Note 7 — The Story of Kahahana.

As an episode of this war the following legend has been preserved and may prove interesting: When the news of the invasion spread to Ewa and Waialua, eight famous warriors from these places, whose names the legend has retained, concerted an expedition on their own account to win distinction for their bravery and inflict what damage they could on Kahekili’s forces. It was a chivalrous undertaking, a forlorn hope, and wholly unauthorized by Kahahana, but fully within the spirit of the time for personal valor, audacity, and total disregard of consequences. The names of those heroes were Pupuka,7 Makaioulu, Puakea, Pinau, Kalaeone, Pahua, Kauhi, and Kapukoa. Starting direct from Apuakehau in Waikiki, where Kahekili’s army was encamped and organizing preparatory to a march inland to fight Kahahana, the eight Oahu warriors boldly charged a large contingent of several hundred men of the Maui troops collected at the heiau. In a twinkling they were surrounded by overwhelming numbers, and a fight commenced to which Hawaiian legends record no parallel. Using their long spears and javelins with marvellous skill and dexterity, and killing a prodigious number of their enemies, the eight champions broke through the circle of spears that surrounded them. But Makaioulu, though a good fighter was a bad runner, on account of his short bow-legs, and he was overtaken by Kauhikoakoa, a Maui chief. Makaioulu was soon tripped up, secured, and bound by Kauhikoakoa, who swinging the captive up on his own shoulders, started off with him for the camp to have him sacrificed as the first victim of the war. This affair took place on the bank of the Punaluu taro patch, near the coconut grove of Kuakuaaka. Makaioulu, thus hoisted on the back of his captor, caught sight of his friend Pupuka, and called out to him to throw his spear straight at the navel of his stomach. In hopes of shortening the present and prospective tortures of his friend, and knowing well what his fate would be if brought alive into the enemy’s camp, Pupuka did as he was bidden, and with an unerring aim. But Makaioulu, seeing the spear coming, threw himself with a violent effort on one side, and the spear went through the back of Kauhikoakoa. Seeing their leader fall, the Maui soldiers desisted from further pursuit, and the eight champions escaped.