Legend of Nihooleki. |
Kaao no Nihooleki. |
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Keauhou in Kona, Hawaii, was the birthplace of Nihooleki and it was from this place that he moved to Kuukuua, in Puuokapolei at Waianae, where he took unto himself a wife. The name Nihooleki was given to his spirit body; his name during his life time was Keahaikiaholeha, a chief, and was the greatest fisherman over all the whole country of Waianae. It was he that owned the mother-of-pearl fish-hook called Pahuhu that could catch so much aku.1 He was at one time king of Waianae and had fished from all the head lands round about that country. He knew all the fish and fishing grounds in the ocean around that region. After a time he left his parents and young sister in Waianae and set sail for Waimea, Kauai, where he settled; for this was where his wife had come from, being her birthplace. [490] |
O Keauhou, i Kona, Hawaii, ka aina hanau o Nihooleki, a malaila mai ka hele ana a noho i Kuukuua, i Puuokapolei ma Waianae, no laila ka wahine. O keia inoa o Nihooleki, he inoa kino wailua uhane; o kona inoa i ka wa e ola ana, o Kaehaikiaholeha, he ’lii, a he lawaia nui loa no Waianae a puni, a nana ka pa ai a ke aku o Pahuhu ka inoa. Ma Waianae kona wahi i noho alii ai, a malaila ua pau na lae i ka lawaia ia e ia, a ua akaka ka ia a me na koa o ia wahi. A noho na makua a me kahi pokii wahine i Waianae, holo aku la kela a Waimea i Kauai noho. No ka mea, no laila kana wahine, a malaila oia i hanau ai. [491] |
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When Keahaikiaholeha arrived at Waimea he became the king of the whole of Kauai as his wife was its high chiefess. It was his custom to go out fishing every day. This mother-of-pearl fish-hook, Pahuhu, was a great hook; every time it was let down into the sea and pulled up the aku would follow it into the canoe until the canoe was filled with them. The canoe in which he used to go fishing was a double canoe ten fathoms in length, and was manned by twenty paddlers who were its complement to steady the canoe while he fished for aku. |
Ia Kaehaikiaholeha i hiki ai ilaila, lilo ae la no ia i alii no Kauai a puni, no ka mea, he ’lii kana wahine no Kauai a puni. O kana hana o ka lawaia i na la a pau loa, me ua pa ai nei ana o Pahuhu. I ka wa e kuu ai mai ka waa aku, na ka ia no e pii a komo ka waa. O kona mau waa e holo ai i ka lawaia, he mau kaulua, he umi ka loa, he iwakalua hoewaa, oia no hoi na kaohi. |
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At the death of Keahaikiaholeha, his body was brought back to Kuukuua, Waianae, where it was placed in a tomb.2 The parents then proceeded to worship the spirit, as was the custom in those days of Hawaii, until it became so strong that it could go about in the form of a live person. After the spirit of Keahaikiaholeha had waxed strong, it returned to Waimea, Kauai, and again took his former wife and lived with her as her husband. The wife was not aware that this was her husband’s spirit, fully believing that it was her husband in real flesh. It was while in this spirit form, that he was named Nihooleki. All he did during the day time was to sleep, not even taking food; the wife being the only one that took food. When the wife got hungry she would go to her brothers for food and meat. On one of her calls for food and meat the brothers asked her: “Where is your husband?” The sister replied: “He is at home asleep.” “You have a queer husband. All he does is to sleep at home. How is he to satisfy his wife’s hunger? Except we help you, you will not be able to live.” While this conversation was going on between them, the husband heard all that was being said and when the wife arrived home Nihooleki asked his wife: “Have your brothers any mother-of-pearl fish-hooks?” “They have some.” “Go and bring one.” When the sister arrived at her brothers’ they asked her: “What have you come for?” “I have come for a mother-of-pearl fish-hook for your brother-in-law.” “That is right, that will get you something to live on. Here is a hook for the use of which we will charge ten aku. Here is another one for twenty aku,” etc. The wife took one of the hooks and returned. When she entered the house and approached where her husband was sleeping she called out: |
