CHAPTER II

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According to this tradition Hawaii just rose up from the ocean, together with the group of islands of Tahiti, and it would seem the Tahitian Islands were the first group in this Pacific Ocean, and Hawaii was of a later appearance, as shown by the lines in the mele composed by Kahakuikamoana running thus:

“Now cometh forth Hawaiinuiakea, Appeareth out of darkness. An island, a land is born, The row of islands from Nuumea; The group of islands at the borders of Tahiti.”

According to these lines of the song the origin of Hawaii is made clear and it would seem it arose from the ocean, which theory would agree with that of some of the scientific discoveries of the present day, and such is the belief of travelers.

In looking to ascertain the origin of Maui it would seem that it was the same as Hawaii’s, just appearing from out of the sea, and here are some of the lines of the mele composed by Kahakuikamoana before mentioned in