The Hawaiian Archipelago - Six Months Among The Palm Groves, Coral Reefs, And Volcanoes Of The Sandwich Islands By Isabella L. Bird
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They Are Truly Grand Monuments Of
Humanity In The Midst Of The Barbarous Institutions Of Heathenism,
And It Shows A
Considerable degree of enlightenment that even rebels
in arms and fugitives from invading armies were safe, if they
reached the
Sacred refuge, for the priests of Keawe knew no
distinctions of party.
In dreadful contrast to this place of mercy, there were some very
large heiaus (or temples) here, on whose hideous altars eighty human
sacrifices are said to have been offered at one time. One of the
legends told me concerning this lovely valley is, that King Umi,
having vanquished the kings of the six divisions of Hawaii, was
sacrificing captives in one of these heiaus, when the voice of his
god, Kuahilo, was heard from the clouds, demanding more slaughter.
Fresh human blood streamed from the altars, but the insatiable demon
continued to call for more, till Umi had sacrificed all the captives
and all his own men but one, whom he at first refused to give up, as
he was a great favourite, but Kuahilo thundered from heaven, till
the favourite warrior was slain, and only the king and the
sacrificing priest remained.
This valley of the "vanquished waters" abounds in legends. Some of
these are about a cruel monster, King Hooku, who lived here, and
whose memory, so far as he is remembered, is much execrated. It is
told of him that if a man were said to have a handsome head he sent
some of his warriors to behead him, and then hacked and otherwise
disfigured the face for a diversion.
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