The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-12-11
INCIDENTS In HAWAIIAN HISTORY,

Before Kamehameha the First had re- |
duced the island Of Hawaii to his subjec- |
tion the various districts were ruled over
by petty kings or high chiefs. Anec-
dotes OF three OF these aliis who success
sively ruled over the large district of
Kau, are still current among the natives.
They are not mythical, but actual
events.
Koihala the ALI of Kau was about
making voyage from Kona to Kau in
his fleet OF canoes He sent word to his
people of Kau to meet him with supplies
of food on a certain day at Kappa.
The people cooked hogs, dogs and
potatoes and prepared poi, water in Gala
bashes and other supplies in sufficient
quantities for the chief and his retainers,
and started afoot with their burdens to
meet him. On arriving at Kappa the
feet came along but did not stop. The
ALI called to the people ashore to go
back to the next landing towards South
Point. They resumed their burdens
and retraced their steps to this place,
the king proceeding by sea. At this
place they were told to 60 on still fur
Their to another landing. This was re-
peated several times ard they were
finally told to climb the steep pail and
meet the king at Kaalualu around and
east of South Point. The people were
| tired, foot sore and hungry from their
wearisome travel over the lava and de-
| termined upon different reception to
| their ALI from what he expected. They
| said 1--WE will teach these chiefs lesson
not to wear us out with their capricious
whims. We are hungry and We will eat
the food and give him another article of
| diet instead F." So they sat down and
ate up the food and filled the ti-leaf con-
| tainers with stones and proceeded to
near the coast and sat on slight hill to
await the coming of the chief and his
party. He landed and proceeded up
the ascent to receive his hookupu (tri-
butte Of food. When near, the people
stood up and, taking the stones from the
containers, threw them at the king and
his retainers saying, Here is your pig"
"Here IS your dog" "Here are your
potatoes" ETC., and Koihala was killed
The stone, short way on the road from
Kaalualu to Waiohinu is still pointed
out as the exact spot where Koihala--
the exacting tyrant-met his death.
Another chief, Kahaikalani, was told
by the priests that he must build q
heiau, or temple, on the summit of one
Of those abrupt hills or craters which lie
in the rear of the present Hilea Planta-
ton. The people, men, women and
children were all called out to perform
this task. Stones in large quantities
had to be carried up the steep hill to the
summit. When the temple was COM
pleted, certain large tree growing on
the land below had to be felled and
dragged up to the summit, there to be
made into an idol for the temple. On
the top of the hill was dense forest,
but none of these trees would suit, out
of which the idol was to ne made. The
tree designated by the kahuna (priest)
was cut down, and the people were not
allowed to trim it so that it could be
easily dragged to the top. Ropes of bark
were prepared, and the people in long
lines were made to tug at it, and, after
severe labor, they got the log to the
steepest part, but could 20 no further
with it. They then said to the chief,
''You and the priests go to the lower end
OF the log and push, and at a signal we
will make another effort to get it up to
its place" The king and priests took
their stations, and with a great shout
the people made superhuman effort,
and the log started again on its upward
course When nearly at the top, upon
signal which was preconcerted, the
people let 90 OF the ropes, and the log
went crashing down the hill, destroying
king and priests in its course. Thus the
reign of another tyrant and his advisers
was ended.
Halaea, another ruler of Kau, was very
fond of fish. His custom was when the
people were out in the deep water off the
South Point with their long nets, after
they had made good haul, to proceed
out in his royal canoe and select from
each the best fish that were taken. On
one occasion the people determined to
put an end to his rapacitv. The people
were fishing off Kalae (South Point well
out to sea and were very successful
When the king came along as usual to
make his selection, the people crowded
around him with their canoes and each
one passed the fish into his canoe so fast
that it was soon swamped and sunk and
Halaea drowned.
From these and other similar acts OF
resistance to tyrannical exactions on the
part of their chiefs, the people of Kau
were called makaha, ;" robbers" and
they to-day have the same bold spirit OF
independence. 4. F. J.
December, 1890.