Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands - Moloka' i (Part 4)

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Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands
" Keepers of the Culture "
A study in time of the Hawaiian Islands
Moloka' i -- part 4
by Darlene E. Kelley
October 27, 2000

http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374

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Part 4 -- As told by the ancient Hawaiians.

Moloka'i -- 18th Century

At the end of the first quarter  of the 18th century, the chiefs of the
Ko'olau side of Moloka'i fought several battles with the chiefs of
Kekaha side, " the dry land " that stretched from Kawela to Mo'omomi.
The Ko'olau chiefs wanted to get possession of this section of land
because of the fishing. Fishing on the Ko'olau side, with its rough
waters, was almost impossible for half the year. But the chiefs of
Kekala, knowing the value of these fishing grounds, were determined to
hold on to them. This determination on their part caused a general
internal conflict. At this time, Kuali'i, the king of O'ahu, was
residing at Hilo, Hawaii. News of the battles of Moloka'i was brought to
him. So he left Hilo and set sail for Moloka'i. On his way he stopped at
Honokawai in Ka'anapali. Maui, where a chief by the name of Paepae
arrived at the same time. This Paepae was one of the chiefs of Maui, to
come to their aid. Upon Paepae's arrival at Ka'anapali he was told that
Kuali'i had already arrived there. Upon hearing this he went to
ascertain whether it was really the Kuali'i who was noted for his great
strength. This was the sole purpose of Paepae's visit to 
see and be assured that it was Kuali'i.

When Paepae saw for himself that it was indeed Kauli'i he decided there
and then to abandon his first idea of enlisting Kauhi's aid, and left in
haste for Kekaha to notify the chiefs of his discovery and to ask their
consent to the change in the program. Upon his arrival at Kaunakakai he
found that all the chiefs of Kekaha ha gone to Kalama'ula preparing for
another battle to commence upon the arrival of Kauhi. But when Paepae
arrived at Kalama'ula the chiefs saw that Paepae had returned alone and
so were anxious to hear what he had to say about his mission.

When Paepae came up to the chiefs he was asked where the chief Kauki
was. To this Paepae told them that when he left he had made his mind up
fully to procure Kauhi, but upon his return to Ka'anapali, he had met
the King of O'ahu, Kuali'i. so he had returned to imform them of this
fact and to urge them to try and enlist him on their side before the
Ko'olau chiefs got to him first. When the chiefs heard this they urged
Paepae to again set sail, and also sent Kapolai, daughter pf Keopuolono,
to entertain Kuali'i. Early that morning he reached Ka'anapali, but only
to find that Kuali'i had already left for Moloka'i at dawn.

Upon hearing of this, he again boarded his canoes and returned in haste.
While in mid-channel he saw the flapping sails of canoes inside of the
reef at Kamalo, so he followed them in. Before several things in
Kuali'i's canoes could be taken ashore and before they could haul the
canoes on the beach, Paepae arrived and moored his canoes at the stern
of Kuali'i's canoes. He told Kuali'i the object of his errand and asked
him to come to their rescue. He told him that the chiefs of Ko'olau had
taken up arms against them with the intention of taking away their lands
from Kawela to Ma'amomi. [ Mo'omomi ]. He told him of the desire on
their part, several disputes, that a battle was about to commence. Also
he told him about a minor battle had already taken place, in which they
were beaten, and the majority of the chiefs were encamped on the top of
Maunaloa.

When Kuali' heard of this he immediately gave his consent and the canoes
were again put to sea and set sail for Kaunakakai. When they arrived, a
council was held by the chiefs, in which at the close of the council,
they set out. The men were embarked on the canoes, while the Moloa'i
chiefs and Kuali'i went by land until they reached Ma'amomi, where
Kuali'i and the chiefs took the canoes and set sail for Kalaupapa.

When the chiefs of Ko'olau heard the war was to be carried into
Kalaupapa, the war canoes were put out from Halawa and from all the
Ko'olau side to go to battle. But Kuali'i and his chief warriors,
Mahaleana and Malanaihaehae, with two other warriors had already
encountered the chiefs residing at Kalaupapa and defeated those chiefs.
But other chiefs of Ko'Olau and Kona with their men arrived soon after
this, who were prepared to continue the battle against the chiefs of
Kekaha. In this battle, Paepae was very conspicuous both in strength and
bravery, so much so, that he and his force surpassed the chief warriors
of Kuali'i.
When Kuali'i and his followers were victorious over all the chiefs of
Moloka'i, all the lands on the Ko'olau side came into Paepae's
possession. The victory was not, however, gained through the use of the
war clubs, but through the use of Kuali'i's axe, named Haulanuiakea.
Following is the story of the destruction of the enemy by Kuali'i with
the blade of this axe;

While Kuali'i and his followers were floating in their canoes over the
sand bar at Kalaupapa, the soldiers from Ko'olau swam out to the canoes
of Kuali'i with the intention of capturing them. There were more than
forty in number. When they got to the canoes, they lifted them onto
their shoulders. While this was being done, Kuali'i rose with his axe in
hand and swung it along one side of the canoe killing those on that
side, which caused the canoe to lean toward that side, as the canoe was
then on shoulders of the men. When Malanaihaehae saw that all the men on
one side were all slain, he rose and reached for the axe which was in
Kuali'i's hand and swung it along the other side of the canoe, which
slew all the men on that side, and then the canoe again fell on even
keel in the sea and floated as before.

Not long after this some more men of the enemy came along, about equal
of those who had been slain. They again lifted up the canoe of Kuali'i,
just as the others had done. Without any signs of fear, although the
others who had been slain were floating aound them, again the axe was
used in the same manner as before. Again Kuali'i and his followers were
victorious.
This was repeated again and again until the whole army was slain.

At the final battle which was fought at Pelekunu, Kuali'i lef the
fighting to Paepae and Malanaihaehae. Again Paepae showed his quality by
routing the whole army. After this great slaughter, Paepae stood up in
the canoe and spoke to the people in a boastful manner.
" You are all slain by the spear club, of Kuali'i."
At these words the people were for the first time made aware of the fact
that it was Kuali'i that had killed their warriors. The chiefs of
Ko'olau then gave up to Kuali'i the whole of Moloka'i.

Kapi'iohokalani invades Moloka'i --

After the death of Kuali'i, his son Kapi'iohokalani, succeeded him as
ruler of O'ahu and , desiring to bring Moloka'i under his rule, invaded
the island with force. This news reached Alapa'inui, king of Hawaii,
while he was on Maui with his army and fleet. Having no occupation for
these forces on Maui at this time, he went to the help of the Moloka'i
chiefs, many of whom were his relatives. The O'ahu invaders were
defeated and Kapi'iohokalani was killed.

However, with rarer forbearance in a barbarous chief, Alapa'inui neither
annexed Moloka'i to Hawaii nor covered annexation by the name of
protectorate, but reinstated the chiefs who had suffered from
Kapi'iohokalani's oppression, and allowed them to manage their own
affairs, domestic or foreign, according to ancient custom.

Stopping on Moloka'i only long enough to refresh his men and repair his
own losses, Alapa'inui started with his flet for the conquest of O'ahu.

The Moloka'i chiefs accompanied Alapa'inui to O'ahu. O'ahu was not
conquuered. Instead of fighting, a peace was concluded and Alapa'inui
returned to Moloka'i. He rested his fleet, and after assisting the
chiefs there to settle up their affairs and establish friendly relations
with those of Maui and Lanai, he sailed for Maui.