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 will here leave Aukelenuiaiku and Kuwahailo for a time while we take
up the brothers of Namakaokahai. In making their flight from the earth
to heaven, they saw that Aukelenuiaiku was going much faster than they
were. The length of time they took on this voyage was five days and
five nights, while Aukelenuiaiku covered the distance in only one day
and one night: hence, when Kuwahailo was pouring out his death-dealing
bolts, the brothers were still on their way. When they were approaching
heaven, and saw from a distance the fire-bolt called Kukuena, and the
black rock Ikuwa being hurled at Aukelenuiaiku, they all cried out in
alarm, for they thought their brother-in-law would be killed. They then
flew to a rocky valley and there laid down; after the fire and the roar
of the thunder had gone by they came out, and when they looked they saw
Aukelenuiaiku still standing. They then called to him to come and hide
himself between the rocks in the valley, for they knew that other
death-dealing bolts were yet to come; but Aukelenuiaiku answered them:
“You stay there where you are while I remain here until I shall kill
Kuwahailo.” As soon as the last death-bolt had passed by, the nephews
of Kuwahailo came out and stood in the presence of their uncle. He then
asked them: “How is your sister?” “She is at home.” “And whence comes
this wizard?” “That is your nephew, the husband of Namakaokahai.” When
Kuwahailo heard this from his nephews, he stood there in fear and
trembling, and wondered what he was to do to his nephew Aukelenuiaiku,
the hero [86] of Kuaihelani. After a pause of some time he said to
Aukelenuiaiku: “My nephew, I have indeed sinned against you, for I have
this day treated you unkindly. I will therefore make an offering before
you of eight hundred men.” When Kuwahailo returned with his eight
hundred men, and they stood before Aukelenuiaiku, Aukelenuiaiku turned
to Kuwahailo and asked him: “What are these men for?” His uncle
replied: “They are my offerings to you.” Aukelenuiaiku replied: “Leave
the men for your grandnephew and as people for the land.”
After this the brothers-in-law of Aukelenuiaiku delivered their
message, saying: “We have been sent by your niece to bring you a
message.” Kuwahailo then asked: “What is the message?” “She told us to
tell you, ‘that the things above, below, in the uplands, in the
lowlands, are your [new] relative’s: you will live under him:
everything has been given to this man,’ her husband.” This was
agreeable to Kuwahailo. After this, they all sat down and held a
council. In the council, Makalii came and met Aukelenuiaiku. In coming
to meet Aukelenuiaiku, Makalii also brought his wife, Malanaikuaheahea.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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