The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-04-16
REIGN OF TERROR.
Hawaiian Historical GleaninSS.
lxaanOlxewe, the Oahu Man
Eater.

In the dark days OF aboriginal
Ignorance and paganism, when the
rays of civilization were yet far, far
away below the horizon of Hawaii
mel, there lived man named Kaa
nokewe at Halemano, Waialua noun
tains, who was notable for his in
humanity and love of human flesh,
which was unto him q favorite dish
and delicious repast.
To accomplish his purpose, in
stead of setting traps as he other
wise might have done to capture his
prey, he selected narrow passage
to the mountains, where he was ac-
customed to see people going for
iirewood and greeneries, and built
his hut there. When the villagers
came, and as there was no other way
TO the woods, they had to pass through
the hut. When approaching they
are accosted and demanded of the
purpose which brought them there.
After recting the principal articles
they intend to bring they are allowed
to pass. On returning their bundles
are critically examined, and if any
thing is found of which no mention
is made beforehand-it might have
been convolvulus vine used in tying
the bundle together, or fern leaf
or stray twig unnoticed, entangled
in the bundle-the carrier is seized
and punished, and from the sum-
mary treatment no appeal can be
taken, while resistance is only an
idle dream.
OF all the strong and clever men
in haAdkd lud (bonebrealling wrest-
ing), who tried their strength, none
returned to their homes alive. Strange
to say that, notwithstanding Kaano-
kewe's extreme cruelty and the I'M
successful attempts of the villagers
to check his notorious career, it had
never occurred to their minds to use
any violent means for getting him out
of the way. Had they undertaken to
mob him his cleverness and strength
would have been brought to nought.
But such a way they considered i'm
proper and unfair, and would only
meet him face TO face single-handed
in rough and tumble fight which
was then as common and well-known
as htu.
To bring the visitor TO the habitude
of the tyrant, after leaving the for
mer residence of the Holt family.
following a cattle path for three or
four miles, he is brought in sight Of
an old wooden building, also owned
by Holt, situated In a grove of Pride
of-India trees. Leaving this struc-
ture behind for short distance he is
on narrow passage, on either side of
which is steep precipice. To the
prairie on which the structure stands
this narrow strip of land, which the
reader undoubtedly knows, without
being told, to be the site of the old
hut, connects gradually rising pla-
teau, on which lay fiat plate of
stone. 1t was of this stone com
ments had been made in the BULLETIN
some time ago of an ornamental en-
craving encircling it. 1t was on this
stone the man eater feasted on his
peculiar and highly favored article of
diet. From this plate the plateau
received its name, which it bears un-
to this day, as Ke-pa-ai-kanaka (the
plate in which man is eaten). I'm
fortunately the stone is broken up
and every piece of it taken by curio
hunters. 1t is stated that it absorbed
so much fat that if fire was applied
grease would freely flow from it.
Opposite the plate and in the side of
the pail was the jmu, or oven, in
which the human victim was cooked.
Among Kaanokewe's captives was
damsel whom he spared and took
to be his wife. But when her rela-
tives and friends came to pay her a
visit they were all killed and eaten
by her husband. One day her
brother came to see her it happened
that kaanokewe was in the valley
cutivating potato. The sister lost
no time in imparting to her brother
the habits and doings of her hus-
band, how strong and clever he was
in lua, opening the mystery as it
were how all who visited her never
traced their way back. The young
man, after hearing his sisters I'M
pleasant and fearful story, imme-
dately took leave of his sister, deter
mined to make circuit of the island
in search of an instructor who would
teach him tta, whereby he might be
able to revenge the loss of his rela-
tiyes and free the country from such
a monster.
Arriving home he made prepara-
tions accordingly for the journey and
commenced his travel round KooIau,
He gathered point after point from
different instructors as he went along,
none of whom, however, was able to
give him the full course he needed,
but received advice from them not to
return until he had made circuit of
Kauai. Completing his tour around
Oahu he sailed for Kauai, where he
was shown an old woman, who was
the best instructor in lud on the
whole island. After receiving a
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