He soon became a very skillful dancer, and an excellent reciter of the mele; so the fame of his skill was not slow in extending through all the valleys of the island.

One day when Kaakaukuhimalani desired to collect all the accomplished dancers of Kauai, her attendants spoke to her of Kawelo as a prodigy in the art, who had not his equal from one end to the other of the group, from Hawaii to Niihau.  “Let some one bring me this marvel!” cried the princess, pricked with a lively curiosity.  The old and cunning preceptor of the mountains directed his pupil not to present himself at the first invitation, in order to make his presence more ardently desired.  Kawelo, understanding the value of this advice, did not obey until the third request; he danced before the princess with a skill so extraordinary that she fell in love with him, and married him.  So Kawelo found himself raised to princely rank.

The happy parvenu had three older brothers.  They were:  Kawelomakainoino, with fierce look and evil eye; Kawelomakahuhu, with unpleasant countenance and angry expression; Kawelomakaoluolu, with a lovable and gracious face.  All three were endued with the same athletic strength as their younger brother.

Jealous of the good fortune which a princely marriage had brought their brother, they resolved to humble him for their pleasure.  Taking advantage of the absence of Kaakaukuhimalani, they seized Kawelo and poured a calabash of poi over his head.  Poor Kawelo!  The paste ran down from his head over all his body, and covered him with a sticky plaster which almost suffocated him.  Overwhelmed with shame at having to undergo so humiliating a punishment, Kawelo fancied that he could no longer live at Kauai; he determined to exile himself, and live in Oahu.

He had already embarked in his canoe and prepared to set sail with some faithful friends, when he saw his wife on the shore.  Seated beneath the shade of a kou (Gordia sebestena) Kaakaukuhimalani waved her hand to Kawelo, crying: 

Hoi mai Toi mai kaua!  Mai hele aku oe!

Return, Return with me!  Go not away from me!

Kawelo, touched with love for his wife, but immovably determined to leave his island, chants his adieu, which forms the subject of the first canto.

  PAHA AKAHI.

  Aloha kou e, aloha kou;
  Ke aloha mai kou ka hoahele
  I ka makani, i ka apaapaa
  Anuu o Ahulua. 
  Moe iho uei au
  I ka po uliuli,
  Po uliuli eleele. 
  Anapanapa, alohi mai ana ia’u
  Ke aa o Akua Nunu. 
  Ine ee au e kui e lei
  Ia kuana na aa kulikuli. 
  Papa o hee ia nei lae. 
  E u’alo, e u’alo
  Ua alo mai nei ia’u
  Ka launiu e o peahi e;
  E hoi au e, e hoi aku.

  CANTO I.