392 Pomander Collection of Hawaiian Folk-lore. 



CHAPTER III. 



THE BATTLE. 



When Kakaalaneo was almost up to Kepakailiula, he said in a haughty and in- 

 sulting manner : "My spear shall eat of your flesh this day, for my spear never misses a 

 grass blade, an ant or a flea." After this Kakaalaneo asked: "Who shall have the first 

 chance? Shall it be the son of the soil or the stranger?" Kepakailiula replied: "Let the 

 son of the soil take the first chance and the stranger the last." Kakaalaneo then threw 

 the spear that was in his right hand at Kepakailiula. When the spear came near Kepa- 

 kailiula, he opened out his elbow and allowed the spear to enter in between the arm and 

 the body, and when it was half way through he brought his arm to his body and held 

 the spear. The spear came at such speed that when it was held it quivered for some time. 



After the spear had left his hand, Kakaalaneo, thinking that Kepakailiula had 

 been struck, chanted these words : 



You will not escape my spear, because 



My spear can pierce a blade of grass, an ant, a flea. 



How can you escape, you having a large shadow ? 



After Kepakailiula had held the spear until its quivering had ceased, he took it 

 and threw it to the dung heap. 



When Kakaalaneo saw this, he said: "What is it that has caused the point of 

 my spear to depart from the spot aimed at? Was it because of the south wind, the wind 

 that blows down houses? Or was it the awa leaf wind of Hana? for my spear has in- 

 deed missed its mark. That spear from my right hand has missed ; there yet remains 

 the spear in my left; it will pierce you and will yet eat your flesh." Kakaalaneo then 

 threw the spear that was in his left hand, and as it came flying toward Kepakailiula, he 

 opened out the left elbow a little bit causing the spear to enter between the arm and 

 body, and when it was half way through, he closed in his arm and held the spear there 

 quivering, after which he took and threw it on the dung heap like the other one. Kaka- 

 alaneo then said: "Yes, here I have lived en the land and am now well on in years and 

 my spear has never missed before this : but here you have caused them to miss the 

 mark." 



At the close of these remarks, Kakaalaneo attempted to run away. Kepakailiula 

 then called out to him: "Why is the great soldier running away?" Before he could get 

 very far, however, Kepakailiula caught up with him and swung his war club up from the 

 ground,^" catching Kakaalaneo between the legs, splitting him clear to the head. Ka- 

 kaalaneo made but one appeal before he died, saying: "Say, chiefs of Maui, are you 

 then to look on unconcernedly at my death ?" At this appeal the chiefs and the people 

 jumped on Kepakailiula with the intention of killing him in payment for the death of their 

 king, believing that they would be able to conquer Kepakailiula, but in this they were 

 mistaken, for Kepakailiula took those who came within his reach and broke them up like 



"This appears to have been a favorite and successful stroke in attacks with the war club, a number of noted 

 warriors having been slain in the same way. 