A make o Kaehaikiaholeha, hoihoi ia mai a Kuukuua, i Waianae, waiho ia kona kino kupapau; i loko o ka hale puoa, o na makua, hana iho la laua ma ke ano hoomana o Hawaii nei, a ikaika ka uhane i ka hele mehe kanaka ola ala. A ikaika ka uhane o Kaehaikiaholeha, hoi hou i Waimea, Kauai, a hoao hou me ka wahine i ka wa ola, aole ike ka wahine he kino wailua keia a laua e noho nei. No loko o keia kino wailua keia inoa o Nihooleki, hookahi hana he moe i na la a pau, aohe ai ai, o ka wahine wale no ka ai i ka ai. Moe iho la ka wahine a pololi, hele aku la i na kaikunane i ai, i ia. Ninau mai la na kaikunane: “Auhea ko kane?” I aku ke kaikuahine: “Aia no i ka hale kahi i moe ai.” “Kupanaha kau kane, o ka moe wale iho la no i ka hale, pehea la e moana ai ka opu o ka wahine; he anoai paha auanei ka maua ia oe.” Ma keia mau olelo a pau a lakou i olelo ai, ua lohe kela i ka hale; a hoi aku la ka wahine a hiki i ka hale, olelo mai la o Nihooleki: “Aohe pa a ko mau kaikunane?” “He pa no.” “O kii o lawe mai.” A hiki i kahi o na kaikunane, ninau mai la: “Heaha mai nei kau?” “I kii mai nei au i pa hi aku na ke kaikoeke o olua.” “Pono, o ke ola iho la no ia; eia ka pa, he umi aku o keia, a he iwakalua o keia, a pela aku.” Hoi aku la ka wahine me ka pa a hiki, e moe ana kela, kahea iho la ka wahine penei: |
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Wake up Nihooleki, Wake up Nihooleki, The night comes and goes, The day comes and goes; The fishermen have sleepless eyes. Wake up, here is our mother-of-pearl fish-hook. |
E ala e Nihooleki, E ala e Nihooleki, Kaihele ka po, Kaihele ke ao, He mau maka hia-a ko ka lawaia, E ala eia ka pa a kaua. |
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The husband asked: “What kind of a mother-of-pearl fish-hook is it?” “It is one resembling the glitter of a white shark,” answered his wife. “It is the one the fish will not bite at.” |
Ninau aku ke kane: “Heaha ka pa?” “He lalakea,” pela mai ka wahine. “He pa ai ole.” |
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It will catch but two aku. One for the male spirit, One for the female spirit. The arms of the paddlers would become uselessly lame. Where is the small pahuhu, The one partly eaten by Kane? [492] Hanging there at the gable end Being watched by a noio.3 The current is flowing towards Makaena Where swarm the aku, Where the giving would be a pleasure, When the worthless could have a share, When the hungry up at Waiahulu could also have a share. |
Elua no aku, Na ke ’kua kane, Na ke ’kua wahine, O na lima o na kaohi ke oopa. Auhea la kahi pahuhu iki, A kane i ai a koe koena, [493] E kau ana ma ka hakala, E kiai ana ka Noio, E lawe ana ke au i Makaena? Kahi i laha mai ai ke aku, Kuhi ka lima lea ka haawi, Ai ka mauwale, Ai ka pehu o uka o Waiahulu e. |
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At this the wife again returned to the brothers. “What is it you want?” [they asked]. “My husband says the fish-hook is no good; it will catch but two aku and one cannot at that rate give any away willingly,” replied the sister. The brothers again asked: “Where is the fish-hook that would induce the fish to bite more freely?” “My husband said that it is the one hanging up at the gable end of the house being watched by the noio.” When they made a search sure enough they found a mother-of-pearl fish-hook that was being watched by the small black bird; it was Pahuhu. The noio was the supernatural bird sister of Nihooleki. Upon the arrival of the wife at their house, the husband was still asleep. She then called: “Here is the mother-of-pearl fish-hook.” “It is a Pahuhu,” Nihooleki answered. |
Hele hou ka wahine a hiki i na kaikunane: “Heaha kau?” “I olelo mai nei kuu kane, aohe ai o ka pa, elua no ka aku, aole e lea ka haawi.” I mai na kaikunane: “A auhea ka pa ai?” Olelo mai nei kuu kane aia ka i ka hakala o ka hale kahi i kau ai, he Noio ke kiai. I huli aku ka hana, loaa ua pa nei me ka Noio e kiai ana, oia o Pahuhu; o ka Noio, he kaikuahine (manu) no Nihooleki. A hiki ka wahine me ka pa i ko laua hale, e moe ana no ke kane, kahea iho la: “E ia ka pa, he Pahuhu,” olelo ae o Nihooleki. |
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That is the mother-of-pearl fish-hook that the fish want, You can then point with the hand, You can give with pleasure. The worthless can share, The hungry can also have a share Up at Waiahulu. |
