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He had commanded the people of Ka'u to bring him food upon the plain of Punaluu, at the place known under the name of Puuonuhe. When they arrived at the top of the plateau, which is very elevated, they found that the chief had set out for Kaalikii, two leagues from Puuonuhe, and that he had left orders for them to bring him the provisions in this distant place.
It seems certain that King Keawe usually resided at the bay of Hoonaunau, in Kona. It served also as a City of Refuge. The people of Ka'u are designated in the group under the name of Na Mamo a ke kipi The descendants of the rebellion. The province of Ka'u has always been regarded as a land fatal to chiefs. At the present day an inhabitant of Ka'u can be distinguished among other natives.
These revolts against the chiefs have given birth, to several proverbial expressions, applied to the district of Ka'u. Thus it is called Aina makaha Land of torrents: a nation which removes and shatters every thing like a torrent; Ka'u makaha Ka'u the torrent; Ka lua kupapau o na'lii The sepulchre of the high chiefs; Aina kipi The rebellious land. He was a chief of the olden time.
This victory completely rid Umi of his last rival; he reigned henceforth as sole ruler of Hawaii; and to transmit to posterity the remembrance of this remarkable battle, he caused to be erected on the battle-field, by the people of the six provinces, Hilo, Hamakua, Kohala, Kona, Ka'u, and Puna, a singular monument, composed of six polyhedral piles of ancient lava collected in the vicinity.
It is plainly seen that this blow-hole has been closed by human hands. There still remains a little opening through which the water hisses to the height of thirty or forty feet. Kaleikini closed at Kohala, on the shore of Nailima, a volcanic mouth like that of Ka'u. On the heights of Honokane, he silenced the thunders of a water-fall by changing its course.
Instantly priests and people let go the cord, and the enormous god, rolling upon the chief, crushed him at once. The death of Kohaokalani is attributed chiefly to the Kahuna. Koihala reigned at Ka'u. He was a very great chief perhaps the entire island recognized his authority. An abuse of power hastened his death.
He is energetic, haughty in speech, and always ready to strike a blow when occasion presents. He is proud, and worships his liberty. Several Hawaiian chiefs have been killed by the people of Ka'u, among others Kohaokalani, Koihala, etc. He was, according to tradition, the most important chief on the island, and reigned in royal state at Hilea.
This remarkable example of longevity was by no means unique at the Hawaiian Islands a few years since. Father Maréchal knew at Ka'u, in 1844, an aged woman who remembered perfectly having seen Alapai. I had occasion to converse at Kauai with an islander who was already a grandfather when he saw Captain Cook die.
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