The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-01-18

secreuiy prepared canoe and
manned it with his most trusty fol-
lowers and started it back on long
voyage to Samoa to get some one to
come who was worthy of the throne
of Hawaii.
Many weeks passed by. AT last the
mountains of Upolu appeared, Paao's
old home. The boat hurried on and
anchored in the harbor of Savaii.
The people thronged the beach to
welcome the strangers. Long before
they were in speaking distance the
Samoans knew they we're from
Hawaii on account of their peculiar
ornaments. AS the boat neared the
shore the men began the "Chant of
Paao," closing with the words:
Where are you-O, men of Savaii?
l come from the great fire mountain
Hawaii, where Paao is living
Paao, whose home was Upolu.
Where are you, Paao's blood brother,
The tabu-chief of Savaii?
o, Pill, friend of Paao,
come to you with message"
The message was for Pill to come
with his people and be king of
Hawaii. The chieftain Immediately
set about for the long journey. He
collected much food and prepared
many canoes. Let it be remembered
| that thaaa aonooc u,aro eli l. o-xx,, e..,,,
logs, and that the people had no
tools to work with except sharp
stones, bones and sharks teeth. A
man would sometimes work for half
a lifetime on one canoe, yet by pa
thence it would finally be finished
and decorated with most beautiful
carving.
Pill enlisted great many of the
best seaman to row the boats, and
astrologers who could consult the
will of the gods from the stars. Then
everything was ready. They put
their wives and little ones in the
boats together with their gods and
set sail over a fathomless ocean to
the land of the burning mountain, -
1900 miles away Thus the Samoans
in the 18th century made this won
derful migration in what the legends
call a" cloud of Canoes"
When Paao sent the ambassadors
to Samoa he hoped that the war
would not begin until their return.
But he was on the alert and COM
manded his people to prepare much
food for the war and hard wood for
spears. But Paao's secrets had
turned out as they generally do in
this country. "The bird that speaks
flew to Kapawa with the news that
Paao was plotting against him. Soon
the people of Hilo were startled by
seeing the king with 1000 warriors
sailing into the harbor. Paao had
strongly fortified his temple and
made all possible preparation. When
Kapawa's men landed Paao rushed
on them from ambush and terrible
battle followed, but the kings army
was too numerous and the priest had
to take refuge in his temple. The
chiefs of the surrounding country
were fastening to help Paao, and af-
ter much hard fighting Kapawa was
driven back. He fed to Maui, where
he soon died and was buried in a
cave, which is sacredly guarded to
this day.
Although Paao was victorious and
had driven his enemy from the is
land, his troubles were far from ended.
He had promised the chiefs a great
king from a far-off country. They
had gathered at Hilo and were spend
ing the time in athletic sports and
feasting, awaiting the kings arrival.
Many weeks passed and they were
about to compel Paao to initiate one
of their own number as king. Paao
saw speck in the far-away horizon
and told the people if that did not
prove to be Pill he would comply.
They eagerly watched the stranger
until dark and were up at dawn in
the morning. There was great re-
joicing when they beheld the wander
ers from Samoa sailing into their
harbor.
Paao had appointed the chief from
Kahala master of ceremonies. He
stepped into the waves and shouted,
"aloha" greeting, welcoming the
"son of the gods" from far country.
The people in the boats replied
chanting the song of Pill, all the peo-
pie uniting in the chorus
"Ka. Pill, our chief and our brother,
The loved of the gods, the song of
Wakea,
| He comes, the friend of Hawaii,
The friend, the friend of Hawaii"
Then the spirit of the chief from
Kahala was greatly moved. Hearing
of the recent struggle of the heroic
exploits'of Paao, how he vanquished
the tyrant Kapawa and drove him
from the beautiful Hawaii
Then while all the people kept ST.
lent, in sweet, clear voice he sang
the prophets chorus:
SKA Pill our chief and our brother,
The loved of the gods, the son of
Wakea,
We welcome the king of Hawaii,
The king, the king of Hawaii"
The people shouted with very great
noise: "rhe king, the great king of
Hawaii" Two hundred men waded
into the water, picked up Pills canoe