He pa ai ia, Kuhi ka lima, Lea ka haawi, Ai ka mauwele, Ai ka pehu o uka, O Waiahulu e. |
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The wife then threw the fish-hook in the hand of her husband. He then rose, kissed it and wept over it. The reason why he wept was, because of his death he was thus kept away from his one great pleasure, fishing. After the fish-hook was secured, Nihooleki said to his wife: “Go and get a canoe from your brothers. Not the one of five fathoms in length, nor the single canoe, but get me the double one that is ten fathoms in length. After you have secured the canoe, ask for twenty paddlers.” When the wife arrived in the presence of her brothers, they asked her: “Here you are again, what do you want?” She replied: “I want a canoe.” “Yes, you shall have one, take the one that is five fathoms in length.” “That is not the one he wants. He wants a double canoe that is ten fathoms in length.” “That cannot be. There is no double canoe of that size, nor would he be able to make use of it.” The sister replied: “He said there is such a canoe. It is in the canoe shed.” When a search was made they found one. |
Kiola iho la ka wahine i ka pa a ka poho lima o ia nei; ala ae la keia honi, a uwe iho la; o ke kumu o keia uwe ana, o kona kaawale ana i loko o ka make, a kaawale kana mau oihana lawaia. A loaa ka pa, olelo aku o Nihooleki i ka wahine: “E kii oe i waa i ou kaikunane; aole ka waa elima ka loa, aole ka waa, kaukahi, o ka waa he umi anana ka loa a kaulua ia; a loaa ka waa, olelo aku oe, he iwakalua kanaka hoewaa.” A hiki ka wahine imua o na kaikunane: “Eia oe, heaha kau?” I aku keia: “I waa.” “Ae, he waa, elima anana ka loa.” “Aole ia o ka waa ana i olelo mai nei, he mau waa kaulua ka, he umi anana ka loa.” “Wahahee, aohe waa kaulua, aole no e hiki ia ia ke hoe.” I aku ke kaikuahine: “He waa no ka, aia i loko o ka halau.” I huli aku ka hana e waiho mai ana. |
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When the canoe was secured the twenty paddlers jumped aboard and took it to Nihooleki. When Nihooleki saw the canoe he knew at once it was the same one that was owned by him when he was alive. He then asked his wife: “Are you a favorite with your brothers?” “Yes.” “Go and tell them that I want twenty men to steady the canoe with.” [494] |
A loaa na waa, kau na kanaka he iwakalua, hoe a hiki imua o Nihooleki, ike iho la no ia o kona mau waa no i ka wa e ola ana. I aku ia i ka wahine: “He punahele no oe i ou kaikunane?” “Ae.” “O hele a olelo aku, o na kanaka he iwakalua i mau kaohi na’u.” [495] |
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When the paddlers and canoe were ready the canoe was taken and left on the beach near the landing thinking that at the fourth crow of the cock they would make their start, as was the custom with the fishermen of those days; but it was not to be in this case. At the first crow of the cock the men got to the canoe; at the last crowing of the cock they pushed the canoe out. By this time all the other fishermen were out at sea. The men, however, still waited until daylight. When it became light enough to distinguish the features of the men they went back to the house feeling indifferent. |
A makaukau na hoewaa, a me ka waa, oioi mai la lakou a kokoe i ke awa, no ko lakou manao i ke kani-hana-moa e holo ai i ka lawaia, e like me ke ano mau o na lawaia, aole ka ’uanei peia. Kani ka moa kuakahi, i ka waa lakou nei; a pau na moa, panee lakou nei i ka waa; holo na lawaia e ae, pela lakou i kali ai a ao, a ikeia ka ili o kanaka, hoi aku la me ka molowa a ka hale noho. |
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In the meantime Nihooleki was still in bed with his senses, however, all alert. The wife aroused him: “Wake up and make a start; this is the coolest time for the fishermen, when one is not made lazy by the heat of the sun.” He answered: “Wait until it is light; at sunrise.” Nihooleki then arose, got the bailing cup, reached for the calabash in which were kept all the fishing utensils, affixed his malo, then went out to the canoe and with one hand pushed it out into the sea. The paddlers then came down and jumped aboard. As soon as they got under way Nihooleki took out the fish-hook and began fishing. The aku came in