count for a very natural phenomenon,
by bringing to their aid this most natural and foolish superstition.

Many objects in the neighborhood are identified with this remarkable
personage, such as a large rock to which he was tied, a wide place
in the brook where he used to drink, and a number of trees he is
said to have planted. Many other things respecting him are current,
but as they do not relate to the matter in hand, it will perhaps
suffice to say, in conclusion, that tradition further asserts that
Kamapuaa conquered the volcano, when Pele its goddess became his wife,
and that they afterward lived together in harmony. That is the reason
why there are no more islands formed, or very extensive eruptions in
these later days, as boiling lava was the most potent weapon she used
in fighting her enemies, throwing out such quantities as greatly to
increase the size of the islands, and even to form new ones.

Visitors to the falls, even to this day, meet with evidences of the
superstitious awe in which the locality is held by the natives. A
party who recently visited the spot state that when they reached
the falls they were instructed to make an offering to the presiding
goddess. This was done in true Hawaiian style; they built a tiny pile
of stones on one or two large leaves, and so made themselves safe
from falling stones, which otherwise would assuredly have struck them.

XIX

BATTLE OF THE OWLS

_Jos. M. Poepoe_

The following is a fair specimen of the animal myths current in
ancient Hawaii, and illustrates the place held by the owl in Hawaiian
mythology.

There lived a man named Kapoi, at Kahehuna, in Honolulu, who went one
day to Kewalo to get some thatching for his house. On his way back he
found some owl's eggs, which he gathered together and brought home
with him. In the evening he wrapped them in ti leaves and was about
to roast them in hot ashes, when an owl perched on the fence which
surrounded his house and called out to him, "O Kapoi, give me my eggs!"

Kapoi asked the owl, "How many eggs had you?"

"Seven eggs," replied the owl.

Kapoi then said, "Well, I wish to roast these eggs for my supper."

The owl asked the second time for its eggs, and was answered by Kapoi
in the same manner. Then said the owl, "O heartless Kapoi! why don't
you take pity on me? Give me my eggs."

Kapoi then told the owl to come and take them.

The owl, having got the eggs, told Kapoi to build up a _heiau_, or