Kulio'iki

Kii: Ku'ialuaopuna

Hawaiian Nupepa Ku'oko'a Vol. 62, No. 31 2 Aukake 1923. pg 3, columa 5

Moe e no Kauai i luna ka la

Puiwa au i ka nakeke o ka ohai

I ka hoohuli a ka la i ke kapa-pili o Kahelu

Helu au i na ai a kuu kumu a lau;

He lau ka paa opeope a lima iki

Holo au i Hawaii, hoi mai au

E paa ana no oe

Paa nau, na Kulioiki

Na ka haumana olohe lua a Kuioiomoa.

This is a Kaena of the olohe Kulioiki, who was a haumana at the time of its composition. How amazing were our kupuna who excelled in the science of lua!

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Unuhi ia e K.K.

The expert lua fighters of Kaua'i are at rest as the sun is at it highest

Surprised was i at the rustling of the ohai trees

Causing the sun to turn the top layer of kapa for Kahelu.

I recount the stokes of lua, the strokes of my olohe are numbered four hundred

Four hundred, are the ways to hold fast the bundle ( opponent ) by the hands of the expert

On a canoe, i said to Hawaii and returned

You were still bound up

Held firm by me, by Kulio'iki

The skilled student of Ku'io'iomoa the olohe lua.

This chant is of Lua traditions taken out of our Hawaiian Nupepa Ku'oko'a Vol. 62, No. 31 2 Aukake 1923. pg 3, columa 5

We will look more into this chant to try and see what the haku or composer had envisioned in his mind when composing this:

This first line is metaphoric in its statement that the skilled warriors of Kauai are so confident in their skill that they do not need to prepare themselves for battle in the aha moa or contest of skill. They become complacent and see no need to worry about their challengers as they have always overcome their adversaries and will do so again.

The rustling of the 'Ohai trees is the gossip and noise that the Kauai men are making as they seem to be concerned about this new challenger that they will face. The term Nakeke is to rattle or shake violently, it is more than just a whisper or a breath, it is a real concern and the words are spreading amongst the group that a real threat is in their presence.

 The kapa, formerly used as a top sheet (old-time Hawaiians did not put a bottom sheet on top or vice versa, due to strict taboos concerning body contact). Lit., clinging tapa. There were layers to the kapa moe or sleeping sheet that covered over one's body at rest. There were about 5 individual layers that was stitched together on one end. Each layer could be folded back to decrease the warmth to one's body if needed. The kapa pili was the top layer of the set. As the sun turned over at the stage termed (kau ka la) or high noon, the warriors also turn and emerge from their sleep due to the rumblings of gossip and excitement, that a skilled u'i or warrior is on island.

The U'i or champion from Hawai'i recounts all the strikes he has learned in his years of training, as they are about 400 in total as he prepares for his 'aha maka or contest.

He reassures him self there are four hundred ways in which he can tie up his opponent into a bundle so his skill is profound and he needs not worry as he is prepared or mākaukau!

The 'aha maka is over and he still has his opponent in a knot or bundle. The Kaua'i warrior is still unable to free himself from the hold of the Hawai'i man. The 'aha maka or contest was held in a long open hālau in full public view. Mats lined the floor and many spectators gathered to see the event. Many victims who lost the competition were placed in a puolo or bundle, curled up unable to move. The victim was literally frozen in place and bound up in a tight ball. The balled up victim was carried on to the side of the mats and left there, still unable to move. In some competitions of old, the u'i or champion may have 5 warriors all lined up in bundles on the competition mat. These men, all lined up in a row, looked like packages or lumps of poi which could be rolled around like a ball. These men were still alive and breathing but could not move an inch, as their eyes were still open. Only the one who put them in a knot could release them from this trouble. Once released, these bundled warriors were slowly able to untangle their bodies. The real pain to these defeated champions was the humiliation one faced later on.

In the closing boast of his oli, he lets all of Kaua'i know that his skill is absolute and it is his

'Olohe lua, Ku'io'iomoa who has enlightened him. In saying this, praise would be given to his teacher and with this, his reputation would grow as well as his lineage in this art of Lua.

Ua 'ike no a..... It is well known!