such large numbers that in no time the canoe was loaded. They took this catch and threw it ashore. They went out and got a second canoe load and again it was thrown ashore. This was kept up until six canoe loads had been landed. By this time a large mound of fish had been piled up. The wife proceeded to give away, feed the pigs, give some to the loafers, sell some, and salt some, but a large number were still left over, there being so many. The people from the uplands came down with food, sugar-cane, bananas and everything else good to eat and all went home with fish, even those that came down without anything went home with their share. Those who were still in the uplands when they heard of the fish came down and returned with their share. |
O Nihooleki, ke moe nei me ka noonoo no. Hoala iho la ka wahine: “E ala, e holo, o ka wa oluolu keia o ka lawaia ana, aole e ohea i ka la.” “Pela a ao, a puka ka la.” Ala ae la o Nihooleki, a ke ka, a ka hokeo, hume i ka malo, hele aku la a na waa panee aku la, hookahi lima, lana ana na waa i loko o ke kai, holo mai la na hoewaa a kau iluna. Ia lakou i hoomaka ai e hoe, wehe ae la o Nihooleki i ka pa a lawaia aku la, na ke aku no i pii a komo na waa, kiola i uka; hoe hou a komo hou elua waa, kiola i uka, pela a hiki i ke ono na waa i komo, ku ke ahu o ka ia i uka. Haawi ka wahine, ai ka puaa, ka mauwale, kuai kekahi, kopi, aole e pau no ka nui loa. Iho mai la o uka, me ka ai, me ke ko, ka maia, na mea ono a pau loa, pela no hoi na mea iho wale mai, hoi me ka ia, lohe aku la ka poe o uka i ka ia, iho i kai, hoi me ka ia. |
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Nihooleki and his men then went out to mid-ocean along where his brothers-in-law were fishing, sailing right along by them. When his brothers-in-law saw his well-formed body they called out, “Puipuiakalawaia,”4 making this his third name. Upon their arrival at Makaena, off Waianae, the men looked up and saw that they had reached the island of Oahu. Nihooleki again fished until the canoe was filled with aku. He then ordered his men to eat. After their meal when every one was satisfied the remaining fish were thrown out until the canoe was bare, when they set off until they landed at Kaunolu, in Lanai, where they again caught some fish and eat till satisfied. Again they set sail until they reached Keauhou, at Kona, Hawaii, when Nihooleki told his men: “You may all go ashore here while I remain with our canoe. When you go ashore, take each of you one aku apiece. There are twenty of you, making twenty aku. When you get to that shed of coconut leaves in front of that house, where women are seated, throw down the fish, but don’t look back.” The men then went ashore while Nihooleki turned the canoe around. On the return of the men they immediately set sail for Kauai, and the same day reached the Kauai waters where the brothers-in-law were fishing. Nihooleki produced the hook and again the aku came tumbling into the canoe until it was sunk deep in the water with fish. When the brothers-in-law looked up they saw the canoe and the fish; the canoe was so full that the men had to stand up. Upon their return to shore Nihooleki took up two aku for the male and female spirits, [496]took a bath and went home, and told his wife: “Go to the paddlers and give them that canoe load of fish.” He then went in and laid down. The fish from the first catch were beginning to get spoiled. |
Holo loa aku la lakou a ka waena moana, e lawaia ana na kaikoeke, kikaha loa aku la ko lakou nei mau waa, holo no; nana mai la na kaikoeke i ke kino, a kahea mai la o Puipuiakalawaia. Nolaila akolu inoa o keia kanaka. A hiki lakou i Makaena, ma Waianae, nana ae la lakou o Oahu keia aina. Lawaia hou iho la o Nihooleki a komo na waa i ke aku; kena aku la ia i na hoewaa e ai; ai iho la a maona, kiola ka ia, a waiho wale na waa. Holo aku la lakou a pae i Kaunolu i Lanai, lawaia hou a loaa ka ia, ai a maona. Holo hou lakou a hiki i Keauhou, ma Kona, Hawaii, i aku o Nihooleki i na hoewaa: “O oukou ke lele i uka, owau ke noho i ka waa o kakou. I ko oukou wa e lele ai, pakahi na aku i ko oukou mau lima, he iwakalua oukou he iwakalua aku; lele no oukou a kela lanai niu ma ke alo o na hale, e noho ana na wahine, kiola aku i ka ia, mai huli hou i hope.” A lele lakou la, hoohuli keia i na waa imua, a hoi mai la lakou ia la hookahi mai Hawaii mai, a hiki lakou i ka moana o Kauai, i kahi o na kaikoeke e lawaia nei. Wehe ae la o Nihooleki i ka pa, na ke aku no e pii a komo na waa, nana mai la na kaikoeke i na waa, a me ka ia, ua piha na waa a ku na kanaka iluna. A hiki lakou i uka, lalau iho la o Nihooleki elua aku, na ke ’kua kane, na ke ’kua wahine, auau a pau, hoi aku la a ka hale, i aku i ka wahine: “O hele a na hoewaa haawi aku i na waa ia na lakou.” [497] |
