CHAPTER III

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ABOUT WAKEA.

In the tradition of Wakea it has been generally stated that they were the first parents of these lands, and that it was by them that the people were propagated, and that they were the ancestors of the chiefs of these islands. It is told in the history of Wakea and his wife Papa that these islands were born from them. And some of the historians believed that these islands were really made and put together by the hands of Wakea. But one of the priests, called Pakui, who was a great historian of Kamehameha’s time and a lineal descendant of historians from the very darkest ages, says “these islands were really born.” And this is how he composed his mele reciting the events which gave birth to these islands:

THE SONG OF PAKUI.

Wakea Kahiko Luamea, [22] Papa that gives birth to islands was the wife, Tahiti of the rising and Tahiti of the setting sun was born, [23] Was born the foundation stones, Was born the heavenly stones, 5 Was born Hawaii; The first-born island, Their first-born child Of Wakea together with Kane And Papa of Walinuu the wife. 10 Papa conceived an island, Was sick of child-sickness with Maui. Then was born Mauiloa, an island; Was born with a heavenly front. A heavenly beauty, heavenly beauty, 15 Was caught in the kapa of waving leaves. [24] Mololani was a great one to Ku, to Lono, To Kane, and also to Kanaloa. Was born during the sacred pains. [25] Papa was prostrated with Kanaloa, an island, 20 Who was born as a birdling; [26] as a porpoise; A child that Papa gave birth to, Then Papa left and went back to Tahiti, Went back to Tahiti at Kapakapakaua. Wakea then slept with Kaula wahine 25 And Lanai Kaula was born, The first-born child of that wife. Then Wakea turned around and found Hina, Hina was found as a wife for Wakea, Hina conceived Molokai, an island; 30 Hina’s Molokai is an island child. The plover Laukaula told the tale That Wakea had slept with a woman. Fierce and fiery was the anger of Papa. Papa came back from within Tahiti; 35 Was angry and jealous of her rivals; Was wild and bad-tempered toward her husband, Wakea, And slept with Lua for a new husband. Oahu-a-Lua was born, Oahu-a-Lua, an island child; 40 A child of Lua’s leaf-opening days. [27] Went back and lived with Wakea. Papa was restless with child-sickness, Papa conceived the island of Kauai And gave birth to Kamawaelualanimoku. [28] 45 Niihau is the last droppings; Lehua was a border, And Kaula the closing one For the low coral islands; The low white-marked isles of Lono, 50 The Lord Lono of Kapumaeolani. [29] The rain dispelling conch [30] of Holani, The big-rain dispelling conch of Kahaimakana. It was the second lordly child, Kaponianai, From the I, the sacred I [31] of Kaponialamea. 55 The dark dye, blue dye, the black dye, [32] The anointed; the anointed destined to war; That is Papa-a. Papa-a. Hoohokukalani, The high chiefess, Hoohokukalani, [33] 60 The chiefess of the loud voice, Reverberating, crackling, sharpened. That is modified and pared down As leaves which are worn to thinness. Wakea was the resemblance, 65 It was Haloa [34] that was theirs, It was Piimai, Wailoa, and Kakaihili [35] That was settled by the royal owl, The owl of the still eyes [36] That sails on the beach and to windward 70 As a kite of the sacred chief That was folded and united in the same wohi That was Ahukaiolaa and was Laa- -a-. Laamaikahiki was the chief. Then Ahukinialaa, 75 Kukonaalaa, And the parent Laulialaa; The triplets of Laamaikahiki The sacred first-born of Laa Who were born on the same day. 80 The birth-water broke, gushed forth with the birth showing. The navel is Ahulumai, The royal navel, The very innermost royal heated navel. [37] The offspring of Kalani, the heavenly one, 85 Was Puaakahuoi, Kamalea and Makahiko of Piliwale, Kamaiolena, Kahaloalena, Halolenaula, Kalanimanuia, The highly praised one of Manuia. 90 The yellow dog that was reddened To beget full friendship, That is Kaunui of Kanehoalani. This is the water-gourd of Hoalani, It is Kaeho Kumanawa 95 At the liver near the chest bone, The changing thought [38] That controls the muscles of the eye Which is uncovered and unties the knot. The floating flower on the royal platform. 100 I am Kapuakahi [39] Kuaana from Kane, The wife who lived with Iwikauikaua [40] Who begat Kaneikauauwilani, The crest-breaking surf That breaks double; [41] 105 The high-combing wave that broke over the royal foam, The broken waves that suck and draw towards the deep, That twisted and absorbed Liloa, The one of the royal belt: Liloa of Paakaalana, the adept in heavenly lore. 110 The royal offspring was Hakau. The message that was shot outside was The sounding conch that disputes the claims of Umi, Which was a bravado of Umi’s at the royal precincts. [42] The great precinct of Mako 115 Of Makakaualii, the heavenly chief; The rift in the heavenly depths, The white thunder clap of Kapaikauanalulu. The water-stone of Hina of the sounding drops, The very topmost sprouting leaves of the heavenly bud. 120 From thence sprang Kuauwa, [43] a chiefly branch, Kamehameha that stands alone at Kawaluna. The lower step, the highest step at Hakawili That is heavy and burdened by the kapus. The sacred sweat from Maheha, [44] 125 The black lips that Hakau hung up on Hawaii.

These lines seem to explain how these islands were sprung from Wakea and Papa, according to the knowledge or belief held by Pakui, the composer of these songs. He was a priest and a historian belonging to the board of historians and genealogist of the order of the priesthood. But in looking at