130 Poniaiidcr Collection of Hazvaiian folk-lore. 



opportunity of ofifering wagers and accepting the same by the backers of either side; 

 some on the boy and some on the men. 



As the contestants were about to leave shore, for the starting point, the l)oy said : 

 "Before we start out let us have a final agreement. If I come ashore first, I would not 

 be declared the winner until T have ridden in on four surfs. If T ride the four surfs 

 before you land, then I will be the winner and then you must submit to your fate. This 

 will be the case if you should win. But I suppose you will win anyhow, for there are 

 several of you on your side." I'his extra condition was agreed to. 



The men then boarded their canoe of six fathoms in length and Kuapakaa 

 boarded his canoe, also of six fathoms in length. The two parties then paddled out to 

 sea until they had reached a point which Kuapakaa thought was far enough and so 

 said to the others : "Let us take this as the starting point." The others refused to ac- 

 cept this, saying: "\\'e will not acce])t this as the starting point. Let the starting point 

 be at a distance where the water will hide the shores. W hen we come to that point we 

 will face about " Kuajrakaa replied: "ll will be useless for us to go out any further for 

 there are several of you in your canoe. Why should you fear me, who am all alone? 

 If you had started the race at the edge of the line of surfs, you would have won; but 

 I wish to tell you now that I will beat vou anvhow, and that it will be a sad thing for 

 your wives, children and parents." 



When the houses had disappeared from their view, the men said to Kuapakaa: 

 "Here is our starting point." Kuapakaa agreed to this; the canoes were swung around, 

 placed side by side, and when they were ready the word was given and the race com- 

 menced. On the start the eight men forged their canoe ahead b}^ their powerful 

 strokes of the i^addle, while Kuapakaa fell far behind. L^pon seeing this Kuapakaa 

 watched how the others were using their paddles, and when he saw them raise their 

 paddles some distance out of the water, and that they held their paddles high up by 

 which action the water was forced up high at every stroke, causing an eddy to be 

 drawn along behind their canoe, he forced his canoe into the current formed by the eddy 

 behind the other canoe. As soon as he had entered into this current all he had to do 

 was to see that his canoe kept in the current. While the others were forcing themselves 

 to keep ahead of the boy, by using very powerful strokes, the boy followed on behind 

 taking his time ; and the faster they went the faster the boy followed them. Whenever 

 the boy saw that the others were slackening up he would call out: "Pull harder so you 

 will win." WHien the eight men would hear this, they worked all the harder. 



When the canoes drew near to the land, the boy's canoe being directly behind 

 the other, so that he was not clearh' seen, the ])eople ashore began to dispute as to the 

 merits of the two canoes, and seeing only one canoe, the i)eople yelled out: "The boy 

 is beaten, the boy is beaten." After the shouts had ceased, the canoe of Kua])akaa was 

 seen to come out from behind the other and take the lead, causing the multitude back- 

 ing the boy to raise another shout, for they admired the ])luck displayed by the young- 

 ster. The canoe of Kuapakaa was seen to draw away from the others farther and 

 farther until it reached land first. As soon as Kuapakaa touched shore he grabbed a 

 surf board and swam out to the surf, according to agreement, but instead of going 



