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
While the Kuaihelani champions were making a circuit of Maui the fame
of Kepakailiula for his great strength and daring came to them. It was
said that he could break [in pieces] any man who opposed him, and he
was the greatest warrior of the whole island of Hawaii. When the
Kuaihelani champions heard of the feats of strength performed by
Kepakailiula, they became afraid and returned to Kuaihelani. Upon their
arrival at their home in Kuaihelani they gave exhibitions of all the
sporting games known to them, such as wrestling, boxing, to wrestle on
all fours, to hide a pebble under piles of kapas, to dance, to roll the
stone disk, to jump from high cliffs into the water, to make the spear
glide, and various other games. In getting up these games they were
instigated by the desire of drawing their youngest brother to them,
when they would kill him, for Aukelenuiaiku was kept under Iku’s
fostering care all the time, and was accorded all the honors due to a
king, and was jealously guarded.
While Aukelenuiaiku was thus guarded, he one day heard the yells and
shouts of the people who were gathered at the games being held by his
brothers, so Aukelenuiaiku asked of Iku his father: “What is the cause
of the shouting down below?” The father replied: “They are holding some
wrestling matches.” “How is that game played?” “It is played by two
persons. They stand up facing each other and each one tries to throw
the other one down to the ground. When one is thrown the people would
shout, expressing their joy. That is the cause of the shouting that you
hear.” Aukelenuiaiku then said: “How I wish to see it!” He therefore
questioned his father relating to the various games. After hearing how
they were played, he asked that he be allowed to go down and look on,
but his father refused, saying: “You cannot go down.” Aukelenuiaiku
then asked him: “Why not?” The father replied: “You will be killed by
your brothers, for they hate you.” Aukelenuiaiku then further asked his
father: “What is the cause of the hatred?” The father replied: “There
is a reason. It is because I have given you all the honors and the
kingdom. Therefore you must not go down, for if you do you will be
killed by your brothers.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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