Keoua
Kalanikupuapaikalani-Nui
Keoua Kalanikupuapaikalani-Nui, styled Keoua-nui, was
the son of Keeaumoku-nui, second son of
Keaweikekahialiiokamoku, King of Hawaii, by his second wife,
Princess Kalanikauleleieiwi, granddaughter of Iwikauikaua
(whose celebrated kapu was the torchlight burnt at mid-day)
and daughter of the high chiefess Keakea-lani-wahine.
Keoua's mother was Kamakaimoku, of the renowned family of
chiefs of Kau, the I's.
This child Keoua was reared
carefully with the utmost dignity due to his birth, for his
father was a "Pio," which was considered among royalties as
the highest rank in the realm. The blood running in his
veins had come from Liloa and Umi in a direct line both on
the father's and mother's side, connecting also with the
royal families of Maui, Oahu and Kauai.
Keeaumokunui
had an only sister, younger than he, named Kekela-nui, who,
as she grew up, was sought after by many beaux, all anxious
to marry into the Keawe line. Among her crowd of suitors a
young chief named Haae was the favored one to win her heart
and hand. Their union was blessed with a daughter whom they
named Kekuiapoiwa the Second. At this time Keoua was still a
child and the idea soon occurred, as was natural, to the
parents of the prince and of the princess that they should
be betrothed, and the ceremony to that end was carried out
with due pomp by court and people. Yet this proved to be one
of those instances where the "best laid schemes" go astray,
as will later be seen.
Comely of person and gracious
to all he met, Keoua as he verged toward manhood became an
attractive personage. While yet awaiting the fulfillment of
the plighted troth of his childhood, rumors of events in
Maui royal circles were wafted across the waters of
Alenuihaba channel which stirred his ambition. They were of
the two beautiful daughters of Kalahumoku and his wife
Kalani Kaumehameha. Kalahumoliu was the reigning high chief
of all Hana including also the districts of Kipahulu and
Kaupo, whose decease had just taken place, his eldest
daughter Kahikikala assuming the right of successorship in
governing his people. Kalahumoku was a lineal descendant of
Loe, the great progenitor of Maui's chiefdom, the Piilanis,
Kamalalawalu and others, and of the Hana aliis as well.
This family possessed a wonderful tabu entirely
different from, and never known to exist among, any of the
other chief families of the Hawaiian group. It was styled
"Ka Poo hoo-lewa i ka La," and inherited from
Kaakaualani-nui, the grandmother of Kalahumoku. It signified
the laying of the head toward the sun's position in the
heavens from its rising unto its setting. Days for the
observance of this tabu were strictly kept. The only time
for recreation during the tabu must be taken from between
the setting of the luminary and the dawn of a new day.
Upon the arrival of the news just mentioned from Maui
Keoua showed great restlessness and anxiety, so much so that
his father beseeched him to make known his wishes. Keoua
answered: "I desire to visit the court of the two young
princesses of Hana, to take to wife one of them, for great
is my ambition to obtain that most wonderful of all tabus,
so as to hand it down to my posterity forever."
His
father assented to this and preparations were immediately
made 'to carry out the wish of the young prince. Followers,
retainers and kahunas formed an imposing retinue for Prince
Keoua and at dawn of a fine morning the expedition sailed
away so as to reach the opposite shore of Muoleilani by
noon. With the sea calm and quiet everything portended a
welcome from his selected hostesses. When the fleet was
sighted by the kamaainas on the Hana shore great surprise
was shown on every countenance. Heralds were sent to the
abode of the princesses to announce that a royal visitor was
about to land. Emissaries were quickly despatched to the
landing to welcome the prince and his followers and invite
them to the royal abode, where Kahikikala and her sister
Kalanilehua would be ready to receive them.
Upon the
arrival of Keoua a truly royal greeting was exchanged
between the three chiefly scions, while an equally cordial
pledging of friendship took place between those accompanying
the prince and those attending on the princesses. Soon it
was noticed that Keoua's attention was more devoted to
Kalanilehua than to her elder and regnant sister whom she
distinctly outrivaled in beauty. It was said of Kalanilehua
that her complexion was like the ohia blossom, from which in
fact her name was derived. She was indeed most prepossessing
in appearance, so that no young knight meeting her could
escape being smitten by her charms.
That Keoua
should have failed to conceal his preference, however, did
not make any difference of feeling in Kahikikala's heart
toward Kalanilehua, for not only was there great affection
between the sisters but the elder held a motherly love for
the younger. So matters stood until Keoua's kahuna deemed it
his duty to give warning counsel to his lord, which he did
in this manner:
"My Alii, you have come to the land
where the sun is never seen setting in the western horizon,
as the high peaks of Mauna Kauwiki obstructed the view.
Therefore the aliis of Hana are called 'Na Lii oi ka La
Kau;' while you have the title and distinction of the Alii
of the Rising Sun â€" 'I ka Hikina i Haehae.' Your purpose
in coming here was to get a legal inheritance which you
greatly coveted for yourself and your successors, that of
the far-famed tabu, 'Ka Poo Hoolewa i ka La,' of which
Kahikikala is the only rightful possessor, as she is the
Alii Aimoku, as long as she lives, of all this country and
people.
