The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-06-04

L VI 1ouF centuries, the name Oh UIHl
has been immortalized in verse and
legend. His deeds of valor have been
the theme of many marvellous tales,
yet Invested of the supernatural, in
the simple outline of his life we find
sufficient romance to inspire both story
teller and bard
The son of Liloa, king of Hawaii,
but without rank on his mothers side,
he was brought up by her in ignor-
ance of his claim to royalty, and had
reached the age of sixteen when,
Selling a propitious moment, she sud,
denly revealed to him the secret
which was thereafter to control his
destiny in a remarkable manner. In
vesting him at the same time with the
royal pledges, long concealed, given
her by Liloa-the red malo-the
whales tooth ornament-the yellow
lei-she urged him to lose no time in
making himself known to the king.
Though the news came like thunder
bolt out of clear sky, Uni hest
tated not a moment.
The palace at Waipio was surround
ed by guards and priests, and death
was the penalty for crossing, even the
outer enclosure. Regardless of all bar
riers, however, he boldly made his
way through the kapu line amid cries
of death from all sides, and before
the awe struck attendants could pre-
vent him, entered the presence of the
king. Liloa, asleep at the time, under
his mantle of red and yellow feathers,
he, without ceremony, lifted the man.
tie and awakened him. "Who art
thou?" said the naughty Liloa. 81
am Uni, thy son. replied the youth,
displaying at the same time the proofs
of his statement. These at once were
recognized by Liloa and, from what
we know of his character, he also was
not slow to recognize, in the fearless
bearing of the youth before him, a
son after his own heart. He lost no
time in giving him his rightful place
as prince, second only in rank to Ha-
kau his lawful successor.
But Uni had yet to prove his mettle
as son of a king! The cruel and
treacherous Hakau succeeding his
fo4bor coo, boao,na ;aaIouS of tbic
brother, who was favorite with all
classes and as much beloved as he
himself was feared and hated To the
proud spirit of Uni, life at the court
became intolerable and flinging aside
his princely authority and estate, he
retired with few faithful friends to
Laupahoehoe, where, devoting himself,
to bird catching and other simple in
dustries of the time, he lived life
of great simplicity.
But his identity could not long be
concealed. There were those who had
known him at Waipio and his bearing
was ever that of a king. He soon
had following. Tradition tells us
that among his devoted adherents at
this time was the warrior giant, Ma
ukaleoleo, one who could pluck fruit
from the tallest cocoanut trees as he
walked along, and whose presence in
an army was equivalent to a host. To
him, it was said, Uni owed many of
his subsequent victories. But the life
of this chief needs no legendary en-
bellishment. He knew how to bide
his time, and was equal to the occa-
sion when it came. Following him to
his retreat was the noted high priest
Kaleioku, his fathers counselor, who
took every opportunity to urge upon
the peasant prince the necessity of
freeing the people and himself from
the rule of the tyrant, Hakau. 1t be
came known also that this king was
seeking the life of Uni through his
emissaries, and with his fathers coun-