But the servants knew the reason why the young chief had become the husband of the king’s daughter, and said among themselves: “We want to live. We must not drive them away.”
Lepe-a-moa said to her brother, “I told you that she would be angry with me.”
“Yes,” said the brother, “that is true, and you shall be my wife.”
They turned aside from the royal houses. The girl laid aside her girl body and put on her bird body in one of its smallest forms and was concealed in an egg. The brother wrapped this egg in a corner of his cloak, put it around his neck and went to the place where the chickens were kept and took one of the small houses of the keepers as his own.
That evening, when a large calabash of food was brought for the chickens and set aside, he took it secretly, gave all the food to his sister [[236]]and turned the calabash up as if it had been upset and the food eaten by dogs. The caretakers were greatly worried because they had no food that night for the chickens. They knew that the chickens would not have any strength for fighting.
When Kakuhihewa heard that his daughter had driven her husband away he was very much troubled, and was afraid that he and his people would be destroyed, so he sent messengers to look everywhere and if possible find the young chief, but they all failed.
At last one of the guardians of the chickens said, “Your son is sleeping in one of our houses.”
Kakuhihewa sent Kou, one of the highest officers in his government, to go after Kauilani. This Kou was the chief after whom Kou, the ancient Honolulu, was named. Kou found the young chief sleeping, and aroused him, telling him the king was very sorry for the anger of his daughter, and asking him to come back to the king’s house and on the morrow see the day of death.
Kauilani told Kou to return and tell the king to prepare everything for the day of battle, and hang a large kapa sheet between two posts. He pointed out two roosters which were to be taken first. The king was to send them one by one to fight. When they were killed the king was to [[237]]ask for a time of rest. “After this will be the time for my battle.” Thus he taught Kou, who returned and told the king.
The next morning the king of Maui sent his messenger to the king of Oahu, asking if all things were ready for the battle of that day.