--- title: King Kahahana, About 1773 — Hawaiian Historical Legends · full text with trees description: King Kahahana, About 1773, «Hawaiian Historical Legends» by W. D. Westervelt: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: The story of the ivory of Oahu is a tale of treachery and triumph on the part of Kahekili, King of Maui, and of defeat and death for Kah --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66357/13/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Hawaiian Historical Legends](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66357/) / King Kahahana, About 1773 # King Kahahana, About 1773 King Kahahana, About 1773 of «Hawaiian Historical Legends» by W. D. Westervelt: the whole text, 110 sentences and 2567 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66357/13/page/2/) The story of the ivory of Oahu is a tale of treachery and triumph on the part of Kahekili, King of Maui, and of defeat and death for Kahahana, the last independent king of Oahu.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") Kahahana was the son of Elani, chief of Ewa, one of the most powerful among the high chiefs of Oahu.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") While still a child, he was sent to Maui to pass the years of his young manhood in close contact with one of the most noted courts among the different island kings—the court of his relative, Kahekili.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") After many years had gone by the Oahu chiefs deposed their king and drove him away to the island of Kauai.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they met in a great council to select a new king from the high chief families.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") After careful consideration, it was decided that Kahahana was the most available of all who could be accepted for their future ruler, and an embassy was sent to Maui to recall him and inform him of the exalted position for which he had been chosen by his fellow-chiefs of Oahu.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") The Maui king was wise in his own generation and determined to make all the use possible of this selection.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") Therefore, he objected to the young chief’s acceptance of the place of ruler of the neighbouring island.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") When this objection had been overruled by the high chiefess, who had been sent from Oahu to bring back the young king, Kahekili again delayed proceedings by refusing to permit the young wife to go with him.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") Then there came another season of councils and consultations.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") It was easy for the King of Maui to control the line of thought as advanced by his chiefs.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") It seems that they argued that it was best for the wife to go if a suitable return should be made in some way by the new King of Oahu.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") Then again it was conceded on all sides that Kahahana was very deeply in debt to his relative for the protection afforded him and the careful and royal attention bestowed upon him in the court of Maui.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Kahekili and his chiefs were pronounced worshippers of the various Hawaiian gods, therefore they argued that they should receive a place on the northeastern shores of Oahu where a noted heiau or temple was located.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") The cession of the Kua-loa lands, with this temple, would be a very satisfactory partial recompense.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") The young king thought that this was a small part of his kingdom and would scarcely be missed, hence he readily promised to grant the Kua-loa district to his friend.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") There were certain gifts of the sea which were very highly prized by all the chiefs of the Hawaiian Islands.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Among these, whalebone and the very scarce whale’s teeth were most prominent.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") These were “the ivory” of the Islands.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") The whalebone and the teeth were called palaoa.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") The “ivory” was usually made into a “hooked ornament” with a large hole almost in the middle, through which was passed a large number of strings of human hairs, thus forming a necklace unique and costly.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Small portions of the ivory were pierced and fashioned into beads.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") These were strung together and also used as necklaces.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") It was a burial custom to place the palaoa in the burial cave in which the bones of any dead chief might be secreted.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") Kahekili and his ready followers argued that as a slight return for the royal favour which had been shown to Kahahana in caring for him at court and in permitting his wife to go with him, he could very readily covenant to bestow upon Kahekili all the ivory which might be found on the shores of Oahu.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Probably this matter was not presented as the payment of tribute, but as a recognition of benefits received, and Kahahana again readily promised the ivory—the gift of the seas.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") This was as far as Kahekili dared to go in his demands.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Apparently the two kings then discussed the continuance of the friendly relations which had bound them together so many years, and entered into some kind of an alliance by which Kahekili might receive assistance in his wars with the chiefs of the large island of Hawaii.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Two, or perhaps three, years after this consultation, Kahahana sent heavy reinforcements from Oahu to Maui, which aided Kahekili in the complete annihilation of the Alapa Regiment, about eight hundred chiefs, from Hawaii, in the noted “Battle of the Sand-Hills,” near Wailuku.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") Soon the morning came for sailing to Oahu.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Kahahana, his wife, and the high chiefess who had come from Oahu to bring the news of his election, and a large retinue of retainers left Maui in regal state, while the good-bye “aloha” rang out over the waters from crowds of friends.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") When the Oahu priests in the heiaus on the slopes of Leahi or Diamond Head saw the fleet of canoes coming from Maui, swift runners were despatched to all the high chiefs of the island that they might assemble at Waikiki and give welcome to their new king.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") It is not difficult to imagine the barbaric splendour of the royal canoes and their occupants as they crossed the outer coral reefs and drew near to the white sands of the most famous beach in Hawaiian history.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") The canoes were fitted with triangular sails made from the leaves of the hala tree, while brilliant pennants floated from every mast head.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") The king and high chiefs wore the feather cloaks and helmets betokening their rank.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") From these the sunlight flashed in gold and crimson fire.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") The retainers wrapped their garments of richly coloured tapa around them, while the boatmen, whose bronzed bodies glistened with freshly applied oil, formed a pleasing background to the gaudy display of those highest in rank.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus Kahahana came to his own.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") The Oahu chiefs made a display no less gorgeous along the sands of Waikiki, as they received their king.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") Nights were spent in revelry and days in feasting until the ceremonies of installation were completed.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") At last Kahahana called the high chiefs and those belonging to the highest priesthood together for consultation concerning the affairs of the kingdom.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") At this time he broached the agreement he had entered into with Kahekili concerning the ivory of Oahu and the temple lands of Kualoa.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") Kahahana was an elected, rather than a hereditary, king of Oahu.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") Therefore, when, in 1773, he came from Maui to take the reins of government in his hands, it was very important for him to keep the friendship of the high chiefs who had given him the position.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") He could not assume any self-sufficient aspect and not care whether the other chiefs were well pleased or not.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") His power to fulfil his agreement depended upon the willingness of the council of high chiefs to ratify what he had promised.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") Kahahana gave in full his reasons for agreeing to the demands.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") He spoke of the experience gained in the wars between the kings of Maui and Hawaii, and stated that the bestowal of the ivory and the temple lands upon Kahekili might readily be granted as an honourable return from the chiefs of Oahu for the training given to their young king.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") A number of chiefs at once yielded to this argument.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") It was a strong appeal to their honour.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") They were willing to pay for what they received.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") But other chiefs were doubtful of the expediency of this action.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") They desired to please their king and do all that honour required.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") Yet the wisdom of doing what was asked was not clear.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") Moreover, Kahahana was not trained to become a king.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") He had been kept at the court of Maui because he was a relative of the king.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") Perhaps the king of Maui was asking more than he ought.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66357/13/page/2/) - ← previous: [Captain Cook](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66357/12/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66357/13/page/2/) - ↑ back to [Hawaiian Historical Legends](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66357/)