By his numerous marriages with chiefesses and common women without distinction, this king has made the Hawaiian nobility, the present alii say, bastard and dishonored.  The chiefs descended from Keawe conceal their origin, and are by no means flattered when reminded of it.  From Keawe down, the genealogies become a focus of disputes, and it would be really dangerous for the rash historian who did not spare the susceptibilities of chiefs on this subject.

The principle on which those who condemn the conduct of Keawe rests is the purity of the blood of the royal stock, required by ancient usages, whose aim was to preserve the true nobility without alloy.  Disdaining this rule, Keawe contracted numerous marriages, which gave him as mothers of his children women of low birth.  The posterity of this chief, noble without doubt, but of impure origin, likes not to have its lame genealogy recalled.  It is with the sensitiveness of the Hawaiians on this subject, as with many other things in this world:  they attack bitterly the amours of Keawe, and seem to forget that Umi, their great chief, whose memory they preserve with so much care, was of plebeian blood by his mother.

It seems certain that King Keawe usually resided at the bay of Hoonaunau, in Kona.  The heiau of Hoonaunau, where may still be seen the stakes of ohia (Metrosideros) planted by Keawe, is called Hale a Keawe—­The house built by Keawe.  It served also as a City of Refuge.[19]

VARIOUS DOCUMENTS ON THE PROVINCE OF KA’U.

The people of Ka’u are designated in the group under the name of Na Mamo a ke kipi—­The descendants of the rebellion.  The province of Ka’u has always been regarded as a land fatal to chiefs.  At the present day an inhabitant of Ka’u can be distinguished among other natives.  He is energetic, haughty in speech, and always ready to strike a blow when occasion presents.  He is proud, and worships his liberty.  Several Hawaiian chiefs have been killed by the people of Ka’u, among others Kohaokalani, Koihala, etc.

THE HISTORY OF KOHAOKALANI.

He was, according to tradition, the most important chief on the island, and reigned in royal state at Hilea.  He it was who built the heiau situated on the great plain of Makanau.  The sea worn pebbles may still be seen, which Kohaokalani had his people carry up on to the height, about two leagues from the shore.  These pebbles were intended for the interior pavement of the temple.  The people, worn out by the great difficulty of transportation, tired of the yoke of royalty, and incited by disloyal priests, began to let their discontent and discouragement show itself.  A conspiracy was soon formed by these two classes leagued against the chief, and a religious ceremony offered an occasion to rid themselves of the despot.