Note 287 — CONTENTS. (continued 5)

When the chief heard these words, he surmised that it was Kahekili’s intention to wage war against him. So he did not cast these maika discs on account of the home-going. The canoes were prepared and when all was ready, the men as well as the chief embarked, and sailed until they reached Kawaihae. This place is at Kohala, on the northwestern part of Hawaii. The chief lived there, and commenced the construction of the large canoes called the peleleu.287 At the same time the king proclaimed his law the mamalahoa,288 which meant that no chief or commoner should undertake anything of his own initiative; he who disobeyed was killed; it was only by doing the chief’s [Kamehameha’s] work [that he was saved]. One of the chiefs, named Keoua, did not heed this; he went of his own volition and slaughtered the people of Waimea. Kamehameha, however, did not immediately visit the penalty of the law on him.