Kalamakua

Kalamakua , a Hawaiian high chief and Prince of Oahu. His uncle was King Kalona-iki and his grandfather was King Mailikukahi. He was believed to be responsible for developing the extensive irrigation system that supported several hundred acres of taro fields and fishing, at Waikiki. This irrigation system changed the formerly wet-taro cultivating area of Waikiki-Kapahulu-Mookinailiokinaili-Manoa. The increase of fishing was due to the development of fishponds, which along with the taro pondfields were irrigated by water drawn from the Manoa and Palolo Valley streams and large springs in the area. [Kuebeler, Glenn C. (2007), Castalia, Cold Creek, and the Blue Hole, p.7, Arcadia Publishing, ISBN 0738550531] Kalamakua was also known to enjoy surfing, especially at Kahaloa (litterlay "Long Place"), near the mouth of the okinaApuakeahau Stream. [Kuebeler, Glenn C. (2007), Castalia, Cold Creek, and the Blue Hole, p.7, Arcadia Publishing, ISBN 0738550531]

He was born on Oahu to Prince Kalona-nui, the brother of Kalona-iki and the son of Mailikukahi; and to the High Chiefess Kaipuholua. His grandfather was one Oahu's greatest law maker equal to Hammurabi. His cousin Lo-Lale had acquired the Hawaiian version of Helen of Troy, a Mauian princesses and sister of Kawaokaohele, King of Maui.

Of the ambassadors that brought her to the shore of Oahu was Kalamakua. He was the ablest and boldest of them all. He acted as leader, and before his departure he pledged himself to bring home to Lo-Lale a young and beautiful bride, and further vowed that he would marry her himself if Lo-Lale was not satisfied with her or if she was not satisfied with Lo-Lale. So all went well until the canoe of the Oahuan ambassadors reached Hamakuapoko. There, as luck would have it, they saw Kelea and her attendants swimming among the breakers. Then up rose Kalamakua and courteously invited the lovely maiden to take a seat in the canoe, offering to ride the surf with it to the beach — an exciting sport, requiring great skill. Kelea accepted the invitation and the canoe was quickly beached. Urged by the applause of those on shore Kalamakua proposed to repeat the performance and Kelea willingly retained her seat. Again the daring feat was performed, and not till then did Kalamakua learn that his companion was the sister of the king of Maui. With increased respect he invited her to ride with him over the breakers once more, and she consented. Forth rode the canoe, but before it reached the breakers a squall struck it and drove it out upon the broad ocean.

Then Kelea would have leaped into the sea had not Kalamakua restrained her and coaxed her into cowering down beside him at the bottom of the boat. How lovely she was he then saw, and he vowed to win her love for his cousin Lo-Lale. But meanwhile the canoe was being swept far out to sea, and so great was the storm that death seemed at hand every moment. Days passed thus and still no sight of land. Kalamakua had by this time asked Kelea to become Lo-Lale's bride and her answer was that she could not act without her brother's approval. At last land was sighted and it chanced to be Kaoio Point, on the western side ot Oahu. Kalamakua at once sent word to Lo-Lale, and the next day Kelea and Lo-Lale met face to face. Lo-Lale was delighted with the maiden, and when she finally consented to become his wife without waiting to hear from her brother he was so overjoyed that he offered to divide his estates with Kalamakua as an evidence of gratitude.

So the years passed, and none seemed happier than Lo-Lale and Kelea. But Kelea was not happy. Keleanohoanaapiapi was a great surfer and love the sea. To live inland at Lo-Lale's residence of Lihue nearly killed her spirit. So she informed her husband of her intention to leave, and reluctanly he gave his consent, knowing well that the prerogatives of her rank gave her the privelege of separation if she wanted it. But she longed for the sea, and the place which seemed to please her above all others was Ewa, where Kalamakua made his seaside home. He and she met often and sailed together over the angry surf, and then only did Kelea seem to be really happy. Finally she told Lo-Lale that married life was irksome to her and that she intended to return to her brother's court. Though this blow broke his heart, as he suspected that she had given her heart to Kalamakua, he consented to a divorce and bade her farewell.

Leaving Lihue, on her way to her brother's court, Kelea descended to Ewa, and skirting the head of the lagoon by way of Halawa, arrived at the mouth of Pearl river opposite Puuloa, and found a crowd of idlers, nobles and retainers of Kalamakua, who was the high chief of that region, disporting themselves in the surf. Overcome by her passion for the sea, borrowing a surf-board from one of the bystanders, Kelea jumped in the sea and swam out beyond the breakers and joined the company of the other surf-bathers. When the surf broke at its highest they all started for the shore, and Kelea excelled them all, and was loudly cheered for her daring and skill.

Kalamakua being at the time in a neighbouring plantation, heard the loud uproar of voices from the shore, and inquired what the cause of it was. He was told that a beautiful woman from Lihue had beaten all the Halawa chiefs at surf-swimming, and hence the loud and continued cheering. Satisfied in his own mind that but one woman at Lihue could perform such a feat, and that she must be his cousin, Lo-Lale's wife, the Maui chiefess. He went down, to the beach, and greeted her and learned from her that she had left Lo-Lale. He threw his "kihei" (mantle) over Kelea as she touched the' shore, returning from another victorious trip through the surf. Then said Kalamakua: "When I went in search of a wife for Lo-Lale I promised that it he objected to the woman 1 brought or she to him I would take her myself. You have objected to him. Is Kalamakua better to your liking?" "I will remain at Ewa," was Kelea 's answer. Kelea was borne home in state to the residence of Kalamakua in Halawa, and became his wife. Lo-Lale sent her a present ot fruit and a message of peace and forgiveness. With him, she remained to her death, and bore him a daughter, called Laielohelohe, who in early youth was betrothed and subsequently married to her cousin Piilani of Maui, the son of Keleas brother, Kawaokaohele.

Reference

* Abraham Fornander, An Account of the Polynesian Race: Its Origin and Migrations, Rutland, VT: Charles E. Tuttle Company, 1969. Page 79, 82, 86-87
*"The American Antiquarian and Oriental Journal" By Stephen Denison 173-174

References