The Famous Kite-Flying Contest of Wailupe
An Excerpt From The Haʻinakolo Story
This story of a high-stakes kite-flying contest between two Oʻahu girls was taken from the Haʻinakolo story by Kalamakuikeau Kaahiki, published in Ka Holomua in 1913.
Background: Haʻinakolo is a famous beauty from Waipiʻo who is sought out by Keaniniʻulaokalani, the handsome young man of Kuaihelani. The two “marry” and have a child, then part ways. Haʻinakolo is bereft at losing Keanini and she disappears at sea with their son. Her younger siblings, Mailekaluhea, Mailepākaha, and Mailehaʻiwale, decide to go and search for her. Their aunty makes them magical feather capes that act as bird wings and tells them they will find Haʻinakolo on Oʻahu. Armed with their new high-flying abilities, the sisters set out on their journey.
The story below begins when the maile sisters have reached Oʻahu. They have just been welcomed by a being named ʻIhiʻihilauākea who has prepared them a feast. They eat and rest, then she talks with them about the lands they will walk through. She also offers to look after their feather capes for them while they travel...
The Touching Story of Haʻinakolo, Part Five
When the Maile sisters had rested a bit and and were done relaxing, these young chiefesses prepared to continue on their journey. They gave their aloha to ʻIhiʻihilauākea and made their way to the path that went inland.
Just then, Mailekaluhea looked over at the shore of Maunalua and saw that it was full of people.
“What is that crowd gathered at the beach?” She asked their host.
“That is a kite-flying crowd. Men, women, boys and girls, all gathered to watch the kite-flying competitions. The one whose kite flies highest wins and she gets the valuables of the opposing side. There’s one girl whose kite flies the best and she’s grabbing up the wealth of all these lands. Her kite flies up into the clouds and is wet by the ua ʻawa, the high, chilly rain. It won’t stop moving and ascending into the blue heavens. This girl has a sort of ability that lets her communicate with spirits. Her kite [is the spirit of] her brother, Niu. That’s how she wins.”
“Well there’s something fun we can go and bet on,” said Mailekaluhea, “If her kite beats ours, then we’ll lose to her. But if our kite beats hers, then she’ll lose to us. So, we won’t be leaving our feather capes with you. We’ll keep them with us and go down to that crowd to make a name for ourselves.”
“Well, then,” said ʻIhiʻihilauākea, “take your feather capes with you.”
They said their final goodbyes and started down the hill, the one beyond Maunalua called ʻIhiʻihilauākea today.
As they neared the gathering, they came upon a girl who was sitting on the sand, crying, holding a kite in her hands. Her head hung low as she wept. When they got close, they greeted her. The girl was startled and looked up to find three beautiful women standing there.
“Was that you ladies saying hello to me?”
“Yes, it was us newcomers saying hi. What are you crying about?”
“I’m crying because I have nothing.” Said the girl in a shaky voice. “All my family’s valuables have gone to the best kite-flier girl of our land. All I have left is my life. Today is our final bet. If I lose to her, I’ll die.”
“Oh no!” Said Mailekaluhea. “Maybe you ladies should call it a day on kite flying. Give it a rest till morning and then fly your kites again. The wager on your side will be our feather cloaks. There’s three of us, so that’s three cloaks she could win, if you really lost badly. But if the tide of luck turns in your favor tonight, victory and its spoils will be yours tomorrow.”
The girl agreed, looking somewhat relieved, then asked their names. Mailepākaha and the others introduced themselves.
“Ok, then,” said the girl, “let’s go over to that crowd and talk with my opponent. If she agrees to your idea, it will be great, but if she says no, I’m really in for it. I’ll be baked in the ground.”
“Don’t worry about that.” Mailepākaha replied. “Let’s go.”
They went over to where the people were gathered. When the crowd saw the three young women from out of town, they made quite a raucous about their gorgeousness. There were no women of that place who compared in beauty to these supply-skinned, true ladies they beheld.
The girl who always won the kite-flying contests was standing with some other people. When she saw her opponent she spoke haughtily.
