Rice — Hawaiian Legends 61 



Kamalama overtook the messenger before he was half way up the hill. 

 Tearing ofif his clothes, he beat him and then let him go. As the poor man 

 ran to his king he cried, "We have no men left. All are killed. When I 

 swam out to the canoe, Kamalama was the leader. Kawelo was nowhere 

 to be seen. When the canoe came ashore, Kawelo appeared." 



This news was a great surprise to Aikanaka because when he had heard 

 that messengers had been sent to Oahu for Kawelo he had called together 

 his bravest and most valiant warriors. Kauahoa had also been ordered 

 to join them on the hill of Nounou, which had been well fortified. There 

 provisions had been stored. The hill teemed with the celebrated soldiers 

 of Kauai, 



As the king was listening to the report of his messenger, two of his 

 head soldiers, Kaiupepe, Flat-Nose, and Mano, Shark, asked if they 

 could go down to the sea with eight hundred soldiers and engage in battle 

 with the invaders. They asked only for the king's messenger as guide. 

 The king granted this request and they advanced to join in battle. 



The fresh troops met Kamalama's men and were slaughtered. Only the 

 messenger escaped. He hurried to carry the news of this disaster to his 

 king. "That is not a battle yonder." he cried, "it is a fire. Kamalama can 

 throw his spear through ten men." 



Great anger filled the heart of Aikanaka. Two other generals boasted 

 of their strength and begged to be allowed to fight with their four hundred 

 soldiers. As they advanced, Kamalama met them. In the battle which 

 followed the men from Oahu showed their wonderful skill in spear throw- 

 ing. They could spear an ant or a fly. Easily they killed all but the two 

 generals. Then the hand of one of these men was speared. 



But this battle had been so furious that Kamalama and Kalaumeki 

 were beginning to be weary, and they were being hard pressed by the 

 enemy. Kawelo saw this and called to them to retreat. While they were 

 retreating, Kawelo ordered his paddlers to paddle the canoe to the shore. 

 There he learned that most of the Kauai soldiers had been killed. The 

 rest were about to retreat. 



Kawelo then angered his brother by granting more land to his step-son. 

 Kamalama left the battlefield, but was brought back by these flattering 

 words, "Why do you depart, my young brother? You are the greatest 

 soldier of all. You are hungry now ; so your strength is waning." 



Just then reinforcements came from Nounou and the Oahu soldiers 

 retreated to the spot where Kawelo was standing. Seeing Walaheeikio, 

 one of Kauai's most celebrated soldiers, advancing, Kawelo thus addressed 

 him, "If you will join my forces, I will give you my sister as your wife." 



