Kaao no Kapakohana

Legend of Kapakohana.

Kapakohana was the strongest man on Kauai and because of his great strength he, too, was reigning in place of Ola, the great king of that island. When rumors of the great strength of Kalaehina reached him he became very anxious to meet Kalaehina. After making his preparations he set sail from Kauai and first landed on Oahu; from Oahu he set sail for Maui, landing at Honuaula, where he left his canoe and walked to Kipahulu. That night he slept at a house where he was befriended.

Oia ko Kauai kanaka ikaika loa, a oia ke noho ana ma ko Ola wahi, ko Kauai alii nui. A lohe oia i ko Kalaehina ikaika, makemake iho la oia e holo mai e hakaka me Kalaehina. Holo mai la ia mai Kauai mai a pae ma Oahu, mai Oahu mai a pae ma Honuaula i Maui, kau na waa i laila, hele aku la mauka a hiki i Kipahulu, ahiahi iho la, moe malaila, i kau hale kamaaina.

The people of the place asked him: “Where are you going and where are you from?” He replied: “I am from Kauai and am on a journey of sight seeing. I am going to Hana and from there I will make a complete circuit of the island of Maui. After that I shall return to Kauai.” The people then said: “What a great pity that such a good looking man like you should be killed by our ill-tempered king Kalaehina. You had better return home.” Kapakohana said: “Will he then get angry with a person who goes quietly along the highway?” “Yes, he will get angry. He is the most violent tempered man and is also very powerful. He has destroyed most all the chiefs and warriors on the island and he pays homage to no one. Our king, Kamalalawalu, has escaped for fear of him.” Kapakohana then questioned them further: “What has he done to show that he is powerful?” “Here, he can pull up large trees by the roots, and he chops his firewood with his head when the stewards act slow. On the king’s labor days the people are not allowed to talk for they all fear him. That’s it that you may know.” Kapakohana then replied: “He is not so very strong then, seeing that his main strength is only in the pulling up of trees. With a few blows from my fists he will run away.” The people with whom he was staying said: “You will not have any chance against him for he is very strong.” Kapakohana remarked: “I would be pleased to meet him in combat if he will say so.”

Ninau mai la kamaaina: “Mahea kau wahi hele? A mai hea mai nei oe.” Olelo aku keia: “Mai Kauai mai nei au, e hele ana i ka makaikai a hiki i Hana a puni o Maui nei, alaila, hoi ia Kauai.” I mai na kamaaina: “Minamina wale ko kanaka maikai, i ka make i ke ’lii huhu o makou, ia Kalaehina, e aho e hoi oe.” I aku o Kapakohana: “He huhu no ka ia i ka mea hele malie ma ke alanui.” “Ae, he huhu no, he oi kela o ke kanaka huhu a me ka ikaika, ua noke ia na ’lii a me na koa, aohe puko momona ia ia, a ua mahuka ke ’lii o makou, o Kamalalawalu a holo, no ka makau.” Ninau aku o Kapakohana: “Heaha na hoailona ikaika ona a oukou i ike ai?” “Eia, e hiki ia ia e huhuki i na laau nunui e ulu ana, a e hiki ia ia e kaka i kana wahie ma kona poo (me he koi la ka oi), ke lohi ke kaka ana o na aipuupuu. Ina he la koele, aohe pane leo, aohe walaau, nolaila kau ka weli i na kanaka a pau nona, oia la i lohe oe.” I aku o Kapakohana: “Aohe hoi ha he ikaika, he ikaika huhuki laau wale iho la no, ehia auanei au puupuu holo ia.” I mai na kamaaina: “Aole oe e pakele, he ikaika auanei kela a kana mai.” Olelo aku o Kapakohana i na kamaaina: “Ina e aa mai ia ia’u e hakaka maua, lealea loa au.”

That night Kapakohana spent with his friends. On the next day he proceeded on his way and arrived at Kaiwiopele in Hana. In this journey the people with whom he had spent the night accompanied him, for they were anxious to see the combat.

Moe iho la lakou a ao ia po, hele aku la o Kapakohana a hiki ma Kaiwiopele i Hana, ma keia hele ana o Kapakohana, hahai pu aku la na kamaaina o kona hale i moe ai, e ike i ko laua hakaka ana.

When Kapakohana arrived in the presence of Kalaehina, Kalaehina looked up and saw a man standing before him. He then called out in a loud voice: “I will tear you up! I will tear you up!” When Kalaehina was making this threat, the people took pity on Kapakohana, for they were sure that he would be killed. Kapakohana, however, fearlessly held his ground. When he saw the people working and not a word could be heard from them, he knew that what he had heard was indeed true. Kalaehina then prepared himself to grapple with Kapakohana. When Kapakohana saw that Kalaehina was about to take hold of him he called out to the people to stop their work.