"Therefore make amends for your past
indifference and lack of courtesy, and seek Kahikikala's
forgiveness and respect. Besides, she being the elder-born,
her progeny will always take precedence of seniority by
birth."
Keoua rose to his feet and said: "I have
done wrong and I shall try to make reparation for my past
heedless infatuation."
Now Kalanilehua was well
versed respecting her position as the only Hooilina or
successor to her sister so long as her sister remained
single, as well as conscious that all the honors should be
paid to her sister, and aware of the duty of abiding by the
monarchical law that required respect and kindness toward
all royal visitors at the court. Therefore she permitted
Keoua's behavior toward herself to grow no warmer, but not
alone for that reason but because her heart had been already
captured by a chief to the manor born "o ka aina" Ua
Lanihaahaa, who claimed descent from the noble family of
Elani. It was as if a flood of sunshine had come over her,
leaving her in her full glory, free and happy.
In
the meantime events were taking a different course in
Kahikikala's life. Keoua was anxious for the culmination of
the grand desire of his heart through the ceremony of the
"Hoao." Accordingly all the subjects dwelling in Hana,
Kipahulu and Kaupo were summoned for the grand hookupu and
hearing of the proclamation of the "Hoao"' of Keoua and
Kahikikala. Feasting, dancing and merry-making in turn
expressed general happiness and rejoicing until it was time
for the people to return to their homes.
Weeks
extended into months with Keoua happy and contented in his
new home. Places of inter-est, including the sublime extinct
crater of Ha-leakala, were visited by himself and retinue.
To the "house of the rising sun," as the name of the vast
mountain .signifies, the distinguished expedition was
accompanied by the best informed guides and persons versed
in the old folklore and legends of the weird region. On the
fourth day they emerged from the interior of the crater
through the Kaupo Pass. At the exit the vast multitude was
met by the folks of that district with a well prepared feast
in honor of the alii and his party. Thence the royal
excursion was continued to one of Kahikikala's homes at
Kaupo, for a rest of a few days before facing the rugged
trails of Kipahulu, a district noted for its precipitous
cliffs and deep ravines. Upon this final stage of the return
journey, Keoua, according to custom, was carried upon the
backs of his sturdy lieges, one relieving another as
necessary.
During all this time events at home were
in a lively turn, for the people of Kipahulu and Kaupo were
eager to have carried out that which they required, namely,
that one of the sisters should make a resident court at
Kipahulu, and they looked to Kalanilehua to gratify their
longings. So the day was set that the Hoao of Kalanilehua
and her devoted lover should be solemnized, it being
arranged so as to take place as soon as Keoua reached home.
The repetition of the sacred ceremony was carried
out, being as bright and joyous as the nuptials of
Kahikikala and Keoua's had been. The day of departure for
the royal couple was one of sorrow for the two sisters.
Multitudes of people escorted the pair to their new home,
borne on covered palanquins carried on men's shoulders.
The next event for grand celebration was the birth of
Keoua's son and firstborn, who was deemed "Ka Keiki o Kona
wa Heuole," which means the offspring of his beardless
youth. The child was named Kalokuokamaile. Of course this
brought many from other courts far and near, including
people of Maui. Their rejoicings seemed to know no bounds.
Kahikikala spared nothing in lavishly entertaining the vast
multitude with all the country afforded. When the time came
for the guests to depart for their homes they were loath to
go, Kahikikala and Keoua having proved such agreeable and
courteous hostess and host. With cordial invitations for
renewal of visits and pledges of eternal friendship they
took farewell.
Kalokuokamaile had reached his third
year a handsome and lovely child, but there was a cloud
coming to shadow his bright life. He was soon to lose a kind
father's embraces and a parent's unbounded love. An embassy
from the long-forgotten father, Keeaumokunui, desired the
return of his son Keoua to his paternal home, to accomplish
the heart's wish of his parents that he should espouse his
cousin Kekuiapoiwa the Second, their niece, they having been
betrothed from infancy. Keoua turned to his faithful and
downhearted wife, entreating, "What shall I do?"
"Return to your home and obey the desire of your parents and
people," in self-sacrificing spirit she replied. "Here is
your son, the love of your youth. He will be my comfort and
solace, to requite my affection for you in your absence."
The prince bowed low and embraced Kahikikala,
saying, "I will do as you bid me.''
When
preparations were completed for his return to his ancestral
home, there was sorrow and weeping all over Hana, for Keoua
had endeared himself to the whole country of Hana, Kipahulu
and Kaupo. On the day of his departure Keoua turned to
Kahikikala and said: "Be tender and loving toward our son
and always teach him to understand that it is to obey the
dictate of my conscience that I return to my father, for he
showed me great love by granting me the great wish of my
life to come here in search of you. Although my footsteps
are turned homeward, my heart remains with you and our
child. With our child I leave my tabu "a noho kane hele ka
wahine."
Thus saying he departed; embarking in his
canoe, regally fitted up to bear the royal scion home,
followed by his suite and attendants. |
History of the Father of
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