86 Bcniicc P. Bishop Museum — Bulletin 



Looking back he saw a liuge wave which carried him swiftly to shore 

 and landed him safely on the sand. Then he carried all the fish to the 

 king's canoe where he concealed them. 



The paddlers in the larger canoe feared to ride such a big surf. They 

 felt sure that the boy would wreck his canoe. So they waited until the 

 quiet water followed the big wave and then they paddled ashore. When 

 they saw that all the fish were gone they were very angry and challenged 

 the boy to another race. 



Ku-a-paakaa consented to a second race, but said that he had nothing 

 to wager. They replied that they would wager their bones. The boy 

 said, "I do not want to wager my bones. I am a wanderer here. I have 

 no friends. If you lose the race and are killed your families and friends 

 will wail for you. I'll wager those two double canoes yonder." 



"But those canoes belong to the king. How can you wager them ?" 

 they asked. 



The boy replied. "The king was a passenger with me. I have cared 

 for the canoes for many days." 



Still they insisted that only bodies should be wagered and at last 

 Ku-a-paakaa consented, saying that no blame could be placed on him for 

 laying this wager. 



They set the day of Kau. Midsummer Day, for the race. Each con- 

 testant was to have a canoe six fathoms long. The loser was to pay the 

 penalty by death in an iniii. 



Ku-a-paakaa, knowing that these eight fishermen had received positions 

 at the hands of his father's enemies, saw his father's complete revenge 

 growing nearer. 



The story of the coming race spread all over the island. Eight fisher- 

 men had been beaten by a small unknown boy! They would again try 

 their luck on the day of Kau! Such was the news which reached the 

 king's ears and great was his astonishment, for strange as it may seem, 

 he never once remembered the wonderful boy who had saved his life. 



People gathered from all over Hawaii to .see the race. Men, women, 

 and children hurried to the place of interest bringing with them pigs, 

 dogs, feather cloaks, tapas, and other things, A few wanted to wager on 

 the boy ; many risked everything on the eight fishermen. 



As the sun rose on the day of Kau. it saw the king's fishermen lifting 

 their canoe into the water, preparing the iviu and collecting the wood to 

 cook their victim. When everything was prepared they called Ku-a-paakaa 

 to begin the race. 



But the boy replied, "First we must have ready two surf boards. The 

 ones who reach the shore first must come in on the surf board four times." 