A hiki o Kapakohana i mua o Kalaehina, nana mai la o Kalaehina a ike he kanaka e hoea aku ana i mua ona. Kahea mai la o Kalaehina, me ka leo nui: “E nahae auanei! E nahae auanei!” Ia manawa a Kalaehina i kahea ai, ke aloha nei ka lehulehu ia Kapakohana i ka make ia Kalaehina. A hiki o Kapakohana i mua o ke alo o Kalaehina a me na kanaka mahiai, nana aku la ia, aohe pane leo, aohe walaau, no ka mea, ua kau o Kalaehina i ke kanawai, no ka walaau. Ia wa, makaukau o Kalaehina e hopu ia Kapakohana, a ike o Kapakohana ia anehenehe o Kalaehina, e hopu ia ia, kahea aku la ia i na kanaka koele, ua oki ke koele.

Kalaehina then grabbed hold of Kapakohana and held him. Kapakohana also reached out and held Kalaehina fast, this being Kapakohana’s favorite method [of fighting]. The two then began to wrestle; first one would be on top and then the other would be on top. This was kept up until Kapakohana was almost exhausted. While they were wrestling, Kapakohana was at the same time studying how he could overcome his opponent; at last he hit upon a plan, and that was to push his opponent to the cliff of Kaihalulu, at the sea shore, near to Kapueokahi in Hana. When they were directly on the cliff, Kapakohana made one last effort and they both rolled over the cliff and fell into the sea, both going under. After a while Kapakohana came up with the dead body of Kalaehina. Kapakohana then proceeded to cut out the lower jaw of Kalaehina and showed it to the people who were gathered at the beach. When they saw the jaw of Kalaehina, they knew then that he was indeed dead.

Ia manawa, lele mai la o Kalaehina a hopu ia Kapakohana, paa iho la, e puliki aku ana o Kapakohana ia Kalaehina paa loa, no ka mea, o ia ka Kapakohana mea makaukau loa. Ia manawa hakoko laua me ka ikaika loa, maluna, malalo, malalo, maluna, a aneane e pau ke aho o Kapakohana. I loko o ko laua wa e hakoko ana, noonoo iho la o Kapakohana, hookahi mea pono ia ia, e hooke ia Kalaehina, i ka pali kahakai o Kaihalulu e kokoke la i Kapueokahi ma Hana. A kupono laua maluna pono o ka pali o Kaihalulu, lele pu aku la laua a elua i ka pali, a nalo i loko o ke kai, a mahope, ea mai la o Kapakohana, ua make o Kalaehina. Lawe pu mai la o Kapakohana i ke a auwae o Kalaehina a hoike ae la i na kanaka o uka, maopopo iho la, ua make o Kalaehina.

After the death of Kalaehina, Kamalalawalu again became the king of Maui and took upon himself his former powers. The people of Hana urged upon Kapakohana that he remain with them as their chief and that he rule over them in place of Kalaehina; but he refused.

Mahope o ka make ana o Kalaehina, lilo ae la o Kamalalawalu i alii no Maui, e like me kona ano mamua. O na kanaka o Hana, kaohi mai la lakou ia Kapakohana e noho i alii no lakou, e like me Kalaehina, hoole aku o Kapakohana.

A few days after the death of Kalaehina, Kapakohana returned by way of Honuaula to the place where his canoe was moored, boarded it and he set out for Molokai landing at the Kalaau point, where he spent the night. Early the next day he again set out and landed at Ulukou in Waikiki; from this place he continued on his way and by night of the same day he landed at Pokai, in Waianae. On the next morning he again set out and by dusk he entered the mouth of the Wailua river, in Kauai, where he landed.

Alaila, hoi aku la o Kapakohana, a loaa na waa ona ma Honuaula e kau ana, ee aku la ia a holo i ka moana, a pae ma Molokai, i ka lae o Kalaau, moe a ao ae, holo a pae mai ma Waikiki i Ulukou. Ia po a kau i Pokai ma Waianae, moe a kupono ka la, holo aku la a molehulehu, komo ma Wailua i Kauai, a pae aku la i uka.

That night while he and his people were getting ready for their evening meal the robber cannibal of Hanakapiai arrived; he was on his way to kill and devour the people of Wailua. When Kapakohana saw the hairless cannibal he said: “What do you want coming here? Do you not know that I am the strongest fighting man on Kauai? Why are you not afraid of coming to this place?” The robber answered: “I don’t know who you are, nor your strength. I did not come here to hear you talk. I came here on a different errand.” Kapakohana then asked him: “What is your errand?” The hairless cannibal answered: “To eat you up first and then chew your bones until they are as fine as dust.” Kapakohana then said: “I am ready for you then.” Kapakohana then grabbed hold of the robber around the body and held him fast, but this was nothing to the cannibal. They then began to wrestle until Kapakohana was held by the cannibal and was so exhausted that he began to grow faint. Kapakohana, realizing that he would get killed if they were to keep on with the fight, asked of the cannibal that they become friends and to come and go to visit each other and partake of cooked taro.

