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
We have now seen the death of Hakau, and have also seen how Umi became
the king of the whole of Hawaii. After the death of Hakau the people
who had been sent up to the mountain returned with their sticks. When
they arrived they saw Umi with his men in possession of everything.
They then knew that their king Hakau must be dead, so they wept for
him; but those who did this were but few, for Hakau in his day was ever
a cruel king, one who killed his men without cause.
It is said that when Hakau was king he used to do the following things:
Whenever a man was praised for his good looks, or a woman for beauty,
he would cause the death of that person. If the head of a person was
praised for being flat, [161] the head would be cut off; and if the
body was praised, then the body was cut up; if the eyes were praised
they would be gouged out, and so on. Once upon a time one of the
priests of Hakau, upon seeing a young boy, said to his parents: “This
child has a very fine body; he has not a single blemish.” When Hakau
heard this remark, he immediately sent a messenger to bring the boy to
his presence. When the boy arrived Hakau then cut the boy in two. When
the parents heard that Hakau had cruelly killed their child, the father
made a prophecy, saying: “He has cut my son; [162] his kingdom shall
also be cut from him. This shall happen on the day to be declared
kapued for his god. He will die on that day.” This prophecy was,
therefore, fulfilled.
In the night of Muku, that being the last day of the month, the priests
with their men went out ulua fishing. Upon arriving at the place where
the canoes were kept, a tatu beat was sounded on the edge of the
canoes. [163] As the men came up one of them would be caught and killed
and the great hook Manaiakalani [164] was put into the dead body and it
was taken to the temple. If no one came to the canoes, instructions
were given that a great ball of seaweeds be gotten and the hook was
placed in it. This custom was favorable to Kaoleioku.
When Umi became the king of the whole of Hawaii he made a division of
all the lands amongst his chiefs as follows: Kau he gave to Omaokamau;
Puna he gave to a friend of his; [165] Hilo he gave to Kaoleioku;
Hamakua he gave to Piimaiwaa; Kohala he gave to Koi; and Kona he gave
to Ehu.
HOW KAOLEIOKU WAS MADE PRIEST TO KING UMI.
After Umi had divided the lands amongst his chiefs, Kaoleioku one day
stood up in the presence of the king, who was surrounded by his men,
and said:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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