The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-04-17


of the warriors. The king himself,
they sent back in a boat to Waikiki
and the ships proceeded on their way
to Hawaii where Kamehameha was
duly informed of what had occurred,
and the arms intended for his defeat
turned over to him.
The great chief had long been pre-
pairing for the conquest of Oahu and
the consolidation of the group. He
knew how to bide his time but he was,
quick to recognize the opportunity
when it came, and he now felt that
the final blow must be struck. From
the foreigners in his service, especially
from John Young and Isaac Davis,
whom Kamehameha had attached to-
his person, the natives had learned the
use of fire arms, and many of the chiefs
were we'll supplied with war materials.
Without delay, these leaders We're sum-
moned to furnish their quota of men
and canoes, and at the final gathering
Kamehameha's forces numbered $1,000
men. To quote from "A1exander's His
tory He had mustered the largest
and best equipped army ever seen at
the islands," No wonder the inhabi-
tants of Maui offered no resistance to
that "Invincible Armada" Arriving
at Lahaina, that country was treated
as a hostile port, and ravaged accord
ingly. Molokai was the next place
visited and the number of canoes was
so great on this occasion they are said
to have darkened the channel through
which they passed. At this island
final preparations for the conquest Of
Oahu here made. a council of war
campaign, but one of the prominent
chiefs, Kaiana by name. was not in
vited to participate in its proceedings
Alarmed at this occurrence, and feel
ing that the hostile attitude of the
king meant death and ruin to him. he
resolved before leaving AIolokai, to
desert the cause of Kamehameha and
join himself to the enemy. The army
was SO great, he had no difficulty in
making his way unobserved TO the
other side of the island, where, landing
with 1,5OO warriors, he at once offered
his services to Kalanikupule That
king, whose forces We're now gathering
in the valleys back of Honolulu. re-
ceived the deserter with open arms,
promising him a rich reward in case
of victory.
Honolulu, with his canoes extending
along the shore from Waialae to Wai-
kiki, was busily engaged in arranging
for the approaching conflict.
He was not disturbed on hearing that
Kaiana had forsaken him. and possibly
may have rejoiced that he could now
meet him as an open foe. Like Napo-
leon too he believed in his own star OF
destiny and his followers believed IN 1t
also. Marching up Nuuanu at the head
Of a mighty force, he found kalahiku-
pule with the main body of his army
including now Kaiana and his warriors
entrenched at the upper part of the val
ley The details of this battle are
neagre, but we know that the contest
was fierce, and the victory for time
seemed doubtful, but the number OIL
Kamehameha's guns gave him the al
vantage. Kaiana stood, confronting
the foe back of stone wall, behillu
which, the Oahu army was also sta
toned. He held his life lightly, ana 1t
mattered not that he was a target Iof
Kamehameha and his men. A cannon
ball shot from the field piece in charge
of John Young felIed him to the groulu'
and with his fall the tide of battle
turned in favor of Kamehameha. Their
leader. gone, the Oahu army broke ana
fled, retreating farther and farther th7
enemy following up with every step the
advantage gained. Some escaped over
the hills, but finally, driven TO the pan
with the foe in hot pursuit. hundreds