Kalamakua
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Kalamakua was a Hawaiian high chief of the Island of Oahu. His uncle was King Kalona-iki and his grandfather was King Mailikukahi.
He was born on Oahu to Kalona-nui, the brother of Kalona-iki and the son of Mailikukahi. His grandfather was one Oahu's greatest law maker equal to Hammurabi. His cousin Lo-Lale had acquired the Hawaiian version of Helen of Troy, a Mauian princesses and sister of Kawaokaohele, King of Maui. Although the Oahuan did not suffer the same fate as the Trojan as Kawakaohele had not intention of invading Oahu or retaking his lost sister. Princess Keleanohoanaapiapi was a great surfer and love the sea. To live inland at Lo-Lale's residence of Lihue nearly killed her spirit. So she informed her husband of her intention to leave, and reluctanly he gave his consent, knowing well that the prerogatives of her rank gave her the privelege of separation if she wanted it.
Leaving Lihue, Kelea descended to Ewa, and skirting the head of the lagoon by way of Halawa, arrived at the mouth of Pearl river opposite Puuloa, and found a crowd of idlers, nobles and retainers of Kalamakua, who was the high chief of that region, disporting themselves in the surf. Borrowing a surf-board from one of the bystanders, Kelea jumped in the sea and swam out beyond the breakers and joined the company of the other surf-bathers. When the surf broke at its highest they all started for the shore, and Kelea excelled them all, and was loudly cheered for her daring and skill. Kalamakua being at the time in a neighbouring plantation, heard the loud uproar of voices from the shore, and inquired what the cause of it was. He was told that a beautiful woman from Lihue had beaten all the Halawa chiefs at surf-swimming, and hence the loud and continued cheering. Satisfied in his own mind that but one woman at Lihue could perform such a feat, and that she must be his cousin, Lo-Lale's wife, the Maui chiefess, Kalamakua went at once to the beach, and threw his kihei (mantle) over Kelea as she touched the' shore, returning from another victorious trip through the surf. Explanations followed, and Kelea was borne home in state to the residence of Kalamakua in Halawa, and became his wife. With him she remained to her death, and bore him a daughter, called Laielohelohe, who in early youth was betrothed and subsequently married to her cousin Piilani of Maui, the son of Keleas brother, Kawaokaohele.
[edit] Reference
- Abraham Fornander, An Account of the Polynesian Race: Its Origin and Migrations, Rutland, VT: Charles E. Tuttle Company, 1969. Page 79, 82, 86-87
