Fornander collection of Hawaiian antiquities and folk-lore, Volume 1 (of 3) : $b The Hawaiians' account of the formation of their islands and origin of their race, with the traditions of their migrations, etc., as gathered from original sources
History
Fornander collection of Hawaiian antiquities and folk-lore, Volume 1 (of 3) : $b The Hawaiians' account of the formation of their islands and origin of their race, with the traditions of their migrations, etc., as gathered from original sources
Folklore -- Hawaii; Hawaii -- Social life and customs; Hawaiian language -- Texts; Legends -- Hawaii
Ukulii, after his encounter, returned and boarded the canoe. When
Pohinakahonua was seen to come out and issue his challenge, Kila asked:
“Which one of you will go and meet Pohinakahonua?” Hohoiea answered: “I
will.” Kila then instructed him what to do, and he jumped ashore to
meet Pohinakahonua. As soon as he was within reach Pohinakahonua swung
his club to the right, but Hohoiea was not there, as he had jumped to
the left of Pohinakahonua. Hohoiea then swung his club from the ground
upward, which cut Pohinakahonua in two from his hips to his head,
killing him. At this the crowd gave another shout, saying: “The
strangers have two, and the sons of the soil have none. This canoe
carries some mighty men who have killed the warrior guards of the
land.”
The result of the conflict was then carried to the king, Makalii. When
Makalii heard it he arose and came down with his war club,
Naulukohelewalewa. Makalii at this time was living in a land above the
clouds. Makalii was a goodly man to look upon, closely resembling his
older brother Moikeha. He was very powerful and brave, but not like
Kila. As Makalii arrived on the kapued ground he began to swing his war
club right and left. Upon seeing this Kila said to his men: “That is
Makalii, the king. He is a very powerful man; none of you will be able
to stand up against him. I will go and meet him. But before I go, I
want you to remember this: if I shall be slain in this encounter, you
have your course of escape, return by it to Kauai; but in case I live,
then all will be well.” Kila then took up his war club, Kahihikolo,
[135] and jumped ashore from the canoe, stepping on the rocks. At sight
of Kila the crowd began to shout, admiring his beauty. Even the ants
were heard to sing in his praise; the birds sang, the pebbles rumbled,
the shells cried out, the grass withered, the smoke hung low, the
rainbow appeared, the thunder was heard, the dead came to life, [136]
the hairless dogs were seen and countless spirits of all kinds were
seen. All these things mentioned were the people of Moikeha, who upon
the arrival of Kila his son, caused themselves to be seen, in testimony
of Kila’s high chief rank.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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