King Kamehameha I was twenty-two years old when he lifted and carried a rock weighing about 1,000 pounds a long distance. As of 1978, that rock still rested at a marked spot outside Kapaʻau on highway number 24, the location named by a historical marker erected by the Historical Society. The feat is one of many legends and stories that describe the physical strength of the Hawaiian athletes.
Not to Worship, But to Play
Kamehameha participated in many ancient games that contributed to the development of his strength. It is said that many times he went to Kealiʻi, a place of religious service on the island of Lānaʻi, not to worship, but to play in many sports. He loved to throw the maika stone, hurl the spear, parry the javelins thrown at his bare chest, ride the crest of the waves, and plunge his canoe out into a fierce storm. In the water, both men and fish feared him. It is said that he captured a great shark, grabbed a deadly eel with his powerful hands, and fought with monsters of the deep.
Without Smiling
Another story is told about the great King Kamehameha I who loved to play kōnane. "The old king would sit for hours at a time without even so much as smiling." It is said that no one could beat him at kōnane.
The Law of the Splintered Paddle
After Kamehameha defeated King Kalanikūpule of Oʻahu, he assembled his warriors at Pūowaina, or Punchbowl Hill, and gave the first set of great laws called Māmalahoe Kānāwai, or the Law of the Splintered Paddle. This law guaranteed the safety of the highways to all people: women, children, old, young, sick, etc. This law is said to have been made because Kamehameha was struck on the head with a paddle while his foot was caught in a crevice.
Hawaiʻi Ponoʻi, the national anthem of Hawaiʻi, pays a direct tribute to the spear in the phrase "na kaua i pale me ka ihe," which means "the spear by which Kamehameha has protected you and me."
Kamehameha I lifted a 1,000-pound rock at twenty-two. At Kealiʻi on Lānaʻi, he played with the maika stone, the spear, and the waves, and captured a shark and an eel with his bare hands. He sat through kōnane without a smile, and after defeating Kalanikūpule, issued the Law of the Splintered Paddle.
Makahiki Games
Sources
Stames, C. Alexander. Hawaiian Folklore Tales. New York: Exposition Press. 1975.
Thrum, Thos. G. Hawaiian Folk Tales. A Collection of Native Legends. Chicago: A.C. McClurg & Co. 1907.
Kenn, Charles W. "Ancient Hawaiian Sports." The Mid-Pacific Magazine. October–December 1935. pp. 308–316.
Pukui, Mary K. and S. Elbert. Hawaiian Dictionary: Hawaiian English-English Hawaiian. 1st Edition. Honolulu: University Press of Hawaii. 1971.