has all the food fastened up in his net, she nibbles
the net and the food falls out. At Tahiti he
first kills Mua, who caused his father’s exile.
Then his warriors are matched with the Tahiti champions
and he himself faces Makalii, whose club is Naulukohelewalewa.
Kila, with the club Kahikikolo stuns his uncle “long
enough to cook two ovens of food.” The spirits
of Moikeha’s slain followers appear and join
their praises to those of the crowd assembled, together
with ants, birds, pebbles, shells, grass, smoke, and
thunder. Kila goes to his father’s house,
Moaulanuiakea, thatched with birds’ feathers,
and built of
kauila wood. All is desolate.
The man whom he seeks, Laamaikahiki, is hidden in
the temple of Kapaahu. On a strict taboo night
Kila conceals himself and, when the brother comes to
beat the drum, delivers his message. Kila succeeds
in bringing his brother to Hawaii, who later returns
to Kahiki from Kahoolawe, hence the name “The
road to Tahiti” for the ocean west of that island.
When Laamaikahiki revisits Hawaii to get the bones
of his father, he brings the
hula drum and
kaeke flute. Meanwhile Kila has become
king, after his father’s death. The jealous
brothers entice him to Waipio, Hawaii, where they
abandon him to slavery. The priest of the temple
adopts him. He gains influence and introduces
the tenant system of working a number of days for
the landlord, and is beloved for his industry.
At the time of famine in the days of Hua,[2] one of
his brothers comes to Waipo to get food. Kila
has him thrown into prison, but each time he is taken
out to be killed, Kila imitates the call of a mud
hen and the sacrifice is postponed. Finally the
mother and other brothers are summoned, Kila makes
himself known, and the mother demands the brothers’
death. Kila offers himself as the first to be
killed, and reconciliation follows. Later he
goes with Laamaikahiki back to Tahiti to carry their
father’s bones.
[Footnote 1: Kaulu meets the wizard Makalii in
rat form and kills him by carrying him up in the air
and letting him drop. Makalii means “little
eyes” and refers to a certain mesh of fish net.
One form of cat’s cradle has this name.
It also names the six summer months, the Pleiades,
and the trees of plenty planted in Paliuli. “Plenty
of fish” seems to be the root idea of the symbol.]
[Footnote 3: Daggett tells the story of Hua,
priest of Maui.]
9. UMI
The great chief of Hawaii, Liloa, has a son by Piena,
named Hakau. On a journey to dedicate the temple
of Manini at Kohalalele, Liloa sees Akahiakuleana
bathing in the Hoea stream at Kaawikiwiki and falls
in love with her. Some authorities claim she
was of low birth, others make her a relative of Liloa.
He leaves with her the customary tokens by which to
recognize his child. When their boy Umi is grown,
having quarreled with his supposed father, he takes
the tokens and, by his mother’s direction, goes
to seek Liloa in Waipio valley. Two boys, Omaokamao
and Piimaiwaa, whom he meets on the way, accompany
him. Umi enters the sacred inclosure of the chief
and sits in his father’s lap, who, recognizing
the trophies, pardons the sacrilege and sending for
his gods, performs certain ceremonies. At his
death he wills his lands and men to Hakau, but his
gods and temples to Umi.