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 see the power and courage of Aukelenuiaiku on his mission
in a strange land in search of the water of life of Kane. The wife then
said to her husband: “On this direct line you must go without once
departing from it. You must not go towards the right, for you will then
be wandering in the sky and die. You must not go to the left of this
line, for you will then fall into space and you will be lost. All these
instructions you must keep in your mind.” As soon as his wife concluded
with her instructions, Aukelenuiaiku took up the box which contained
his god Lonoikoualii, put it under his arm and then put on his robe of
ashes. When Aukelenuiaiku was ready to proceed on his journey, he fell
on his wife’s neck and they kissed each other, and then made his flight
toward the rising sun.
After Aukelenuiaiku had been gone about a month, Namakaokahai came out
of her dwelling-house and looked about. At the end of another month she
again went out and looked, and there she saw her husband still flying.
She then remained for another month, at the end of which time she again
looked for her husband, but after looking in all directions she was
unable to see him. After looking for some time without seeing him, she
began to have fears that he must be dead for having gone outside of the
straight limits directed him, and therefore he must have fallen into
space. [92] She began to weep and wail for her husband, for she loved
him much. When her brothers heard the weeping they came to find out the
cause. When they came in her presence, they asked her: “Why are you
weeping?” “Your brother-in-law is dead.”
We will here say a few words relating to the relatives of Namakaokahai
and how they all mourned for Aukelenuiaiku.
After the brothers came to Namakaokahai, she sent them all to get all
from above and bring those who were there to mourn for Aukelenuiaiku.
These were, the night, the day, the sun, the stars, the thunder, the
rainbow, the lightning, the water-spout, the fog, the fine rain, the
moon, Kaukihikamalama, [93] the grandfather of Namakaokahai. “Bring
them all down,” she said. “If they refuse to come to weep for my
husband, I will kill them all.” After ordering her brothers to do this
they proceeded on their way, and in course of a very short time
everybody came, for they feared death by Namakaokahai.
After the arrival of all these people, Namakaokahai again sent out her
brothers to go and bring those who were in heaven. They were,
Kuwahailo, Makalii, Kamalanaikuaheahea, Kukuena, Mahuia, Ikuwa and
Welehu. “Tell all these people to come down and weep for my husband. If
they refuse to come in obedience to my commands, I will kill them all.
I also want you to tell my cousin Makalii, that his wife must cease
coming on the hands of the people; [94] if he disregards this, I will
kill him this day.”
In a very short time this message was delivered and the people all came
together and joined in weeping for Aukelenuiaiku, the husband of their
queen.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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