“Here comes miss nobody, walking up with those strangers. Who does she think she is, coming around here with those women? So shame, that little girl with the pug nose who just catches sand crabs on the beach. Today’s your day, girls, your bones will be stripped and used for my uncles’ fish hooks.”
Mailepākaha and the others heard what the girl said.
“Geez! That girl is such a big mouth. She’s relentless with her mean words. All right, then, she’s gonna get it. She doesn’t realize the full impact of what comes out of her mouth. Let’s get out onto that playing field, so they can get a good look at us, the girls from the waters of Hiʻilawe who catch ʻoʻopu with their bare hands.”
When they reached the dense crowd, people moved to either side, leaving an open space in the middle for the girl and the young chiefesses from Waipiʻo. Everyone saw just how beautiful these girls were. Backs like cliffs, faces like radiant moonlight, deep green fronds of palai sensitive to the cold.
The people murmured to one another about how well-proportioned these soaring ʻiwa birds were. The young men of that place tugged at each other’s arms in reaction to these curvaceous young women who were so terribly attractive.
Mailekaluhea and the others approached the champion kite-flier, the sister of Niu. Their new friend went right up to her kite-flying nemesis and stood there, kite in hand.
“What do you think you’re doing, rolling up over here?” The champion girl sneered.
“I came with my friends, those girls standing over there. Meet them first and then I’ll tell you my idea about our kite-flying bet.”
“Bahaha! What could you possibly say that I should even bother listening to when you are my prisoner? I have NO desire to meet your friends. I totally despise everyone on your side and they feel the same about me.”
“Maybe you’re right. I might end up your prisoner. But maybe real soon here, when our kites fly again, you are gonna be my prisoner, and you’re firing your mouth off too quickly. Here’s what I came to tell you: our competition should be over for today. Tomorrow’s another day. We can fly our kites then. How does that sound?”
“You are SUCH a weasel, coming over here to put off the contest that was set for today! You really have no shame! There’s no way I’m agreeing to your cheeky plan. I’m about to finish you, bake you in the ground.”
The girl turned back towards Mailepākaha and the others with sadness in her eyes. Tears spilled from her lashes onto her cheeks.
“Your opponent is being obstinate. That’s fine.” Said Mailepākaha. “Give me your kite so I can see how you’ve constructed the body. When the body of the kite is right it’s wings will fill properly with wind, and if the tail feathers don’t pull to one side, the back end moves well, and then there’s no doubt it will float up into the kāʻao rain. When we were little, us girls and boys used to play this game plenty, till we were all exhausted.”
The girl gave her kite to Mailepākaha who examined it fully, then began fixing the body.
“You, my friend, were sure to lose to your competitor, for you had constructed a nukupuʻu body shape and the tail is crooked. It will only fly low, like something small and stubby. All show and no go.”
Mailepākaha worked the body shape till it was right and the nose would lift. Then she spoke to the opponent of their friend.
“Hey you! We’re ready on this side.”
“I was already ready. But there’s one last thing: our wager. I have plenty of valuables on my side, a heap so big it I gotta pack it on my back in loads. What’s the wager on the side of the girls with the flimsy hands? If you’ve got no wager, then you’ve all lost to me. You’re done, baked in the ground by my people. You three and your friend from here.”
Pau ʻoukou, i kālua ʻia e oʻu poʻe kānaka
i ka imu
“Just hold up on the whole baking thing until we’ve got nothing to bet.” Said Mailepākaha. “We’ve got a wager: our feather cloaks and wings. There’s three of us, so that’s three cloaks. That’s our wager. And just so you know, with these feather cloaks, we can fly higher than your kite flies.”
“Whatever!” The girl shot back, “You girls are complete liars. Who has ever said a person can fly in the sky like my kite can?
“Hey, we’ll bet you on that!” Mailekaluhea quickly responded. “One of us will fly into the upper reaches of the sky with this feather cape and your pig head kite will plunge into the still water below.”
The champion girl was furious when she heard this.
“I’ll wager all my goods on you people!” She snapped back. “There’s no way you can fly in the sky. And my kite definitely ain’t gonna plunge into the water.”
