Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands - Moloka' i (Part 5) The US GenWeb Archives provide genealogical and historical data to the general public without fee or charge of any kind. It is intended that this material not be used in a commercial manner. All submissions become part of the permanent collection. Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands " Keepers of the Culture " A study in time of the Hawaiian Islands Moloka' i -- part 5 by Darlene E. Kelley October 28, 2000 donkeyskid@webtv.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part 5 -- As told by the ancient Hawaiians. The Sport of Kings and Ruling Chiefs-- In the shark infested waters of ancient Hawaiian politics, the supreme sport of Kings and rulers was warfare. Political influence could be expanded by marriages and alliances, but for status- hungry chiefs, nothing relieved boredom like a decisive military campaign. Ku, in his manifestation as Kuka'ilimoku, was the patron spirit of warfare. His aid was sought at the luakini heiau. Before a battle, advice was sought from advisors, including kahuna who read portents in such natural phenomena as the shape of clouds, and etc. Meeting on a field of battle, champions of both forces stepped forward, shouting challeges. Legends tell of some disputes settled by duels between the champions. At the last moment a battle might be avoided and the course changed to tearful reconciliation if a leading chief responded to a plea from a beloved relative on the other side. Sometimes the battle opened with volleys of slinging stones followed by closer range by thrown spears. If a stone thrown from the hand of a Poynesian was a deadly weapon, as discovered, as the Hawaiian sling stone, shaped and polished from heavy basalt, cold be delivered from a sling with force approaching that of a musket ball. Throwing spears, javelins six to eight feet long were shaped from kaulia, [a very hard wood, so heavy it sinks in water ]. Front and center at the moment of impact were warriors in close formation, thrusting long lances. Daggers and clubs and axes were used in close fighting. The usefulness of deceptive tactics and flanking maneuvers was exploited. Archery was practiced thoughout Polynesia, shooting at targets and rats for sport, and , in one Hawaiian tale, at birds. But the bow was not a weapon of war. Women frequently accompanied their husbands into battle, sometimes fighting besides them. When threatened by invasion, women encumbered with children and elderly, sought places of refuge in forests and caves, or sanctuaries. [ pu'uhonua ]. In times of peace, competitive games were substitutes for warfare. Boxing, fencing with staves, wrestling, and mock battles were sports useful in the training of warriors. Kamehama demonstrated his skill by stripping down to a loin cloth, stepped out before his men, and had six spears thrown at him simultaneously and with full force, he caught two, parried three and deflected one. Such demonstartions were no doubt calculated to reassure his people that their leader had the right stuff. Kahekili of Maui astonished his subjects by leaping into the sea from high cliffs. Speeding down a slide [holua], risking death or injury if his narrow sled skidded over the edge of the steep ramp, a chief could demonstrate his skills during peacetime. A council of chiefs would dress appopriately for battle as well as for the council, to discuss their tactics of warfare. Around his belly would be a protector of strong matting decorated with feathers. The feathered helmets and feathered capes were " battle apparel." The cape might be worn over the shoulders, but in battle it was pulled around the left side of the body and hld forward with the left hand to snag a thrust from a dagger or the point of a thrown spear. In this position the right arm was exposed and free to wield a weapon. Feathers were black, white, red, yellow, green and the long rust-red and black feathers of the fighting cock. These were tied over a light netting of cord in a great variety of designs. In battle, the brilliant capes helped warriors identify and rally to their chiefs. Helmets made of strong, light weight basketry protected the head from the impact of stones shot from slings. These too, were decorated with colorful feathers. An estimated 450.000 golden yellow feathers from more than 80,000 mamo birds were woven into King Kamehameha 1's feather cloak. which is now on display during special occassions at the Bishop Museum on Oahu. The cloak, which measures four feet wide by eleven-and -a-half feet at the bottom, was passed from ruler to ruler as an emblem of the royal office. In 1778, Captain James Cook described the unusual feather capes or [ ahu ula ] and helmets [mahiole], in his journel. " The ground of them is a network, upon which the most beautiful red and yellow feathers are so closely fixed that the surface might be compared to the thickest and richest velvet, which they resemble, both as to feel and glossy apearance. They the Hawaiians, would not at first part with one of them for anything offered." Considering the work involved, it is little wonder that early Hawaiians were hesitant to trade away this valued, as red was a sacred royal color. Ulu. in the word for cloak, ahu ulu, means red, although in Hawaii, by Captain Cook's time, the pale yellow feathers of the 'o'o and the more vibrant yellow feathers of the mamo, were increasingly treasured because of their scarcity. Specialized bird catchers, spent long months in forest habitats, catching their elusive prey with fiber nets, nooses and even bare hands. Sap from the breadfruit tree was applied to the limbs of trees that the desireable birds were known o favor. Once a bird was caught, the bird catcher softened the adhesive with kukui oil and plucked the needed feathers. Since only a few treasured yellow feathers could be gathered from under the neck, wings and tail of the 'o'o and mamo, these birds were set free, but so many red feathers were gathered from the 'i;iwi and 'apapane, that they were killed and eaten. The feathers were attached to olona netting with fine olona baste cordage to make capes. For helmets, a frame of 'ie'ie vine was covered with olona net and then the feathers were attached. Feathered kahill [ a pole topped with a cylindrical plume of feathers ] made use of the widest variety of colors. Large kahili, representing sentries guarding royalty, might be in regal red and yellow. Smaller kahili, used as fans or whisks, might be made of bown, black or green feathers from the koa'e. 'iwa. pueo. peacock or mynah. The only feather ornaments women in early Hawaii were allowed to wear were lei hulu, traditional circular necklaces made of feathers ties in small bunches to a stand of olona or sennit cord. Moloka'i comes under the rule of O'ahu--- When Kapi'iohokalani died, O'ahu was ruled by his young son, Kanahaokalani, who lived only a year after hs father's death. Pelei'oholani, his younger brother, became the next ruler. After Pelei'oholani had gone to Maui to assist Kauhi against Alapa'inui, he visited the windward side of Moloka;i, and is said to have brought the Ko'olau chiefs to acknowledge him as thier sovereign, though thir subjection was neither very thorough nor very lasting. Several expeditions had to be made to keep the Moloka'i chiefs in subjugation. Sometime after this, around the middle of the 18th century, the Moloka'i chiefs killed Pelei'oholani's daughter, Ke'elanihonuaiakama. Why she was killed was not completely known, but it was said she had rebuffed the gods. These chiefs were mostly from Ko'olau and the eastern side of the island. Pelei'oholani took such a vengence on the people of Moloka'i that the island remained quiet in the possession of O'ahu for some years to come. At the battle of Kapu'unoni, Pelei'oholani slaughtered the chiefs and roasted them in an oven at Hakawai in Kalua'aha, and he attacked the commoners inhumanly, all for revenge. The chiefs who were not killed were driven out of the island, and sought refuge in the courts of Maui and Hawaii. Kumuko'a, who was one of these chiefs, lived in the court of Namahana at Waihe'e, Maui. The Kaiakea family alone appears not to have been disturbed in their possessions or persons by the irate monarch, and their exemption was probably owing to the fact tht Kaiakea's wife, Kalanipo, was Pelei'oholani's own nece, being the daughter of his sister Kukuiaimakalani.