File:Legends of old Honolulu (1915) (14577169218).jpg

Identifier: legendsofoldho00west (find matches)
Title: Legends of old Honolulu
Year: 1915 (1910s)
Authors: Westervelt, W. D. (William Drake), 1849-1939
Subjects: Legends -- Hawaii Honolulu
Publisher: Boston, Press of Geo. H. Ellis co. (etc.)
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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birth, Lepe-a-moa was only an egg, which,under the care of the grandparents, developed intoa very beautiful maiden who could assume at willa multitude of bird forms. Thus she was whatthe ancient legends called kupua, or a personhaving both human and animal powers. The young chief desired to visit the court ofKakuhihewa, who resided at Waikiki, wherethe Moana Hotel and Outrigger Club are nowlocated. The grandmother, Kapalama, sent mes-sengers to Ke-ao-lewa, the ruler of the birdsof the heavens, for new clothing fit for the youngchief, and they returned with a magnificentfeather sash of splendid colors, and a gloriousred feather cloak, shining like the blossoms ofthe lehua-tree, and fringed with yellow featherswhich were like golden clouds in the light ofthe setting sun. He bound the sash over his shoulders andaround his body as a girdle, or malo, threw thecloak from the heavens around him, took hismagic spear, Koa-wi Koa-wa, which had the powerof human speech, and journeyed to Waikiki.
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LEPE-A-MOA 229 At this time Kakuhihewa was entertaining hissister and her husband, Maui-nui, who was kingof the island of Maui. According to custom, thedays were devoted to sports and gambUng. Maui-nui had a kupua, a rooster, which wasone of the ancestors of Kauilanis family,but was very cruel and destructive. He couldassume a different bird form for each magicpower he possessed. This, with his miraculoushuman powers, made him superior to all theroosters which had ever been his antagonists incock-fighting. It was the custom of this kingto take this kupua in his rooster body, withsome other chickens, and visit other chiefs,having many battles and winning large amountsof property, such as the best canoes, the finestmats and kapas, and the most royal feathercloaks, as well as the lands of the chiefs who hadnot been subject to him. Sometimes, when allavailable property had been won, he wouldpersuade a chief to bet his bones. Thismeant that the poverty-stricken chief, as alast resort, woul

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