“Really soon here, your kite IS gonna plunge headlong into the water,” said Mailepākaha, “That’ll be why this place gets called Wailupe from now on. That means Water-of-the-kite: your pig-headed, short-tailed kite.”
“You really are a stupid woman with a very big mouth.” Said the champion girl. “We haven’t even started and we know who the winner is. I’ve already got you all with the short tail of my kite. Hear me now, Niu is my kite’s name. It’s a big long club that goes straight for the sky.”
“It’s all set,” replied Mailepākaha, “our wager is agreed upon. You fly your kite and one of us will fly in the sky. You’ll see just how flacid this long niu of yours is next to what we can do, the girls from Waipiʻo who surf the rivermouth. The head of your kite will end up getting tossed around on the surface of the ocean. And as far as your insults, you know, they don’t even make me angry at you. Your words, sweetheart, they go right back and roost on YOU.
“Let’s go! Fly your kite. And us newcomers will figure out which one of us is gonna fly in the sky. ALL your valuables will be our friend’s when you lose to us. But we’ll leave you with your life.”
The champion girl proceeded to fly her kite with everything she had. She mumbled something to her wind brother, Niu, to take the kite up into the dark clouds. At that moment, Niu unleashed his full power. The kite flew something fierce, its tail taut in the blowing wind. The crowd went wild. A second cheer erupted. The supernatural kite rose.
From atop Keʻauʻau hill, known today as Laeʻahi, Kaʻāunaikahākoʻiwailanaikeaouli saw the young ladies jostling for position on the beach of Wailupe and she chuckled.
The din of the crowd was heard as the girl’s kite flew and she chanted her prideful song:
“My kite
My kite that flies fierce
Like a dragonfly it charges up into the great white sky
Rises magically into the blue vault of the heavens
Where it is caught in the wind of the upper reaches
You soar like a bird
Niu is a bird that goes out over the ocean
Fly, my kite, fly.”
While the champion girl’s kite was flying, her opponent looked over at Mailepākaha and the others, deeply distraught by thoughts of her death.
“Hey, my dear friend, don’t worry about your competitors kite that flies like a dragonfly. That’s beginner flying, not a matured practice. Her spirit brother will fly until he’s hungry, then he’ll dive down to drink seawater, like we told your opponent. Mailekaluhea is gonna fly up and drive off her dead brother.”
The people asked sarcastically, “So, when are these wandering skirt ladies from over the ocean gonna fly like birds? Who in the world will beat them at flying high in the sky?”
That’s when Mailekalueha donned her feather cape and said to her new friend, “Hey, when I fly, you chant this chant:
“Fly, my kite, fly
A bird kite with yellow tail feathers
Spreading out its wings
Soaring in the wind
Teaching its opponent a lesson
A bird kite that flies for me
For Waihoikaea
Gazing out over ʻIhiʻihilauākea
You are optimistic for survival
But how will it go?”
Here we will see, once more, this flying bird that poses as a human, the younger sister of Haʻinakolo. We will see how she flies into the highest reaches of the sky with a level of skill that is a true display of mind-boggling magic. The feats of these women must have been imbued with amazing power, like it was with Kelelealuaka when she flew with wings fashioned from coconut leaves. And like others who would fly from cliffs with wings made of tī leaves, as their stories tell us.
As soon as Mailekaluhea had finished reciting the song, the girl had it down pat, from beginning to end.
“I’m gonna fly and you do the kite-flying song so that you and your opponent are tied in chanting.” Said Mailekaluhea.
At that same time, the people were teasing the girl, saying “When the heck are these shifting skirts gonna fly like birds?”
That’s when Mailekaluhea unfurled her wings, flapped them, and shot straight up into the sky. She floated above like a bird. The crowd roared, “That amazing woman is flying in the sky! Flying! Flying! The bird-bodied woman is flying!”
