THE HAWAIIAN /SLANTS. 
165 
of the rising industries of the island; but time alone can tell whether Oahu will be able to 
compete-successfully with its formidable rivals the West Indian Islands. 
The histoiic traditions of Hawaii, like those of many other countries, mainly deal with 
wars and intrigues between kings and chiefs, and, as such, possess little real interest. An 
event in local history at the end of the last century, however, deserves a brief record 
here. The valley of Nuuanu was the scene of the battle in which Kamehameha, King 
of Hawaii, defeated Kalanikupule, King of Oahu, and thus added the latter island to 
his dominions. Kamehameha one of the most remarkable men whom the Polynesian race 
has produced—was amongst the visitors on board Captain Cook’s vessel when the latter 
appeared off Maui towards the end of 
November, 1778. He was then a mere 
youth in attendance upon King Kalaniopun, 
whom he ultimately succeeded as ruler of 
Hawaii. In 1794, Kamehameha set out at 
the head, it is said, of an army of 16,000 
men, including a few white men, to conquer 
the neighbouring islands. He rapidly overran 
Maui, Lanai, and Molokai ; and ip February, 
1795, he landed on Oahu, and marched to 
the valley of Nuuanu, where Kalanikupule 
was encamped. The latter had taken up a 
position on the steep side of a hill about 
half-way up the valley. A stone wall which 
protected him in front was soon knocked 
down by a field-piece with which Kamehameha 
was provided. The Hawaiian forces then 
attacked the Oahuans, many of whom were 
slain on the spot, and the rest pursued with 
great slaughter to the end of the valley. Some were driven headlong over the brink of 
the precipice at the foot of the Pali, and lay, mangled and lifeless corpses, on the rocks and 
trees beneath ; others fought step by step with desperation, among them Kalanikupule, 
who, gallantly contesting his inheritance to the last, met a warrior’s death. The bodies of 
the slain were sacrificed, and many heads were impaled upon the walls of the Temple at 
Waikiki. The scene of this catastrophe is now traversed by the road which winds up 
towards the Pali, and the rocks around repeat no harsher sounds than the gay laughter and 
the clatter of the hoofs of mounted parties going towards or returning from Honolulu. 
H.M.S. “Challenger” left the harbour of Honolulu in the forenoon of the nth August. 
During the day we remained in sight of Oahu, engaged in the operation of swinging ship in 
order to ascertain the errors of the compass and dipping-needle. In the evening we proceeded 
southwards with a strong north-easterly breeze, and on the following day entered the channel 
