TJic Story of Kalialiaiia. 



287 



self and all his ])eoplc and retainers to be tatooed on the knee, as a sign that the chief 

 had turned a deaf ear to his advice. It is said that during- this period of estrangement 

 Kahahana became burdensome to the people, capricious and heedless, and in a great 

 measure alienated their good-will. It is said, moreover, that he caused to be dug up 

 dead men's bones to make arrow-points wherewith to shoot rats — a favorite pastime of 

 the chiefs ; and that he even rifled the tombs of the chiefs in ortler to make kahili handles 

 of their bones, thus outraging the ]niblic sentiment of the nation. That Kahahana was 

 imprudent and rash, and i)erhaps exacting, there is no doubt ; and that conquered chief- 

 tains' bones were the legitimate trophies of the victors is equally true; but that Kaha- 

 hana would have violated the tombs of the dead — an act of the greatest moral baseness 

 even in those days — is hardly credible, and is probably an after exaggeration, either by 

 the disaffected priestly faction or by the victorious Kahekili plotters. 



While such was the condition on Oahu, Kahekili reconquered the district of 

 Mana, as already related, and, hearing of the death of Kalanioi)UU and the subsequent 

 contentions on Hawaii, he felt secure in that direction, and seriously turned his atten- 

 tion to the acquisition of Oahu. He first sent some war canoes and a detachment of 

 soldiers under command of a warrior chief named Kahahawai'' to the assistance of 

 Keawemauhili*, the then independent chief of Hilo, in his contest with Kamehameha. 

 He next sent his most trusted servant Kauhi to Kahahana on Oahu, with instructions 

 to inform Kahahana in the strictest confidence that Kaopulupulu had again offered him 

 the kingdom of Oahu. but that his regard for Kahahana woukl not allow him to accept 

 it, and exhorting Kahahana to be on his guard against the machinations of the high- 

 priest. Credulous as weak, Kahahana believed the falsehoods sent him by Kahekili, and, 

 without confiding his purpose to any one, he resolved on the death of Kaopulupulu. 

 Preparations were ordered to be made for a tour of the island of Oahu, for the pur- 

 pose of consecrating heiaus and offering sacrifices. When the king arrived at Waianae 

 lie sent for the high-priest, who was then residing on his lands at Waimea and Pupu- 

 kea, in the Koolau district, to come to see him. It is said that Kaopulupulu was fully 

 aware of the ulterior objects of the king, and was well con\'inced that the message boded 

 him no good ; yet, faithful to his duties as a priest and loyal to the last, he started with 

 his son Kahulupue to obey the summons of the king. Arrived at Waianae, Kahulupue 

 was set upon by the king's servants, and, while escaping from them, was drowned at 

 Malae." Kaopulupulu was killed at Puuloa, in Ewa. 



'Kahahawai was from Waihee, Maui. He was a spe- 

 cial friend of Kahekili (an "Aikaiic"), and was the 

 father of Keaholawaia and Haia. 



'It is related by S. M. Kamakau, that when Kahekili 

 heard of the defeat and death of Kiwalao, and that Ka- 

 mehameha had assumed the sovereignty of the Kona, 

 Kohala, and Haraakua districts on Hawaii, he then 

 sent .\lapai-nialoiki and Kaulunae. two sons of Kumaa- 

 iku (w) and half-brothers of Keeaunioku-papaiahiahi, to 

 ask Kamehameha to assist him with some double canoes 

 in his projected war against Kahahana, and that Kame- 

 hameha had refused, replying that when he had subdued 

 the chiefs of Hilo and Kau he then would consider 

 Kahekili's request ; and that when Keawemauhili, the 

 chief of Hilo, heard of this refusal, he hastened tosend 

 some double canoes and other costly presents to Kahe- 

 kili ; and that this was the reason why Kahekili sent Ka- 



hahawai and some soldiers to assist Keawemauhili 

 against Kamehameha. 



''The legend relates that when Kaopulupulu saw his 

 son set upon and pursued by Kahahana's retainers, he 

 called out to him, "/ niii kc alio a moc i kc kai! No kc 

 kai ka hoi ua aiiia." This was one of those oracular 

 utterances in which Hawaiian priests and prophets were 

 as adept as any of their brethren in other lauds. Its 

 literal meaning is— "It is far better to sleep in the sca_; 

 for from the sea comes life, or the means of living." 

 Those who heard it and reported it found the fulfillment 

 of the prophecy when Kahekili, coming over the sea 

 from Maui, conquered Oahu and caused Kahahana to be 

 slain. Others sought tlic fulfillment in the conquest of 

 the group by Kamehameha coming from Hawaii ; others 

 found it in the arrival of tlie foreigners, coming over the 

 ocean with new ideas, knowledge, and arts. 



