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
After Kakuhihewa had committed the chant to memory he and his favorites
went out surf riding. Lonoikamakahiki also accompanied the king of Oahu
in this outing. When it became time for Kakuhihewa to cease surfing he
returned to the house with his companions. Just as soon as they reached
the house Lanahuimihaku and his companion said to Kakuhihewa: “Say,
Kakuhihewa, when the king of Hawaii finishes riding the surf and should
send for his loin cloth and kapa, then you refuse the taking of those
things, and tell him that he shall not have the loin cloth and kapa
unless he is able to recite the chant that we have just learned this
morning.” Kakuhihewa then saw that the proposition spoken by
Lanahuimihaku and his companion was a good one, so he carried out the
advice given him by the two men.
Lanahuimihaku and his companion were great favorites in the court of
Lonoikamakahiki prior to their coming to Oahu, and they were recognized
as the most important men in the presence of the king. They were well
treated and accorded the highest position over all the people when
Lonoikamakahiki took charge of the affairs of the government. But there
came a time when the king ceased thinking so very much of them; that
they were no longer his favorites. Because of this neglect they left
Lonoikamakahiki and came and lived with Kakuhihewa. It was these two
men that caused great trouble for Kakuhihewa and his people.
When Lonoikamakahiki returned from having his bath and stood outside of
Kakuhihewa’s palace, he said to his attendant, Loli: “You go in and
bring out my loin cloth and my cloak.” Because of this order of the
king Loli proceeded to get these things, they being in
Lonoikamakahiki’s calabash, Kawalawala, which was in the palace, in the
end of the house set apart for the use of the king.
When Loli came into the house he took the calabash where the things
were kept and proceeded to open it. When Kakuhihewa saw Loli uncovering
the calabash he said to one of his own retainers: “You go and tell the
servant of Lonoikamakahiki not to take the loin cloth until he can
chant the mele in honor of the king’s name.” Because of this order from
Kakuhihewa the retainer went to meet Loli and said to him: “What are
you doing, uncovering the calabash of your ward?” Loli replied: “I am
uncovering it for the loin cloth and kapa of the king.” Kakuhihewa’s
retainer then said: “You must go back without it. You cannot have the
loin cloth until the chant in honor of the king’s name is recited.”
Loli then returned and Lonoikamakahiki asked of him: “Where is the loin
cloth?” Loli replied: “The loin cloth cannot be had. Kakuhihewa has
kept me from taking it. It is only when the chant in honor of
Kakuhihewa is recited that the loin cloth can be given up.”
Lonoikamakahiki then said: “You go back and get my loin cloth and bring
it here, and if they should ask you about the chant, then ask them the
title of the king’s chant.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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