The child developed rapidly, became strong, and acquired a royal stature.

In his social games, in the sports of youth, he always bore away the palm.

He was, moreover, a great eater: _Hao wale i ka ai a me ka ia_.[13] In a word, Umi was a perfect Kanaka, and a skillful fighter, who made his comrades suffer for it.
At this time he conceived a strong affection for two peasants of the neighborhood, Koi of Kukui-haole and Omakamau, who became his _aikane_.
One day his supposed father, angry at his conduct, was about to punish him: "Strike him not," exclaimed Akahikameainoa, "he is your lord and chief! Do not imagine that he is the son of us two: he is the child of Liloa, your king." Umi was then about fifteen or sixteen years old.
His mother, after this declaration, startling as a thunder-bolt, went and uncovered the tokens Liloa had left as proof, and placed them before her husband, who was motionless with fear at the thought of the high treason he had been on the point of committing.
In the mean time, Liloa had grown old, and Akahikameainoa, deeming the moment had arrived, invested Umi with the royal malo, the niho palaoa, and the lei, emblems of power, which high chiefs alone had the right to wear.
"Go," said she to him then; "go, my son, present yourself at Waipio to King Liloa, your father.

Tell him you are his child, and show him, in proof of your words, these tokens which he left with me." Umi, proud enough of the revelation of his mother, at once departs, accompanied by Koi and Omakamau.
The palace of Liloa was surrounded by guards, priests, diviners, and sorcerers.

The kapu extended to the edge of the outer inclosure, and no one might pass on penalty of death.