Lo-Lale

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Lo-Lale was a Hawaiian high chief of the island of Oahu, being the son of King Kalona-iki, the brother of King Piliwale, and the uncle of Queen Kukaniloko. Lo-Lale was not the Moi himself, nor did he ever become Moi. His status was a district chief simialar to feudal lord.

The tradition states there lived at the time at Lihue, Ewa district, Oahu, a handsome chief named Lo-Lale. He was a bachelor and a man of an amiable temper. Lo-Lale had reached the age of 35 without marrying, and the reason was said to be because a lovely princess whom he was about to marry had come to her sudden death some years before by drowning. His brothers and the friendly neighboring chiefs became very anxious that he should take unto himself a wife. His brother, Piliwale, having no sons, was naturally anxious that his brother should marry so that the royal line might be perpetuated and Lo-Lale finally yielded to his importunities and consented. Apparently no suitable match for so high a chief could be found on Oahu, or none had succeeded in captivating his fancy. In this case a bride must be sought for abroad, and a proper canor, with trusty messengers, was fitted out at Waialua to visit the windward islands and report upon the beauty and rank of the chiefesses there. The canoe first visited Molokai, but no satisfied with their inquiries, the messengers proceeded to Lanai, and beign equally unsuccessful there, they sialed to Hana, Maui, intending to cross over to Hawaii.

At Hana they heard that Kawaokaohele, the Moi of Maui, was at that time stopping with his court and his chiefs at Hamakuapoko, regulating the affairs of the country, and enjoying the cool breezes of that district, and the pleasure of surf-bathing, and that with him was his sister Kelea-nohoanaapiapi, the most beautiful woman on Maui, and the most accomplished surfer. Hearing this, the messengers turned back from Hana and arrived with their canoe on a fine morning off Hamakuapoko. On that very morn Kelea and her attendants had gone down to the beach to enjoy the sport of surf-bathing. Swimming out beyond the surf, she encouraged the canoe, and was at first somewhat suprised and startled at seeing strangers in it, but being reassured by their kindly speech, and being invited to come on board, the messengers offered to ride the canoe ashore through the surf. Kelea accepted the invitation, and gallantly the canoe shot over the foaming surf and landed safely on the beach. All sense of danger or mistrust being dispelled, the princess accompanied the canoe again out over the surf, and again rode succesfully ashore over the breakers, the attendants hurraing lustily at the brave and fearless stlye of which the canoe was handled. The messengers having by this time ascertained who their illustrious guest was, invited her to another trip through the roaring surf. Thoughtlessly she consented and the canoe pulled out beyond the surf, watching for a good, high, combing roller of the sea to star in with. At this moment at squall or a whirlwind suddenly struck the canoe with, coming from off the shore, and away sped the canoe with its fair and involuntary passenger over the broad ocean.

When the storm subsided, the shores of Maui were far distant, and the messengers started for Waialua, Oahu, where they arrived safely. From Waialua Kelea was taken up to Lihue, where Lo-Lale received her with the regard due to a chiefess of her rank, and as she did not commit suicide, it may be inferred that she became reconciled to her lot and accepted him as her husband. And as no invasion of Oahu was ever attempted by Kawaokaohele, or vengeance exacted for the abduction of his sister, it is probable, though the legend says nothing about it, that the affair was diplomatically settled to the satisfaction of all parties.

For several years Kelea lived with Lo-Lale at Lihue and bore to him three children. But the inland situation of Lihue, at the foot of the Kaala mountains, and far away form the sea, became wearisome and monotonmous to the excited and volstile temper of Kelea. She informed her husband of her intention to leave and reluctantly he gave his consent, knowing well that the prerogatives of her rank gave her the privelege of separation if she wanted. His grief at parting has been preserved in the tradition in the form of a chant, the following portion of which alone has been remembered:

Aloha Lou hoa i ka pualii,	Farewell, my partner on the lowland plains,
I ka wai o Pohake,a	On the waters of Pohakea,
He luna o Kanehoa,	Above Kanehoa,
He Lae ino o Maunauna.	On the dark mountain spur of Maunaunu.
O Lihue, ke hele ia!	O Lihue, she has gone!
Homi aku i ke ala o ka Manu,	Sniff the sweet scent of the grass,
I ke ala o ke kupukupu,	The sweet scent of the wild vines,
E linoia ana e ka Waikoloa,	That are twisted about by the brook of Waikoloa,
E ka makani he Waiopua-la,	By the winds of Waiopua
Kuu pu----a!	My flower!
Me he pula la i kuu maka,	As if a mote were in my eye,
Ka oni i ka haku onohi,	The pupil of my eye is troubled,
Ka wailiu I kuu maka. E auwe du-e!	Dimness (covers) my eyes. Woe is me! Oh!

His wife later remarried to his cousin, Kalamakua, son of his uncle Kalona-nui. They resided in Halawa and with him she remained to her death, and bore him a daughter, called Laielohelohe, who in youth was betrothed and subsequently married to her cousin Piilani of Maui, son of Kawaokaohele.

Lo-Lale's children by Kelea were, named Kaholi-a-Lale, Luliwahine, and Luli Kane. His descendants eventually remarried into the House of Oahu and married into many royal families of the Hawaiian islands. His grandson was the high chief Kanehoalani, who was the father of Kaunui-a-Kanehoalani and grandfather of Kakuhihewa, Oahu's most renown monarch.

[edit] Reference

• Abraham Fornander, An Account of the Polynesian Race: Its Origin and Migrations, Rutland, VT: Charles E. Tuttle Company, 1969. Page 79-85