60 Bernice P. Bishop Museum — Bulletin 



"But," warned the messenger, "you cannot win. We feared only 

 Kawelo. Since he is not here you cannot iiope for victory. You would do 

 well to return to Oahu. This is not a canoe fit for doing battle with Kauai. 

 Such a canoe must needs be a big canoe, a long canoe, and a wide canoe." 



During this conversation crowds of people had gathered on the beach 

 with the two head warriors. Each warrior had four hundred soldiers — 

 not to mention the women and children — all clamoring to begin the fight 

 at once. 



But the messenger, mindful of his promise to Kamalama, ordered them 

 back while some of his men carried the enemy's canoe up on the dry sand. 



While this was going on Kawelo had secretly told his brother to loosen 

 the rope that bound his feet. This done, he stood up with his mighty 

 spear, Kuikaa, the Whizzing-Point, in his hand. Seeing him, his followers 

 cried out, "Kawelo is on the canoe !" 



The word Kawelo aroused such great fear in the hearts of the men 

 who were carrying the canoe that they dropped it, killing several. At once 

 the soldiers of Aikanaka surrounded the canoe. 



Kawelo thrust his spear on the right side of the canoe and killed a 

 great number. Then he turned to the left and killed many more. As soon 

 as the Kauai soldiers saw how great the slaughter was, they retreated to 

 the hill of Nounou. There they met great numbers of men hurrying to re- 

 enforce their friends by the sea. 



After the retreat Kawelo ordered his brother to push the canoe back 

 into the sea where he could watch the battle. Then Kamalama arranged 

 the soldiers skillfully as he had been directed. Kawelo's adopted child, 

 Kauluiki, Little-Rolling-Stone, led the right wing, and another adopted 

 child, Kalaumeki, Meki-Leaf, led the left. 



Seeing that Kawelo was not on land, the soldiers of Kauai came forward 

 again, and engaged in furious strife. Kamalama was in the thickest of 

 the battle, fighting with great courage. Kauluiki retreated to the shore but 

 Kalaumeki kept on fighting, killing many. 



When Kawelo saw how things were going, he called out in a loud 

 voice, "When we conquer the island, Kamalama shall have all the Kona 

 side of Kauai and Kalaumeki shall have all the Koolau side." 



Hearing these words, Kauluiki grieved deeply because he had retreated. 

 "It would have been better to have stayed on Oahu," he mourned. "There 

 I at least had taro to eat. Here I have nothing." 



When the messenger saw that the generals and best soldiers of his 

 king had been killed he hurried to carry this news to Aikanaka. Kawelo 

 asked Kamalama to follow the messenger and when he overtook him to 

 scratch him with his spear, to mark him, but to let him go on his errand. 



