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Fornander collection of Hawaiian antiquities and folk-lore, Volume 3 (of 3)

Note 2 — The Story of Kahahana.

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Kahekili was far too good a politician to display his resentment at this refusal of his demands, knowing well that he could not have the slightest prospects of enforcing them by war so long as the Oahu chiefs were united in their policy, and that policy was guided by the sage and experienced high priest Kaopulupulu. He dissembled, therefore, and kept up friendly relations with Kahahana, but secretly turned his attention to destroy the influence of Kaopulupulu in the affairs of Oahu, and create distrust and enmity between him and Kahahana. In this object he is said to have been heartily advised and assisted by his own high priest, Kaleopuupuu, the younger brother of Kaopulupulu. Kaleopuupuu envied his brother the riches and consideration which his wisdom and skill had obtained for him. Moreover, the warlike preparations of his brother-in-law, the Hawaii king Kalaniopuu, cautioned him against precipitating a rupture with so powerful an ally as the Oahu king; and Kahekili was but too glad to obtain the assistance of Kahahana and his chiefs in the war with Kalaniopuu, 1777–78, Kahahana’s forces arriving from Molokai just in time to share the sanguinary battle on the Waikapu common,2 related on page 153, [Fornander, Polynesian Race, II] and the subsequent events of that war.

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