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
At about this time people began to see and to wonder at the frequent
appearance of a rainbow on the cliff. Kaoleioku, a high priest who was
living at this place, also saw the rainbow, and he, too, wondered at
its constant appearance; but being of a class well versed in ancient
lore, he began a study of the matter and concluded that it must be Umi,
for rumors of his disappearance had come to them shortly before this.
In order to make sure that his findings were true he decided to test
the matter, and so one day he took up a pig and came down to look for
Umi. When he entered the house and saw the form of Umi, and how noble
and chiefly he looked, he made up his mind that it was indeed Umi. He,
however, took the pig and offered it to Umi with a prayer, saying:
“Here is the pig, O god, a chief-searching pig.” [149] At the close of
his prayer he released the pig and it walked towards Umi. After
standing in the presence of Umi for a short time it turned and came
back to Kaoleioku. Kaoleioku then asked: “Are you indeed Umi?” “Yes,”
said Umi, “it is I.” Kaoleioku then said: “Let us return to my house.”
Umi assented and they returned to the home of Kaoleioku. When the
father-in-law and mother-in-law as well as the people around the place
saw this, they then knew that this young man was the chief Umi, the son
of Liloa, the one that they had heard was lost.
Kaoleioku then took Umi and made him his chief and they lived together.
As soon as Kaoleioku [150] had finished his preparations for the
comfort of his chief, he immediately set his mind to the study of how
he could get control of the kingdom for his chief, Umi, for he was well
aware that Umi would some day make his mark, and that he would,
therefore, receive his share of the benefits. He then began to take to
his home all the people that he could find. He also went extensively
into the raising of animals, and farming. At the same time he taught
the people the use of the spear, built houses where the men were taught
everything pertaining to the arts of warfare. It was during this course
of education in the arts of warfare that Koi, Omaokamau and Piimaiwaa
developed into the great warriors that they proved to be later on.
When Kaoleioku decided to enlist men to help him in gaining his one
end, to place Umi as king of Hawaii, he built four large houses for the
accommodation of four forties, equal to one hundred and sixty men each.
In no time these houses were filled.
CHAPTER IV.
RELATING TO NUNU AND KAKOHE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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