Legends of Kūkini Runners

ʻEleʻio was a kūkini (trained runner) in the service of Kakaʻalaneo, King of Maui, several runners being always kept by each king or ali'i of consequence. These kūkinis, when sent on any errand, always took a direct line for their destination, climbing hills with the agility of goats, jumping over rocks and streams, and leaping from precipices. They were so fleet of foot that the common illustration of the fact among the natives was the saying that when a kūkini was sent on an errand that would ordinarily take a day and a night, fish wrapped in kī leaves (known as lawalu), if put on the fire on his starting, would not be cooked sufficiently to be turned before he would be back.

ʻEleʻio was to go to Hana to get 'awa for the King, and supposed to be back before he ate that evening. Soon after he left, he saw a beautiful young maiden ahead of him. He tried to overtake her, but she ran just fast enough to keep ahead of him. This she did until they reached a pu'o'a or platform on which dead bodies of people of distinction were exposed to the air and kept.

When ʻEleʻio caught the young woman, she told him that she was a spirit and her body was on the pu'o'a. She then asked him to go to her father's house and get some of her personal belongings, among them was a beautiful unfinished feather cloak which she had been making. So ʻEleʻio deviated from his course to Hana and went to the father's house giving them the instructions from their daughter. He further asked them and all the relatives to help him as he was also a kahuna, or man skilled in medicine and charm and could return spirits bodies unless decomposition had set in.

When the right preparations were made, he caught the girl's spirit and with added strength from the prayers of himself, and the young lady's parents and relatives, it was pushed back into her body until at last she came to life. Her father was so happy that he instantly gave the girl to ʻEleʻio for his wife. Humbly thanking him, ʻEleʻio told them he would take her to the King, as her charm and beauty made her worthy to be queen of the whole island. ʻEleʻio then asked that the feather cloak be finished for him to take back to the King. Thus, everyone started to work to complete the precious cloak made from tiny yellow and red feathers of the 'ō 'ō and mamo birds.

Taking this gift of great value which was the first feather cloak ever to be seen on the island, and the beautiful girl, ʻEleʻio started back to the King's courtyard. They travelled slowly because the girl could not travel as fast as she did when she was a spirit.

When they neared the royal place, ʻEleʻio told her to wait for him in the bushes and if he did not return for her, she was to go back to her family.

As he entered the courtyard he saw the imu which had been prepared for him. (It was common that if a runner did not return as soon as he was expected to, the King would order him to be put to death in a hot burning pit.) When King's men seized ʻEleʻio and started to bind him, he pleaded that he would be able to die at the feet of his King.

When he finally stood before Kakaʻalaneo, ʻEleʻio said as he unwrapped the precious cloak, "Before I die, I have brought you this gift that your name will be renowned and that you will have it to pass on to your posterity."

The King and his court stood in amazement at the beauty of the item. ʻEleʻio gained the King's pardon and was restored to his royal position. When the King heard the whole story, he sent for the fair maiden who was waiting where ʻEleʻio had left her. Kakaʻalaneo was so overcome by her loveliness that he made her his queen. It is said that the highest kings of the Islands can trace their heritage back to this couple.

The feathered cloak which ʻEleʻio gave the King is known as the ‘Ahu o Kakaʻalaneo.

One Naihe, son of Lonohiwa, an attendant of Kamehameha, and Kaaipaai raced to a draw. They were both fast on a short track and were asked to race, for they were famed for their speed. They stood at the starting point with a flag at the goal. The one who got there first to grasp the flag, which fluttered among the people who were betting back and forth, won. The two stood at the starting point as though they hesitated to run together, and finally they ran singly, first one then the other. This stalling of theirs caused the race to be called off. Some of the gamblers believed that they were afraid of each other.

Another legend is told about Makoko, a celebrated runner of Kamehameha I on Hawai'i. Makoko is supposed to have been able to snatch a fish from the pond of Waikea in Hilo, and carry it to Kailua, over 100 miles away, before it was dead. Not to be outdone, the people of Oahu boasted of Uluanui, who could take a fish from Ka'elepuhu at Kailua, carry it around the island by way of Waialua, and deliver it at Waikiki before it stopped wiggling.

Still another legend is told of Kaohele, son of Kumukoa, a king of Moloka'i who was contemporary with Alapai nui of Hawai'i. It is reported that he could run from Kaluaaha as far a Halawa and return before a fish put on the fire at the time of his starting had been roasted. "E kui ka mama’i loaa o Kaohele" was the saying which means "You must double your speed to catch Kaohele."