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
As soon as these instructions were given him Aukelenuiaiku did as he
was told by his wife. While he was eating, the spirit of his nephew
came to him. The wife then said to Aukelenuiaiku: “Be quick with your
meal so that the spirit of your nephew will remain with you longer.”
While Aukelenuiaiku was eating very fast, the spirit kept on going
around him at his back and in front of him. As the spirit came nearer
and got quite close to Aukelenuiaiku, Aukelenuiaiku attempted to catch
it; when he did this it disappeared. At this his wife said: “You will
not be able to save your nephew now, because you acted too hastily. Had
you obeyed my instructions, he would have been brought to life again.
Now the spirit of your nephew is dead.” When Aukelenuiaiku heard this
from his wife, he became down-hearted and believed what his wife told
him, that the spirit of his nephew was now beyond recovery.
Aukelenuiaiku therefore refused to take food for five days and five
nights; he would not touch either food or water, and he denied himself
everything, for he was so sorry for his nephew. When Namakaokahai saw
her husband refuse to take food she asked him: “Why have you refused to
take food?” Her husband replied: “You know quite well why I have
refused food, my wife; that is, the spirit of my nephew. I will not
take food until my days of grief are over; then I will again take
food.”
Because of this reply made by her husband, sadness entered the heart of
Namakaokahai for him; so she said to her husband: “If you have great
strength and courage, then your nephew and brothers will have some
chance of coming back to life again; but if your courage fails you,
then they will never be restored to life again.” Aukelenuiaiku then
asked his wife: “What is it that I must do with my strength and
courage?” “In trying to procure the water of everlasting life of Kane.
[91] If you are able to procure this, then your nephew and brothers
will live.” When Aukelenuiaiku heard this from his wife he took food
and meat; the reason of this was because he heard that it was possible
to save his nephew and brothers. After he had taken food, Aukelenuiaiku
said to his wife: “Where is the road that will lead me to the water of
everlasting life of Kane?” His wife replied: “I will show you the way.
From this place where we are standing you must go straight to the
rising sun, where you will obtain the water of everlasting life of
Kane.”
CHAPTER XIII.
HOW AUKELENUIAIKU WENT IN SEARCH OF THE WATER OF LIFE OF KANE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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