Famous Men of Early Days. 



Of Kekuawahine. 



KEKUAWAHINE was a master hand at dccci\-ing- and falsifying; he could 

 turn an untruth into a reality; from correct to incorrect, and so forth. When 

 Kamehameha was residing at Pakaka,' Kona, Oahu (that is the place where 

 "White man Jim" lives), at the time that the islands from Hawaii to Niihau were 

 subjugated by him, he was living with his wife, Kaahumanu. Kanaihalau was an 

 uncle of Kaahumanu, whom she placed in power over Hamakua, Kawaihae and 

 Waimea. These lands are on Hawaii, and of course, Kanaihalau became very much 

 favored by his niece, Kaahumanu. On this account Kekuawahine and all the chiefs 

 were very envious of him, and could not get along together at Waimea and Kawaihae. 

 Therefore Kekuawahine meditated on a plan of action. 



Kanaihalau was then with his deputy, superintending the lands. There were 

 two of them, however, Kanaihalau and Malaihi, who were chiefs over Hamakua, 

 Waimea and Kawaihae. Malaihi was at Oahu, residing with Kekuawahine, and while 

 thus living together, Kekuawahine said to Malaihi : "Let us go until we come near 

 to the presence of Kamehameha ; you will then stay behind, and I will go forward and 

 have conversation with Kamehameha, while you will watch me talk." After this con- 

 ference they set forth, and when they were near enough, Malaihi remained behind. 



As Malaihi did so, Kekuawahine spoke as follows : "I am now going to have 

 a talk with Kamehameha. Keep your eyes on me, and do not wander, because on 

 this day we will seal Kanaihalau's death. If I stretch out my hand, that is the signal 

 for Kanaihalau's death. HI bow down and nod back toward here, then that is a sign 

 for you to go and kill Kanaihalau. So you remain and watch while I go and talk 

 with Kamehameha." 



Kekuawahine then proceeded to the outside of Kamehameha's fence and stood 

 there watching Kamehameha chatting with the chiefs. And while they were talking 

 Kekuawahine stretched his arm toward the sea, and afterwards looked to the rear and 

 nodded. After performing these movements, he returned to Malaihi. 



When he had come before Malaihi, he said: "Well, you saw me perhaps stretch 

 my hand toward the sea?" Malaihi answered: "Yes." ' "And you saw me nodding 

 my head to the rear here?" Malaihi answered: "Yes." Then Kekuawahine said to 

 Malaihi: "You go back to Hawaii today, and when you arrive kill Kanaihalau." 



After these instructions Malaihi went back to Hawaii, and landed at Kawai- 

 hae. He then went up and passed Waimea, arriving at Hamakua. He found Kanaiha- 

 lau residing at Eleio, in Waikoekoe. Kanaihalau was then nmrdered, the bones were 

 stripped of the flesh and bundled up in mats, hence the' expression "Kanaihalau Paa- 



^Pakaka was that portion of Honolulu below Queen street now known as Allen & Robinson's, formerly James 

 Robinson's, the "White man Jim" referred to. 

 (486) 



