Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 6, 1 June 2022 — The Epic Story of Kawelo of Hanalei [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Epic Story of Kawelo of Hanalei

By Adam Keawe Manalo-Camp The story of Kawelo is one of the most wellknown epics ffom Kaua'i. Kawelo is claimed as an ancestor to Kaua'i ali'i including King Kaumuali'i and Queen Kapi'olani. When Ka'ahumanu toured Kaua'i with Kaumuali'i in 1822, he took her to places named in that epie, including to the island of Nīhoa. Princess Lili'uokalani also visited places associated with Kawelo. In mele honoring King Kalākaua during his Jubilee, the king is compared to Kawelo.

Early on, the first independent Kānaka Maoli paper, Ka Hoku o ka Pakipika, printed the mo'olelo of Kawelo in 1861 as a reminder to never forget our traditions and to hold fast to who we are. And during the 1900s, in the Territorial era, Hawaiian newspapers, including that of the Home Rule Party, continued to publish the mo'olelo of Kawelo to remind readers of what made Kawelo successful: his skills, his love of knowledge; and his

aloha for his akua, family, and homeland. Kaweloleimakua, also known as Kawelo-a-Maihu-nali'i or simply as Kawelo, is a kupua (demigod) raised within the ruling house of Kaua'i. He was a middle child. His grand-uncle was Kawelomahamahala who, after he passed away, becomes a shark guardian of Kaua'i. Kawelo and his cousin, Kawelo-aikanaka (or simply Aikanaka), and Kauahoa the giant, were born the same day. Growing up in Hanalei, his cousins and uncles vied for power. As a child, Kawelo was bullied by his older siblings, by Kauahoa, and by his cousins; but he is be-

loved and hānai by his grandparents. As Kawelo grew older, he realized that he had supernatural strength and so his grandparents taught him how to redirect it. They also taught him philosophy, mo'olelo, and other deep Hawaiian knowledge. Aikanaka, who is Kawelomahamahala's, grandson, becomes king. Rats warn Kawelo that Aikanaka plans to kill him out of jealousy. Kawelo goes into self-exile and hides in Kolekole, Wai'anae, with his grandparents and his youngest sibling, Kamālama. At the suggestion of his grandparents, Kawelo mastered farming, canoeing, surfing, lua (hand-to-hand fighting), and mokomoko (boxing). His mokomoko skills gained notice, and, after he won a match with a mueh larger opponent, the king of O'ahu gave Kawelo lands in Ulukou, Waikīkī, near where the Outrigger Hotel is today. After learning lua and boxing, Kawelo began training in hula and in the arts of war. He learned more mo'olelo, ceremonies, and chants through hula, whieh helped ground him. While learning hula, he meets his wahine, Kanewahineikiaoha. She also studies the art of war with him and becomes a skilled warrior, particularly with the īkoi (tripping club). Kawelo then adopts two kupua boys, Kalaumeke and Ka'eleha. While learning fishing, Kawelo encounters Uhumāka'ika'i, a gigantic supernatural fish. As they battle, Uhumāka'ika'i drags both Kawelo and his fishing kumu around Wai'anae, Kaua'i, Ni'ihau, and Nīhoa for two days. By invoking his ancestral gods, Kawelo is able to subdue and kill Uhumāka'ika'i. Again, it is not his physical strength but his spiritual strength that makes him victorious. Kawelo's family was dispossessed of their homelands at Hanamā'ulu by Aikanaka, leaving them houseless - whieh must have resonated with readers in the I900s. Messengers were sent to Kawelo, but were unahle to make their journey because they did not pray properly. The epie reminds us of the continued importance of protocols. Eventually, Kawelo discovers his family's dispossession and appealed to his ancestral gods. Kawelo then

prepares for war, but he does so only to avenge his parents, not to seek power. Before invading Kaua'i, Kawelo humbled himself before his gods and builds a temple. He conducts the correct ceremonies, and the gods hear him. He gathered up seven mighty warriors known as Nā'ulu, his adopted sons, his wife Kanewahineikiaoha, and other women to invade Kaua'i. His father-in-law gave Kawelo a supernatural spear and war club, Ku'ika'a. He then prayed and conducted ceremonies either at Kane'aki or Mahuka heiau invoking his ancestral gods. Kawelo and his warriors arrived on Kaua'i and, through skill, defeated Kauahoa the giant. Kawelo fought several battles with his magical spear and war club and wins. In Anahola, he threw his spear so hard that it pierced the mountain. Between battles, he composed oli to honor his akua and chants in admiration of the beauty of his homeland. With reluctance, Kawelo agreed to heeome ruler of Kaua'i and reorganizes the island. His knowledge of farming and fishing help him increase food for his people. He made Hanalei his capital. Aikanaka retreated to Hanapepe, plotting a rebellion against Kawelo and killing his parents. When Kawelo goes to Hanapepe to avenge his parents Aikanaka's men stone him. Believing that Kawelo is dead, Aikanaka lays him on an altar. Kawelo then leaped up and eliminated Aikanaka and the rebels. Just as it did during the time of the ali'i and the Home Rule Party, this Kaua'i epie teaches us that Kawelo beeame a ruler not because of his bloodline, but because of his merit and his mastery of Hawaiian skills, wisdom, dedication, and spirituality. Kawelo then, and now, reminds us to hold fast to everything that makes us Kānaka Maoli. Never give up on being Kanaka Maoli. ■ Adam Keawe Manalo-Catnp grew up in Papakōlea and is a Hawaiian and Filipino writer, blogger and independent researcher.

Rare photo of Nīhoo lslond token in 1885 during (then) Princess Lili'uokoloni's trip to Nīhoo ond Moku Monomono, o tour similor to thot token by Ko'ohumonu 63 yeors eorlier. - Photo: Hawai'i State Archives.