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
When Kihapiilani arrived at the place where the old men were living
they asked him: “What is your name?” Kihapiilani replied: “My name is
Kihapiilani.” When the old men heard this it confirmed their guess of
the morning. The old men then asked him again: “What is the object of
the chief’s journey to these parts?” Kihapiilani replied: “I am seeking
for someone to kill my brother Piilani. That is the object of my
search.” Kihapiilani then related the incident of the insult which
caused Kihapiilani to seek revenge. When the old men heard this they
said: “Your older brother is as good as dead; he shall not live. Go to
that house whose door is opened toward Waikapu; there you will find our
sister, Pao by name. Upon your arrival at the place she will direct you
what to do next, then you will gain your object and your older brother
will be at your mercy.” Kihapiilani agreed to follow out the advice of
the old men and said: “I will go along home and plant my potato stalks:
after that has been done, then I will carry out your instructions.”
We will here set forth the chant composed in honor of Piikea and her
brothers.
Kukaipaoa, [191] the lofty one is a chief,
A chief of the heavens, a cloud
Of the great heaven is Kumakomako, [192]
A chief of the rocky cliffs of Kahuku,
They are the solid [193] chiefs belonging to Lonokaeho.
It was the brow of Lono that was anointed with the milk of the
coconut,
That was dedicated with the black [194] pig of Kane,
The black pig of Lono.
O Lono, here is your royal offspring,
Your leaf, your shoot, your offshoot, your bud,
Your sacred chief, Kihapiilani;
Your chiefly offspring who stands in the light.
Protect thou the sacred bud of Keaka,
The thrifty sprout of Keakamahana
That grew and flowered,
The drooping flower of Hemahema, and Kaikilani,
To whom belonged the drooping leaves of Kanaloa,
Like the black-haired dog [195] in whose eye
Blackness dwells in the pupil,
With striped marks on the forehead,
Marks of the kikakapu, [196]
The sacred fish with the bitter gall.
Bitter is the chiefess Keaka, [197]
Who grew and developed through Keakealani. [198]
By them was the sacred law broken,
Broken by the product of the great chiefs.
Here is a great district chief standing here;
Kauhi is great; it is the foundation of the isles.
Keaka is great for she has produced eight.
The seas of her lands are noised on the shoals, [199]
As rolling waves from the shoals of Kahiki.
Keawe the great commander has arrived,
The only offspring of the cloud in the heaven
By the chiefess Kalanikauleleiwi. [200]
This is Keaka’s chiefly one, by Keawe.
That attraction was Piilani,
For Keawe dwelt at Piilani’s,
The gathering place of great chiefs.
A chief, several chiefs were seen;
They are the chiefs who go idly by,
Walking about until the close of the day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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