The Story of Kahahaua. 283 



straightforward. But the anomalous part of their married hfe was tliat in those days of 

 social as well as political profligacy, when a chief or a chiefess took as many wives or 

 hushands as he or she fancied or could maintain, Kahahaua and Kckuapoi remained 

 true to each other with undivided atYection to the end of their lives. 



In A.D. 1770 Peleioholani, — son of Kualii, hereditary Sovereign of the island 

 of Oahu, hereditarv lord of several districts on Southern Kauai, and, hy the grace of 

 his god and the strength of his spear, master and concfueror of the island of Molokai — 

 died, at the adA-anced age of ninety and upward, and was succeeded by his son 

 Kumahana. 



The character of Peleioholani has been variously described in the traditions that 

 have come down from his time. The Hawaii and Maui traditions, or reminiscences, of 

 Peleioholani describe him as |)roud, arrogant, overbearing — ]iroud, even beyond the 

 most exacting Hawaiian etiquette. Molokai traditions acknowledge his prowess as a 

 warrior, but are merciless in the condemnation of him as a tyrant, whose cruelty went 

 even a step beyond what those cruel times considered admissible. Against those two 

 sources of information we have the Oahu traditions which, — though they acknowledge 

 that he was proud, and justly so, because no bluer blood flowed in anybody's veins than 

 in his and in his sister Kukuiaimakalani's — yet assert that his cruelty towards the 

 Molokai chiefs was but a just i)unishment for their wanton and unin'ovoked murder of 

 of his daughter Keelanihonuaiakama. But whatever his reputation on the other islands, 

 on Oahu he was feared as a stern monarch, but also resj^ected as a just man, under 

 whom the husbandman prospered, priests and artisians were jjrotected, and the naturally 

 turbulent character of the feudal nobles kept under salutary, though at times summary, 

 restraint. As sovereign of his island he made the customary circuits, for political and 

 religious purposes, at stated times; but his favorite residence, when not otherwise occu- 

 l)ied, was at VVaikiki in the known district, where a perfect forest of coconut trees 

 enclosed his dwelling or palace on three sides, and the i^leasant grove of kou trees which 

 his father had planted, threw its delicious shade on the heated sea-beach. 



Stern but just. Peleioholani's reign was a blessing to his kingdom of Oahu, which 

 probably had never since the days of Mailekukahi stood higher in [jopulation, wealth, and 

 resources, than at the time of his death. 



The contrast between Peleioholani and his son Kumahana had no doubt been 

 apparent to thoughtful men long before the black kapa covered the mortal remains of 

 the father. Chiefs and commoners alike knew the man to whom their fealty now would 

 be pledged. Indolent of body, weak, fickle and avaricious of mind, Kumahana was a 

 failure as a sovereign, and it did not take long to ripen the public mind to that con- 

 viction. Feal and loyal as the Oahu chiefs had always been to the Kakuhihewa family, 

 whom for six generations they had looked u])on as their representative on the Oahu 

 throne, yet the weaknesses and extravagancies of Kumahana were enough in three short 

 years to alienate chiefs, priests, and commoners to such an extent that when Pupuka, 

 Elani, Makaioulu and other chiefs, in conjunction with the High-priest Kaopulupulu, 

 called a public meeting of chiefs and commoners, to consider the situation of the country 

 and for the avowed jutrpose of deposing Kumahana, not a \oice was heard nor a spear 

 raised in defence of the unfortunate man' who then and there was publicly decreed 



