286 Foniaiidcr Collection of Hazvaiiaii I'olk-lorc. 



and tliat the surrender of the palaoa-pac would be a disrespect to the gods; in fact, if 

 KahekiH's demands were complied with, the power of war and of sacrifice would rest 

 with the Alaui king and not with Kahahana. He represented strongly, moreover, that if 

 Kahahana had obtained the kingdom by conf|uest, he might do as he liked, but having 

 been chosen bv the ( )ahu chiefs, it would be wrong in him to cede to another the 

 national eml)lems of sovereignty and independence. Kahahana and all the chiefs 

 admitted the force of Kao|)ulupulu's arguments, and submitted to his advice not to 

 comply with the demands of Kahekili. 



Kahekili was far too good a politician to display his resentment at this refusal 

 of his demands, knowing well that he could not have the slightest prospects of enforc- 

 ing them bv war so long as the Oahu chiefs were united in their policy, and that policy 

 was guided bv the sage and experienced high priest Kaopulupulu. He dissembled, 

 therefore, and ke])t up friendlv relations with Kahahana, but secretly turned his atten- 

 tion to destrov the inlluence of KaopuIu])ulu in the affairs of Oahu, and create distrust 

 and enmity l)etween him and Kahahana. In this object he is said tii have been heartily 

 advised and assisted by his own high priest, Kaleopuupuu, the younger brother of Kao- 

 pulupulu. Kaleo]5uupuu envied his brother the riches and consideration which his wis- 

 dom and skill had obtained for him. Moreover, the warlike preparations of his brother- 

 in-law, the Hawaii king Kalaniopuu, cautioned him against precii)itating a rujjture with 

 so powerful an ally as the Oahu king; and Kahekili was but too glad to obtain the 

 assistance of Kahahana and his chiefs in the war with Kalaniopuu, 1777-78, Kaha- 

 hana's forces arriving from INIolokai just in time to share the sanguinary battle on the 

 Waikapu common," related on page 153, [Fornander, Polynesian Race, l\\ and the 

 subsequent events of that war. 



After the return of Kalaniopuu to Hawaii in January, 1779, Kahahana went over 

 to Rlolokai to consecrate the heiau called Kupukapuakea at Wailau, and to build or 

 repair the large taro patch at Kainalu known as Paikahawai. Here he was joined by 

 Kahekili, who was cordially welcomed and royally entertained. On seeing the fruit- 

 fulness and prosperity of the Molokai lands, Kahekili longed to possess some of them, 

 and bluntly asked Kahahana to give him the land of Halawa. Kahahana promptly 

 acceded to the request, not being moved by the same considerations regarding the Molo- 

 kai lands as those of Oahu, Molokai having been conquered and subjected as an appan- 

 age or tributary to the Oahu crown by Peleioholani. At this meeting, while discussing 

 Kahahana's previous refusal to give Kahekili the Kualoa land and the palaoa-pac on 

 Oahu, Kahekili expressed his surprise at the opposition of Kao]nilupulu, assuring Kaha- 

 hana that the high ])riest had offered the government and throne of Oahu to him 

 (Kahekili), but that out of affection for his nei)hew he had refused; and he intimated 

 strongly that Kaopulupulu was a traitor to Kahahana. 



The poisoned arrow hit its mark, and Kahahana returned to Oahu filled with 

 mistrust and suspicion of his faithful high-priest. A coolness arose between them. 

 Kahahana withdrew his confidence from, and slighted the advice of the high-priest, 

 who retired from the court to his own estate in Waialua and Waimea, and caused him- 



°They arrived on the evening of the day that the famous "Alapa" regiment of Kalaniopuu was annihilated 

 by Kahekili. and joined in the next day's general battle. 



