The great King Kamehameha was a protector of the common people. He passed laws that would protect them from unnecessary fighting amongst one another. Here is the "Law of the Broken Paddle." One day as Kamehameha and his men were paddling their canoe's looking for shelter they came across a group of fishermen. Most of the fishermen escaped before Kamehameha reached the shore but two of the older fishermen weren't fast enough. Kamehameha had the intention of killing the two fishermen, but while chasing after the two, caught his foot in a crevice in the lava. The fishermen, seeing that he was caught raced back and struck a blow to Kamehameha's head with a paddle. Seeing the war canoes paddling rapidly towards them, the fishermen fled for their lives. Years later, the fishermen were apprehended, and brought to King Kamehameha's court (by this time Kamehameha was ali'inui o Hawaii, or King of Hawaii). Everyone expected the King to execute them then and there. To everyone's surprise, he declared that the commoners would be protected from harm from the chief. This law became known as: Mamalahoe (The Law of the Splintered Paddle.)