of the people in this deified
stone that when, some twenty years ago, the road supervisor of the
district threw it over and broke off a portion, it was prophesied
that Kaneaukai would be avenged for the insult. And when shortly
afterward the supervisor lost his position and removed from the
district, returning not to the day of his death; and since several
of his relatives have met untimely ends, not a few felt it was the
recompense of his sacrilegious act.

XXIV

THE SHARK-MAN, NANAUE

_Mrs. E. M. Nakuina_

_Kamohoalii_, the King-shark of Hawaii and Maui, has several deep
sea caves that he uses in turn as his habitat. There are several of
these at the bottom of the palisades, extending from Waipio toward
Kohala, on the island of Hawaii. A favorite one was at Koamano, on the
mainland, and another was at Maiaukiu, the small islet just abreast
of the valley of Waipio. It was the belief of the ancient Hawaiians
that several of these shark gods could assume any shape they chose,
the human form even, when occasion demanded.

In the reign of Umi, a beautiful girl, called Kalei, living in Waipio,
was very fond of shellfish, and frequently went to Kuiopihi for her
favorite article of diet. She generally went in the company of other
women, but if the sea was a little rough, and her usual companion
was afraid to venture out on the wild and dangerous beach, she very
often went alone rather than go without her favorite sea-shells.

In those days the Waipio River emptied over a low fall into a basin
partly open to the sea; this basin is now completely filled up with
rocks from some convulsion of nature, which has happened since then. In
this was a deep pool, a favorite bathing-place for all Waipio. The
King shark god, Kamohoalii, used to visit this pool very often to
sport in the fresh waters of the Waipio River. Taking into account
the many different tales told of the doings of this shark god, he
must have had quite an eye for human physical beauty.

Kalei, as was to be expected from a strong, well-formed Hawaiian girl
of those days, was an expert swimmer, a good diver, and noted for the
neatness and grace with which she would _lelekawa_ (jump from the
rocks into deep water) without any splashing of water, which would
happen to unskilful divers, from the awkward attitudes they would
assume in the act of jumping.

It seems Kamohoalii, the King-shark, had noted the charms of the
beautiful Kalei, and his heart, or