Ia lakou e makaukau ana e paina, hiki ana ka olohe aikanaka o Hanakapiai, e hele ana e ai i kanaka o Wailua. A ike o Kapakohana i ka olohe, olelo aku la ia: “Ea, heaha kau o onei o ka hele ana mai, aole oe i ike, owau ko Kauai nei kanaka ikaika i ka hakaka, a heaha kou mea i makau ole ai i ka hele maanei?” Olelo mai ka olohe: “Aole au i ike ia oe, a me kou ikaika aole hoi au i hele mai e hoolohe i kau olelo, he hana okoa ko’u mea i hiki mai ai ianei.” Ninau aku o Kapakohana: “Heaha ia hana au?” Wahi a ka olohe: “O kuu ai aku ia ia oe a pau, o kuu nau aku i ko iwi a waliwali, a okaoka, a lehu.” I aku o Kapakohana: “Ua makaukau wau ia mau mea au e olelo mai la.” Ia wa, lalau o Kapakohana i ka olohe, me ka puliki a paa loa i kona kino, aka, he mea ole ia i ka olohe. Ma keia hakoko ana, ua paa loa o Kapakohana i ka olohe, a ua pau loa kona aho, a kokoke e nawaliwali o Kapakohana, nolaila, nonoi aku o Kapakohana: “E hoaikane kaua, he mea kipa ka hale, he mea ai na kalo moa.”

At this request the hairless cannibal of Hanakapiai agreed to be friends and allowed Kapakohana to get up and to cease the combat. Thinking that Kapakohana was honest in his intentions the robber cannibal became careless at nights and grew less watchful. One night while he was fast asleep, Kapakohana and two forties of his men came and surrounded the house of the cannibal with nets and ropes and prepared to catch him.

Ma keia olelo a Kapakohana, ua hookuu ka olohe aikanaka o Hanakapiai ia Kapakohana, manao iho la ka olohe, he olelo oiaio keia a Kapakohana, walewale kona manao, a hemahema kona moe ana i ka po. Ia ia e moe ana, ala mai la o Kapakohana me kona mau kanaka elua kanaha, a hoopuni i ka hale me ka upena, a me na kaula he nui loa a me na kanaka e makaukau ana e hopu i ka olohe, ia lakou e makaukau ana e hoopuni i ka upena.

While the men were engaged in their work, the cannibal rose and sat up, for he was disturbed by the sound of the voices of the men outside of the house. He then looked out and saw the people setting their nets; he then studied a plan as to the best means of getting out. Instead of trying to get out by the doorway he climbed up to the roof and tore open the top of the house and made his escape by taking hold of a branch of the kukui tree which grew close to the house. There he sat and listened to the talk and the orders that were being given by Kapakohana, to make ready and set the house on fire so as to kill the hairless cannibal. When he heard this, he said to himself: “I am going to kill you all and eat you up, from the smallest to the largest of you.” He then jumped down from the tree and crawled up to the men and began killing and eating them. He kept this up until he came up to Kapakohana. When Kapakohana saw the cannibal he jumped at him and held him by the throat. The fight was continued from the rest of that night and all the next day until just as the sun was sinking in the sea the cannibal was at last made fast and held to the ground. Kapakohana then reached out for his war club and struck the cannibal in the temple a couple of times, depriving him of the further enjoyment of the heat of the sun, thus killing him.

Ala mai la ka olohe, a noho i luna, me ka noonoo i kona moe ana, lohe aku la ia i ka nehe o na kanaka a me ka halulu, kiei aku la ia a ike, he upena ka mea e hana ia nei mawaho, lele ae la ia a luna o ka hale, wawahi ae la ma kaupoku, a hemo ae la ke poo ma waho. Lele aku la ia a kau luna o ka lala kukui, noho iho la hoolohe i ka leo a me ke kamumu, e olelo ana o Kapakohana. “E makaukau oukou a pupuhi ae ke ahi, i pau ka olohe aikanaka.” A lohe ka olohe i keia olelo, i iho la ia: “Make oukou ia’u. E ai aku ana au ia oukou a pau loa, mai ka mea nui a ka mea liilii.” Lele iho la ua olohe nei, mai luna iho a lalo, kokolo aku la keia a kokoke, lalau aku la hookahi kanaka, pau ae la i ka ai ia, lalau hou alua kanaka, pau hou no i ka ai ia. Pela no ka ai ana a ka olohe, a loaa o Kapakohana lele aku ana ka olohe ai, e lele mai ana o Kapakohana, paa i ka puu o ka olohe, pela laua i noke ai a kokoke e napoo ka la i lalo o ke kai, paa ka olohe a hina iho la i lalo o ka honua. Lalau aku la o Kapakohana i kana laau palau a hoomoe ma ka hono o ka olohe, elua hana ana peia, haalele ka olohe, i ka la i ka mea mahana, a make iho la ia.

Kapakohana then took out the eyes of the cannibal to be used as bait for shark fishing. He next stripped the bones clean and used them for a place to hang up his calabashes. The rest of the body was then carried to the temple and placed on the altar as a sacrifice. Thus was the cannibal killed by Kapakohana.

Poalo ae la o Kapakohana i na maka o ka olohe, i mea kupalu mano, lole ae la i na iwi i mea kau paipu, a o ke kino okoa hoi, kaumaha ia aku la na ke ’kua i luna o ka heiau. Pela i pau ai ke kaua ana o Kapakohana me ka olohe.