Kau‘ilani and the Sea Monster

retold here by Javin
Adapted from "Kau‘ilani and the Sea Monster" The Water of Kane by Mary Kawena Pukui

A chief on Kaua‘i had a powerful enemy that was a sea monster. The sea monster terrorized the chief and his people and all attacks led against the sea monster were lost and many lives were taken. Finally the chief and his people fled up into the mountains to seek refuge. For many years they remained there sending countless prayers up to the Gods asking them to send them help so that one day they may come out of hiding but nothing came.
One day a child was born to the chief but sadly it was a girl and girls could not fight. But on another day there was a great storm that followed with a rainbow. Everyone rejoiced because they knew this was an sign that a son was born. They named Kau‘ilani but as tradition goes he was sent to live with the chiefs parents until he was ready to fight. Kau‘ilani’s grand parents trained him long and hard doing everything that they could that might make stronger such as: bathing him in sacred pools, giving him sacred items and more. But one day they said that he was ready and they took him to his father, the chief.
Once he looked at Kau‘ilani the chief was blown away by his incredible strength. The chief then realized that Kau‘ilani was the reinforcements that the Gods has sent his aid so he immediately told about their problem and if he could help them stop it. Kau‘ilani immediately agreed to help and he started a fire and told them to hide in the bushes.
Meanwhile down at the beach. The sea monster was laying in the water basking in the warm Kaua‘i sun thinking that everyone on the island was dead. But seeing the smoke rising from the forest he noticed that not everyone was dead. Enraged he trampled through the lush foliage finding Kau‘ilani standing in front of him. The sea monster said to him
“ I will kill you and then I will be king of the island.” but Kau‘ilani calmly said that he will fight him tomorrow morning on the beach and the sea monster angrily accepted the challenge.
After the sea monster left Kau‘ilani demanded that trees were cut down and placed beneath a cliff. Then they had a great feast. Later Kau‘ilani prayed that he would kill the sea monster because even he didn’t know if he was going to win.
On the day of the battle Kau‘ilani’s father gave him a spear explaining that it was their guardian and it will give him strength in the battle. Kau‘ilani also found that the trees placed under the cliff had grown into a massive, tangling thicket. He commanded everyone to hide in the bushes and trees with rocks, stones and spears and to be ready to throw them at the sea monster on his command.
The sea monster came out of the ocean hungry and ready to fight. Then the battle began. Kau‘ilani had outstanding agility and dodged all of the sea monster’s attacks and striking him in all of his blind spots. What the sea monster didn’t know was that with each blow Kau‘ilani was luring toward the thicket until finally the sea monster jumped at Kau‘ilani but only to find himself tangled in the thick bundle of vines. At that exact moment Kau‘ilani shouted out
“ Now!” and all of the people in the bushes and trees threw the rocks and spears at the sea monster with all their might weakening the sea monster even more. The sea monster eventually freed himself and attacked Kau‘ilani again and again but failed. The sea monster grew so weak that it collapsed in a stream and was limited to only opening and closing its jaw. It is there that the battle ends when Kau‘ilani plunges the spear into the head of the sea monster and kills it. They then burned the body in a gigantic bon fire. Kau‘ilani asked his father about his sister and the chief agreed to show him where she lives. They were both so happy to meet each other and they had a great feast.