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
After the return of their friends, Aukelenuiaiku and Namakaokahai for a
long time remained by themselves, as husband and wife. After this,
however, Namakaokahai said to her husband: “You must make another
search for the water of everlasting life of Kane.” Aukelenuiaiku agreed
to this. Namakaokahai then said to him: “I want you to watch the course
you are to go by. From the door of our house in a straight line to the
rising sun, and I want you to remember this: that you must go over this
course from one end to the other, and you must not go outside of these
limits, for if you do you will die.” At the close of the instructions,
Aukelenuiaiku again began his second flight toward heaven. At the end
of the long flight he stood on the edge of a hole, in the bottom of
which was kept the water of everlasting life of Kane. The journey was
only completed, however, after a flight of six months.
As Aukelenuiaiku stood on the edge of the hole he saw Kanenaiau, the
guard who was placed there by Kamohoalii to keep away all intruders.
When Aukelenuiaiku saw him he flew and lit on the back of the guard.
While Aukelenuiaiku was perched on his back, he asked in anger and
hatred: “Say, you are awfully conceited! Whose conceited child are you?
My back has never been climbed by my grandchild Kamohoalii, and here
you have come and done it.” Aukelenuiaiku replied: “Your own.” “Mine by
whom?” “I am the child of Kapapaiakea and Iku.” “Are you the grandchild
of Kapoino and Kamooinanea?” “Yes,” said Aukelenuiaiku.
When the guard heard these words from Aukelenuiaiku, he greeted him,
saying: “My greetings to you, my lord. What has brought you here?”
Aukelenuiaiku replied: “I have come for the water of everlasting life
of Kane, for my nephew and my brothers.” Kanenaiau then asked: “Isn’t
it all gone?” Aukelenuiaiku replied: “No, it is not all gone.”
Kanenaiau said: “Look at my middle.” While Aukelenuiaiku was looking at
the middle of Kanenaiau, he was instructed as to the course by which he
was to fly, as follows: “Where art thou, don’t fly on this side, for
you will strike the bamboo growing in this place; if you strike the
bamboo, the sound will reach the ears of your cousin, and the water
will be covered up and you will not get it. You must therefore fly on
this side and you will be able to get the water of everlasting life of
Kane.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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