The girl began chanting the chant. She had it down so well that it rolled off her tongue effortlessly. And Mailekaluhea, the girl from the beveled cliffs of Waipiʻo, flew like an ʻiwa and soared like and ʻio. She rose and floated aloft, just like a kite does. She flew this way and that, then poised calmly. The crowd got a good look at her proud and majestic soaring, then their mouths hung open and their hands gestured as she flew full-bore into the highest reaches of the sky and entered the dark clouds.
That’s when the attending crowd saw the competitor girl’s kite spinning out of control. It spun, dipped, and whirled. Then the kite dove straight down to the water below and floated in slow circles on the surface of the ocean.
This champion girl tried and tried to jerk on and pull up the string of her kite. She ran about, bending her body forward and back, hoping this would raise her brother’s head up again so the wind would be at his breast. But nothing could bring him to the right position.
When this kite dove into the water, it’s corners became waterlogged and it couldn’t move again. It was completely soggy. Mailekaluhea’s new friend turned to her opponent.
“You have lost to me today. My kite is the one up in the dark clouds, flying proudly in the kāʻao wind, enjoying the cool pinch of the high, cold rain. And this dead brother of yours whose bare bones you worship, he’s dunking his head down like a dummy.
“Maybe he’s hungry for loli kaʻe, the fish with no eyes. He must not see the rocks down there full of spiky wana. When his forehead is full of wana spines, he’ll think he’s been struck with something, and his nose has been smashed in, then he’ll have to come back up and he’ll really be bobbing. What my friends said has come true, the head of your kite dove down to eat wana meat. It’s good, though, he’ll be revived by the sea spray.”
Her opponent became furious and wild with rage.
“That’s right. My kite went down for a swim and from there it’s going back up so far that Keōlewa will look low. I’ll only lose to you, you little brat, if my kite can no longer fly. But if my kite gets back up and flies high in the sky again, you’re gonna die, along with those gangly, dirty-footed girls.”
“You short-tailed kite ain’t gonna fly again.” Said Mailepākaha. “The nose of your brother Niu has gone right into the ʻoʻopu fish trap set by the girls of Hiʻilawe. There’s nothing you can do. Your fire’s gone out. Mailekaluhea is flying way up high.”
When the kite took a dive, it went all the way down and swam like a fish in the belly of the sea. Keaulawe, one of their grandfathers whose form was a supernatural current, was quick to take it. All hope was lost for those bare bones. The girl kept pulling the string to get her younger brother to go back up, but there was no response. He was in Keaulawe’s grip.
The girl saw there was no way to succeed. She fell silent and didn’t utter a word. She had lost, so she ordered her family and friends to go get the goods for the girl who had won and gather them up on their side. There was an unbelievable amount of valuables: canoes, piles of smooth mats, stacks of skirts made from ʻōʻūholowai kapa, feather lei from the ʻōʻō birds of ʻŌlaʻa, fishnets, fish and poi, and numerous other things of value.
The former champion girl ordered her retainers to bake a pig that was a fathom long for the winner girl’s friends. She ordered all people of that land to prepare food until there was more than enough. They killed a well-fed dog that had been nicely fattened up and flayed it open to broil. They steamed chicken meat in gourds, threw nets for fish, and prepared many other delicacies.
While all this was being done, Mailekaluhea came slowly down from the lofty heights of the sky. The people talked back and forth about the amazing feat of these visiting women.
The girl who lost left with her younger sister and wandered about like a bit of a crazy lady. That is why Mailekaluhea said, “There go the friendless birds. One is ʻAlaenui, the other is ʻAlaeiki.”
This story shows that these girls are the reasons for the two names of those large divisions of the “ke-au-kaha” lands here on the south side of Honolulu, Waiʻalaenui and Waiʻalaeiki.
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Translators note: This is NOT a formal or straight translation. This is a dynamic approximation. Your mea unuhi (translator) has taken many liberties, with the hope of producing something fun to which readers can easily relate. Should you desire a more formal rendering of the text, please seek out one of the many talented translators in our community. If you find any glaring errors or want to give constructive feedback on this piece, please send your messages to: kauamelemele@gmail.com MAHALO!
If you or someone you know would like to read the buffed up version of the original ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, click here.
Mahalo nui to our model and limahana, the lovely Waileia DeFries.
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