One of the most famous warriors and chiefs in the days of Kalaniopuu and of Kamehameha, kings of Hawaii, was Kekuhaupio, who taught the latter the art of war. He could face a whole army of men and ward off 400 to 4,000 spears at once. In the battle at Waikapu between Kalaniopuu of Hawaii and Kahekili of Maui, the Hawaii men are put to flight. As they flee over Kamoamoa, Kekuhaupio faces the Maui warriors alone. Weapons lie about him in heaps, still he is not wounded. The Maui hero, Oulu, encounters him with his sling; the first stone misses, the god Lono in answer to prayer averts the next. Kekuhaupio then demands with the third a hand-to-hand conflict, in which he kills Oulu.
C. LOVE STORIES
1. HALEMANO
The son of Wahiawa and Kukaniloko is born in Halemano, Waianae, and brought up in Kaau by his grandmother, Kaukaalii. Dreaming one day of Kamalalawalu, the beauty of Puna, he dies for love of her, but his sister Laenihi, who has supernatural power, restores him to life and wins the beauty for her brother. First she goes to visit her and fetches back her wreath and skirt to Halemano. Then she shows him how to toll the girl on board his red canoe by means of wooden idols, kites, and other toys made to please her favorite brother.
The king of Oahu, Aikanaka, desires Halemano's death in order to enjoy the beauty of Puna. They flee and live as castaways, first on Molokai, then Maui, then Hawaii, at Waiakea, Hilo. Here the two are estranged. The chief of Puna seduces her, then, after a reconciliation, the Kohala chief, Kumoho, wins her affection. Halemano dies of grief, and his spirit appears to his sister as she is surfing in the Makaiwi surf at Wailua, Kauai. She restores him to life with a chant.
In order to win back his bride, Halemano makes himself an adept in the art of singing and dancing (the hula). His fame travels about Kohala and the young chiefess Kikekaala falls in love with him. Meanwhile the seduced wife has overheard his wonderful singing and her love is restored. When his new mistress gives a kilu singing match, she is present, and when Halemano, after singing eight chants commemorating their life of love together, goes off with the new enchantress, she tries in vain to win him back by chanting songs which in turn deride the girl and recall herself to her lover. He soon wearies of the girl and escapes from her to Kauai, where his old love follows him. But they do not agree. Kamalalawalu leaves for Oahu, where she becomes wife to Waiahole at Kualoa. Two Hawaii chiefs, Huaa and Kuhukulua, come with a fleet of 8,000 canoes, make great slaughter at Waiahole, and win the beauty of Puna for their own.
2. UWEUWELEKEHAU
Olopana, king of Kauai, has decreed that his daughter, Luukia, shall marry none but Uweuwelekehau, the son of Ku and Hina in Hilo, and that he shall be known when he comes by his chiefly equipment, red canoe, red sails, etc. Thunder, lightning, and floods have heralded this child's birth, and he is kept under the chiefly taboo. One day he goes to the Kalopulepule River to sail a boat; floods wash him out to sea; and in the form of a fish he swims to Kauai, is brought to Luukia and, changing into a man, becomes her lover. When Olopana hears this, he banishes the two to Mana, where only the gods dwell. These supply their needs, however, and the country becomes so fertile that the two steal the hearts of the people with kindness, and all go to live at Mana. Finally Olopana recognizes his son-in-law and they become king and queen of Kauai, plant the coconut grove at Kaunalewa, and build the temple of Lolomauna.
3. LAUKIAMANUIKAHIKI
Makiioeoe, king of Kuaihelani, has an amour with Hina on Kauai and, returning home, leaves with Hina his whale-tooth necklace and feather cloak to recognize the child by, and bids that his daughter be sent to him with the full equipment of a chief. Meanwhile he prepares a bathing pool, plants a garden, and taboos both for his daughter's arrival. Laukiamanuikahiki is abused by her supposed father, and, discovering the truth, starts out under her mother's direction to find her real father. With the help of her grandmother she reaches Kuaihelani. Here she bathes in the taboo pool and plucks the taboo flowers. She is about to be slain for this act when her aunt, in the form of an owl, proclaims her name, and the chief recognizes his daughter. Her beauty shines like a light. Kahikiula, her half brother, on a visit to his father, becomes her lover. When he returns to his wife, Kahalaokolepuupuu in Kahikiku, she follows in the shape of an old woman called Lupewale. Although her lover recognizes her, she is treated like a servant. In revenge she calls upon the gods to set fire to the dance house, and burns all inside. Kahikiula now begs her to stay, but she leaves him and returns to Kuaihelani.