauai." The people then said: "What a great i)ity that 

 such a good looking man' like you should be killed by our ill-tempered king Kalaehina. 

 You had better return home." Kapakohana said: "Will he then get angry with a per- 

 son who goes quietly along the highway?" "Yes, he will get ajigry. He is the most 

 violent tempered man and is also very powerful. He has destroyed most all the chiefs 

 and warriors on the island and he i^ays homage to no one. Our king, Kamalalawalu, 

 has escaped for fear of him." Kapakohana then (|uestioned them further: "What has 

 he done to show that he is powerful?" "Here, he can pull u]) large trees by the roots, 

 and he choi)s his firewood with his head when the stewards act slow. On the king's 

 labor days the peo])le are not allowed'' to talk for they all fear him. That's it that you 

 may know." Kapakohana then replied: "He is not so very strong then, seeing that his 

 main strength is only in the pulling up of trees. With a few blows from my fists he 

 will run away." The people with whom he was staying said: "'^'ou will not have any 

 chance against him for he is very strong." Kapakohana remarked: "1 would be 

 pleased to meet him in combat if he will say so." 



That night Kapakohana spent with his friends. On the next day he proceeded 

 on his way and arrived at Kaiwiopele in Hema. In this journey the people with whom 

 he had spent the night accompanied him,^ for they were anxious to see the combat. 



When Kapakohana arri\'ed in the presence of Kalaehina, Kalaehina looked up and 

 saw a man standing before him. He then called out in a loud voice: "I will tear you up!" 

 I will tear you up!" When Kalaehina was making this threat, the people took pity on 



'Kauai was noted for her celebrities, and the fame 'It is noticeable in these writings how the sympathies 



of her traditional strong men, her swift runners, her are drawn on for beauty of face and form, 



skilled astrologers and prophets, etc., form the theme of 'Kalaehina, in self conceit, evidently rules by might, 



many chants and stories. without thought of winning his subjects by a consid- 



"King Ola was a ruler of Kauai remembered for his erate course. 



beneficent deeds for the good of his people, in roads, =The visitor naturallv has the sympathy and well 



duches, etc., and is said to have built the temple of wishes of the residents, whose cause against an over- 



Hauola in the Waiawa valley to commemorate his bearing king he voluntarily espoused. 



recognition as of royal lineage, for, like Umi of Ha- «..□ ■ i j •■ i ^ .1 1 1 n: . r • 1 . 1 ■ 



waii, he had to prove his claim. '^''^8 '/ .f P°'' ^°g' '^"' "'^ '^'"^ '° ^"S^'"''' '"^ 



■^ opponent failed. 



(208) 



