he cried, 'Strike with the adz and hollow it. Grant us a canoe!'
"After the tree was felled they cut away all its branches and shaped it in the manner of a canoe. Then it was hauled down the rough slope of the mountain to be hollowed out, painted, and mounted with an outrigger. This took many weeks, but when it was done it was a thing of beauty to behold. The prow was sharp and pointed, made to cut clean through the surf. Its hull was scraped smooth by rubbing it with sand and coconut husks, and stained black with banana juice and soot. The Molokai chief was sure Kamanawa's canoe could not be any finer.
"The villagers first sighted the Molokai chief's canoe when it was beyond the reef. They ran to tell Kamanawa that a strange canoe was approaching. Kamanawa stood on the beach, shading his eyes against the late afternoon sun, and watched the arrival of the slim craft riding the combers that would carry it safely to Oahu's shore.
"'We have visitors!' he cried. 'Make ready the imus and tell the women to bring leis.'
"Then the canoe climbed the high waves that crashed against the reef and slid safely into the shallow water and glided to the beach. Kamanawa and his followers waded out into the water to greet the chief and his daughter, and to help beach the outrigger on the coral sand. Kamanawa greeted the Molokai chief cordially, and the women of the village brought leis and placed them about the necks of the chief and his beautiful daughter.
"'Welcome to our village,' said Kamanawa. 'Our house is your house.' He ordered refreshments for his guests and showed them to comfortable quarters.
"The next night a great feast was held in honor of the Molokai chief and his daughter. Lauhala mats were spread upon the ground and gaily decorated with bright flowers, coconuts, and fragrant maile vines. The Molokai chief bad never seen such a lavish display of food: great wooden platters of roast pig, fish baked in ti leaves, baked yams, breadfruit, bananas, coconut shells filled with poi, and gourds brimming with 'awa that would relax and loosen the tongue. At the sight of such abundant food the Molokai chief's heart burned with envy and black jealousy.
"For entertainment the hula drums beat out a hypnotic rhythm. Warm and flushed with excitement, many rose to their feet to dance in the flickering light of the kukui-nut torches, while those still seated slapped their bare thighs and chanted wildly.
"Suddenly someone cried out, 'Let the beautiful Naheina of Molokai dance for us!'
"Everyone cheered and clapped bis hands, and as the lovely Naheina rose to her feet, the Molokai chief glowed with pride. This was when the great Chief Kamanawa fell in love with her.
"As Naheina danced she chanted about the rugged pali of Molokai and the thundering surf on its rocky shores. Then she chanted softly of the white clouds that constantly crowned the ridges of the Koolau Mountains of Oahu, and how her heart yearned to see the shores of this fair Island and the beautiful village of Kamanawa. Everyone was delighted with her graceful compliments and most delighted of all was Chief Kamanawa. He decided that before long he would ask Naheina to remain on Oahu as his wife, and not return to Molokai with her father.
"As the Molokai chief looked about him and saw the apparent prosperity of the village, he made up his mind that when he returned to Molokai his canoe would be laden with as much as it could carry of the fine trophies he would win. Eagerly he looked forward to the contests. If he could not participate, he could at least wager.
"The athletic contests started early the next day. There were to be five events. The Molokai chief followed the villagers to a sandy arena where the first event was to take place. It was a wrestling match between two lesser chiefs with Kamanawa as the referee. Kamanawa did not participate in any of the contests because he was the ruling chief. The Molokai chief's eyes were bright and eager and darted from one contestant to the other, noting their bronze-oiled bodies and play of muscles that rippled beneath their skin. They were powerful young warriors. The Molokai chief cheered louder than any of the villagers when the defeated wrestler hit the earth. This angered the wrestler, and getting to his feet he rushed over to the Molokai chief and challenged him.
"'Do you think you can throw me?' he cried angrily. 'I have calabashes of the finest and softest tapas on the island. I have an assortment of necklaces and feather leis. They are yours if you can throw me in three rounds.'
"The Molokai chief was taken aback by this direct assault. He was a proud and vain man and he knew the rest of the men around him were waiting to see what he would do. He was afraid to back down. He drew himself up proudly and said, 'I have fishhooks and nets made of the bones of an enemy, and two spears so swift they can catch an eel before it hides in the rocks.'
"'That's a fair bargain,' said the lesser chief. 'So be it.'
"The crowd shouted with excitement as the Molokai chief stepped boldly into the ring. He was a tall man, burned brown by the sea, sun, and wind. The two men looked evenly matched, although the Molokai chief was not a wrestler by profession. He did not often take an active part in events of endurance and skill.
"Now, Chief Kamanawa was not in favor of the match. He knew how vain and proud the Molokai chief was, and that if he lost the bout he would not only lose his possessions, but he would be humiliated before all by a chief of much lesser rank. He tried to dissuade the Molokai chief by tactfully suggesting he wager his possessions on another wrestling contest instead of participating himself.
"The Molokai chief's lips curled.
"'Do you think I am afraid?' he said arrogantly.
"The villagers gathered closely around the ring talking and gesticulating, and placing their bets on the one they thought would be the winner. Although the two men appeared to be of equal strength, the Oahu chief was an experienced wrestler and had been trained in the art of bone-crushing. Also, he was able to carefully observe the opponent from Molokai and calmly evaluate him. The Molokai chief was so filled with anger and inner apprehension that he hardly waited for the referee's signal to begin, but rushed furiously and recklessly toward the Oahu chief, hoping to upset him by surprise. But the Oahu chief was deceptive and the Molokai chief suddenly felt himself gripped in a vise; the Oahu chief's arms wrapped tightly around his chest and his legs closed in like pinchers about his thighs. The Molokai chief panicked; the Oahu chief's arms grew tighter and tighter about his chest until he could scarcely breathe, and he suddenly realized he was in the grip of a bone-crusher, who, if he willed, could crack every bone in his body. His terror was so great he resisted no longer, and allowed himself to be thrown to the ground. The crowd jeered. Furious with himself and humiliated by his ignominious defeat, he picked up his calabash of fine nets and fishhooks made from the bones of an enemy, and threw them at the feet of his opponent and stalked angrily away.
"The next event was to be the javelin-throwing contest. Chief Kamanawa called the young wrestler to his side. 'You are to challenge our visitor again,' he said, 'and give him another chance, but this time you are to allow him to win and regain face. Then you must return all his possessions to him. I want no trouble with the people of Molokai.'
The young chief remonstrated with Kamanawa.
"'But he is such an arrogant, overbearing man. He deserved to lose his possessions. Besides, he is a coward. I could have easily broken every bone in his body, but I didn't.'
"'Be that as it may, I want you to do as I say,' Chief Kamanawa commanded. 'I want no trouble.'
"The Molokai chief reluctantly agreed to enter the javelin-throwing contest. If he were fortunate enough to win, he would not only get back his own calabash of belongings, but the sting of his wrestling defeat would be assuaged, and the honor of the island of Molokai restored.
