Thursday, February 25, 2016

Naoneala'a

Story One:

Some time during the 13th century...
La'amaikahiki son of Mo'ikeha during the voyaging era. His father Mo'ikeha was the second of three grandsons of the first ruler of Oahu, Maweke. The eldest, Kumuhonua inherited what is now the Honolulu district of the island. The other two, Moikeha and Olopana had rebelled during an ocean battle with their older brother but lost and were banished from their birth island. Then settled in Waipio, Big Island Hawaii. 
Maweke or Olopana (depending on the storyteller) married Lu'ukia, a daughter of a chief  that let the two brothers live in Waipio, because they were distant relatives from an earlier voyager. Bad weather, flooding, and landslides caused them to leave Waipio and return to their homeland in Tahiti with Lu'ukia. She was shared as a wife of both Olopana and Mo'ikeha. 
A Tahiti chief, Mua lusted for Lu'ukia and created a rumor that Mo'ikeha was talking bad about her. She believed Mua and was shamed. So she had her private parts covered in tight cordage by her attendants. Like a chastity belt. So that Mo'ikeha could not have sex with her. Instead of fighting with her, he chose to leave Tahiti and return to Hawaii again. Leaving his brother and his wife. He also left his son from another Tahitian woman, La'a. When he could no longer see his house pole from the ocean, he is said to have chose to forget everything he left behind.
After stopping off at every island in Hawaii and leaving members of his crew on each. To symbolically attach them to place names on each island. Mo'ikeha settled in Kauai and married two daughters of the chief of Wailua, Puna. Mo'ikeha became ali'i of Kauai after the death of Puna. He had more sons, the youngest being Kila. When Mo'ikeha was very old, he missed his son La'a and requested for Kila to go and bring him back before Mo'ikeha died. Kila sailed to Tahiti and had the lying chief Mua that caused his father to leave, killed. Then brought La'a back from Tahiti (Kahiki as pronounced in Hawaii), which explains his name La'amaikahiki La'a-From-Tahiti.La'a heard stories of Oahu being the most fertile island with many fishponds.

La'amaikahiki arrived to Oahu first. Offshore of Hanauma Bay, a man living there named Ha'ikamalama heard chants from the sea and drumming coming from La'a's voyaging canoe. While raised in Tahihi La'a learned about the hula and the musical instruments used for it during different heiau traditions than that of Hawaii. Ha'ikamalama followed the canoe by land. First to Makapuu and then to Kaneohe Bay. All the while listening and learning the melodies from the sounds on the canoe.
Once La'a came to land inside of Kaneohe Bay. Ha'ikamalama ran to his canoe offshore and beat the same songs with his finger tips on his own chest. He also knew La'a and his crew by name because of the chants they sung at sea. La'a was so amazed that he left sands that brought from Tahiti at the exact spot he landed. Thus giving the place name as The Sands of La'a, Na One A La'a!

Story two

"It was in January, 1737, that the two hosts (Alapai and Peleiohoalani) met, splendidly dressed in cloaks of bird feathers and in helmet-shaped head coverings beautifully decorated with feathers of birds. Red feather cloaks were seen from all sides, both chiefs were attired in a way to aspire admiration and awe, and the day was one of rejoicing as that of the ending of a dreadful conflict. So it was that Peleioholani and Alapai met at Naonealaa in Kaneohe. The canoes were lined up from Ki'i at Mokapu to Naonealaa and there on the shore line they remained, Alapai alone going on shore. The chiefs of Oahu and Kauai and the fighting men and the country people remained inland, the chief Peleioholani alone advancing. Between the two chiefs stood the counselor. Naili first addressed Peleioholani and said, "When you and Alapai meet, if he embraces and kisses you let Alapai put his arms below yours, lest he gain the victory over you. " This is therefore to this day the practice of the bone-breaking wrestlers at Kapua and Naonealaa. Alapai declared an end of war with all things as they were before, the chiefs of Maui and Molokai to be at peace with those of Oahu and Kauai; so also those of Hawaii. Thus ended the meeting of Peleioholani with Alapai. - Historian S.M. Kamakau
The meeting of Peleioholani and Alapainui, which ended a war that would have engulfed the all kingdoms of the Hawaiian islands. Was quelled because the young chiefs Kalaniopuu and Keoua were on Alapainui's side but also legitimate sons of Peleioholani.
The two rulers met again during a failed uprising against Kamehameha Nui on Maui. As they both supported different sides, and again they both made peace and withdrew from battle.