496 Pomander Collection of Hazvaiian Folk-lore. 



OF KAWAAIKI. 



Kawaaiki was noted for his dexterity in cliiif climbing. He could climb the 

 most abrupt precipice. Kawaaiki was a resident of Molokai, and the cliffs that he 

 climbed in Molokai were those at Pelekunu. These cliffs are very precipitous and 

 very high, measuring about two hundred fathoms from the base to their crest. The 

 top of the cliff's careened outwards, making a curve inwards at the base. Just a lit- 

 tle below the summit of the cliffs, there stood a ])alm tree, and this was the object 

 that allured Kawaaiki to climb that precipice. 



During his ascent the sea below was covered with canoes, because the cliffs 

 rose abruptly from the sea. Kawaaiki's hold against the cliffs was made with his 

 chin, his toe-nails and his finger-nails. Tn this way he ascended till he came to the 

 trunk of the palm tree. Near by where the palm tree was growing was a cave, and 

 in it was the home of a demi-god of olden days, which was Koloea by name. When 

 Kawaaiki reached the mouth of the cave, he held on to it with his chin, his body and 

 limbs hanging down. He then seized hold of the trunk of the palm tree and climbed 

 up. As he landed, in the man" sphere perhaps, he observed that Koloea had the body 

 of a bird with a human head. He took hold of the palm tree, cut it and threw it down. 

 After cutting the palm tree he descended. 



OF KAOHELE. 



Kaohele was most renowned for bravery and his great speed at running; he 

 was without an equal. He belonged to Molokai. During the reign of Kahekili as 

 king of Maui, he (Kahekili) came to make war upon Molokai. In this war the 

 king and people of Molokai were defeated, therefore certain warriors pursued Kao- 

 hele, and if caught were to kill him. While they were pursuing him, he showed won- 

 derful speed, running and jumping, running and jumping. Therefore the pursuers 

 were stationed in relays. As for instance : one at Honolulu, one at Kulaokahua, and 

 one at Waikiki. If the first pursuer chasing after Kaohele did not catch him, then the 

 next would continue the pursuit, and so on; hence the utterance: "Combine the speed 

 in order to catch Kaohele." 



While thus running before his pursuers, he came to a certain Niheu cliff called 

 Kawa, which is in Molokai to this dav- There was at this place a bathing pool for 

 the people. The ground below was very wide, and the cliff's quite lofty by casual ob- 

 servation. Below were crowded the warriors and chiefs from Maui, armed with lances 

 and spears, ready to kill Kaohele. 



When Kaohele arrived at this place he made a great leap from one bank to the 

 other, and escaped, without the pursuers ever coming near to him. Many of the old- 

 er people saw the place where Kaohele made the leap, and they asserted that the dis- 

 tance from bank to bank was thirty-six feet. Therefore Kaohele was quite famous in 

 this and that place throughout these Islands from Hawaii to Niihau, on account of 

 his speed in running and his bravery. 



°Mau, name of a region on the sides of the mountain next below the waoakiia (dwelling place of the gods) ; also 

 called zvaokaitakn, place where men may live. 



