Fornander collection of Hawaiian antiquities and folk-lore, Volume 1 (of 3) : $b The Hawaiians' account of the formation of their islands and origin of their race, with the traditions of their migrations, etc., as gathered from original sources
History
Fornander collection of Hawaiian antiquities and folk-lore, Volume 1 (of 3) : $b The Hawaiians' account of the formation of their islands and origin of their race, with the traditions of their migrations, etc., as gathered from original sources
Folklore -- Hawaii; Hawaii -- Social life and customs; Hawaiian language -- Texts; Legends -- Hawaii
Kanepohihi answered: “There are no chiefs left. Kahuahuakai was the
last of the chiefs that was slain, with the exception of your father,
myself and your father’s younger brother. This was the cause why your
father Moikeha left this place and moved to Kauai.”
Through Kila’s power of foresight he answered: “There is a chief. He is
living in the uplands of Wahiawa, screened by the fog and secreted by
Huihui and Maeele.”
The reason why this call was made by Kila on Kanepohihi, was because he
was without food. To the request for food, Kanepohihi replied: “I have
no food. All I do is to live in idleness here. There is only one person
who has food, your uncle Makalii.”
Makalii was Moikeha’s own younger brother, and he was the king and
ruler of the land. He had a net named after himself, Makalii, in which
were kept the food and fish as well as other things. Makalii, who was
also educated in all of the arts of the day, could tell of coming
future events, as well as Moikeha or Kila. Because of this power as a
fortune-teller he was able to foresee the arrival of Kila to his
kingdom. So he took up all the food and placed it in a net and hung it
out of reach, which was the origin of the old Hawaiian saying: “Makalii
drew in his net (koko) and hung it up.” Kanepohihi, on being requested
for food, changed herself into the form of a rat and climbed up,
nibbled at the net of Makalii, cutting it and causing the food and fish
to fall out, thus supplying Kila and his companions with food.
Shortly after this Kila sailed for the main island, the canoe going
toward the kapued harbor, where the kapu stick was standing. This place
was Moikeha’s; no canoe was allowed to land here; no person was allowed
to pass by it upon pain of death. The place had been kapued before
Moikeha left, and ever since his departure its sacredness had been
maintained. When the canoe was nearing the landing place the people on
shore were heard calling: “There is a canoe! There is a canoe!! That
canoe does not seem to have any fear for the kapu of the king. Your
superior strength, if any you have, will be the only salvation for you
this day.”
Before Kila and his people reached the landing place and hauled their
canoe up on the sand, he was bundled up and placed on the platform.
Kila, as we have said, was a very handsome man and was good to look
upon, so much so that it could not be hidden by the covering in which
he was wrapped. After he had been placed on the platform he addressed
his followers, saying: “When you see a large man come to the canoe, it
is Mua. He is a great admirer of women. He is the man that was the
betrayer of Moikeha, and the one that caused Moikeha to leave his own
country. Don’t tell him about me, in case he should ask you.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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