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
Fifth Epoch. From Liloa to Kamehameha were fourteen generations. These
divisions of time are not supposed to be strictly correct as there had
been no one to definitely define the limits of each epoch. But it is
settled on in this manner. These several divisions of time were known
to later generations by the legends and tales referring to them, and
made plainer by the prayer of Kukailani, a great priest who lived and
was of the seventy-ninth generation from the time of Opuukahonua.
On the day when Iwikauikaua was taken by Kanaloapulehu to be sacrificed
on the altar of the temple, because Iwikauikaua had done wrong in
promoting rebellion amongst the subordinate chiefs under him to rebel
against Kanaloakuaana, a king of Maui, then when Iwikauikaua stood on
the steps of the altar he looked to the priest, Kukailani and appealed
to him: “O prayer of the priest, stand thou before the deity that he
may look towards me, if thou art indeed my priest.” When Kukailani
heard this call he answered: “Yes, I will stand and pray, but if my
prayer is not propitious you will die; but if my prayer is
uninterrupted to the Amen you will not die today.”
O thou Ku, and Uli, and Kama, it is flown. 1
Kalani the languishing chief of Kaiwa.
Iwikauikaua in straight line from the depths;
From the Tahitian stem of the earth’s foundation,
Whose royal lineage is so old and well established
From the sacred ancestry of Kukonalaa.
The kapu was put on Makalii.
This is the first prayer; it is flown.
The kapu of the island has flown. 2
The kapus of the islands are in a row;
The kapus of the islands are enjoined,
The kapu of the island has come forth,
It has rested on the sacredness of the island,
Pili was the one that enjoyed that sanctity;
The island of Hawaii-of-the-green-back.
This is the second prayer. It has flown;
The kapu has flown backwards to Wakea.
Wakea was the priest, the chief 3
Who was born loaded and covered deep with kapu;
It was Wakea who broke the kapu of the island.
The kapu was divided to surround the islands,
The kapu flew backwards to Waia [55] the king.
This is the fourth, the fourth resting of the kapu; [56]
It was Liloa who enjoyed that kapu.
The island is kapued for Liloa, 4
The kapu had grown and flourished in Tahiti,
By Liloa of Umi was the kapu broken,
The powers of the kapu were divided;
It is Iwiaulana Iwikauikaua.
A kamahele branch that is inclining downwards, [57]
That is weighed down by the kapus of Iwikauikaua.
Let the bones pay [58] for the kapus of the island;
Iwikauikaua was the wrong one;
The one who sulked in the waters of Haunaka.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account