CHAPTER XII

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RELATING TO KAUMAIILUNAOHOLANIKU.

When Aukelenuiaiku arrived in the presence of his wife and their child, after an absence of several days, he remained with her for about two months. One day on taking a nap at noontime he fell into a deep sleep and he dreamed a dream in which he saw the spirit of his nephew, Kaumaiilunaoholaniku. [88] This boy was the son of his oldest brother, the boy who accompanied them on the voyage from Kuaihelani, the son of Kekamakahinuiaiku, the brother who had a violent temper. At sight of the spirit of his nephew, Aukelenuiaiku wept in his sleep, and when he awoke he was still crying. Upon waking from his sleep he could not get the effects off his mind and he remembered his nephew and brothers, so he wept aloud. While Aukelenuiaiku was weeping his wife asked him: “What are you crying about?” “I am crying for the love of my child.” “Have you a child, then?” “Not mine, the son of my oldest brother. He died with my brothers on the day our ship arrived here. In my dream I saw his spirit coming up from the bottom of the sea, followed by the spirits of his father and uncles.”

When his wife heard this, she said to her husband: “Your nephew can be saved.” Aukelenuiaiku asked: “How can I bring him back to life?” The wife replied: “Only when you obey my instructions; then, and only then, will your nephew come back to life.” “What is it you wish me to do?” “Take some food and meat with you out of doors and there have your meal. Perchance your nephew’s spirit will see you eating and will come to you. If the spirit does come to you, don’t attempt to catch it, [89] not even if it comes and stands at your back; but if it comes and sits on your lap, then catch it and your nephew and brothers will be restored to life again. Their spirits were on their way to the mountains to gather food.” [90]

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.”

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