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This was kept up for many days and everybody had fish. One day the news about the great catches was carried to Kamapuaa in the uplands of Waiohulu. Kamapuaa upon hearing the great catches said: “I could get some of that fish if I can only get down to the coast.” Kamapuaa was the friend of Nihooleki; he was afflicted with the dropsy and was not able to walk; therefore some people carried him down to the beach; but being very heavy the men could only carry him a little ways at a time. By constant begging he however managed to get to the seashore. Before Nihooleki set out on a certain day to fish he gave his wife the following instruction: “In case a man with the dropsy should come, call him in as he is my friend.” |
Hoi aku la no keia moe. O ka ia mua, ua pilau. Pela no ka lawaia ana a loihi na la, kui aku la keia pihe ia a lohe o Kamapuaa, i uka o Waiohulu, olelo iho o Kamapuaa: “Na’u ia ia o kuu hiki ole i kai.” O Kamapuaa, he aikane na Nihooleki, a o Kamapuaa hoi, he pehu kona mai, aohe hiki i ka hele; nolaila, auamo na kanaka, a o ke kaumaha haalele, pela no ka iho ana a hiki i kai. Mamua o ka holo ana o Nihooleki i ka lawaia, olelo aku i ka wahine: “I iho mai auanei ke kanaka pehu, o ko kane ia kahea ia aku, o kuu aikane ia.” |
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After Nihooleki had started, Kamapuaa arrived and came and looked in at the door. “You filthy man, begone,” said the wife of Nihooleki. Kamapuaa with the men that carried him down, went over to the hog pen and there waited for the return of Nihooleki his friend. When Nihooleki returned with the fish, he came and kissed his friend, and then turned to his wife and said: “You are indeed strange. I told you to take good care of my friend, but you have not done so. Never mind, you may stay, but I am going along with my friend.” He then told his friend to give some of the fish to the men who brought him down. The men took all they could carry away, but still many fish were left. |
A hala aku o Nihooleki i ka lawaia, hiki o Kamapuaa a kiai ana i ka puka o ka hale: “Kanaka pilau, hele pela,” pela mai ka wahine. Hele aku la o Kamapuaa a ka hale puaa noho, me na kanaka nana i auamo mai, kakali o ka hoi mai o ke aikane. A hoi mai la ke aikane o Nihooleki me ka ia, lele mai la honi i ke aikane, a olelo aku la i ka wahine: “Kupanaha oe! Ua olelo aku au ia oe, e malama oe i kuu aikane, aole ka! Heaha la hoi, e hele ana au mahope o kuu aikane, e noho oe.” Kena aku la keia i ka ia, i ke aikane, ohi na kanaka nana i auamo o Kamapuaa a koe ka ia. |
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When Nihooleki and Kamapuaa were ready to leave Waimea and the wife, Nihooleki addressed his wife saying: “When you give birth to the child within you, call him by my name, Keahaikiaholeha. Here are the tokens by which I shall know him should he search for me, my club and my feather cape.”5 When the wife heard these instructions she wept: by these words the wife knew that this was her own husband, Keahaikiaholeha. When the chiefs and his brothers-in-law heard that this was the king, they came chasing after him. He and his friend then dove into the sea and swam under water until they came up at Kuukuua, at Waianae. One of the Kauai chiefs, however, came following behind them named Pohakuokauai, the same being that rock which is seen at Waianae even to this day. As they drew near to the house where the parents and sister of Nihooleki were living and near to the tomb where his dead body was laid, Nihooleki then turned to his friend and said: “Where are you? When you reach our parents ask them: ‘Where is my companion that came along with me?’ They will then give you an answer. Then ask them where certain things that belonged to me are. Proceed and take up the threshold where you will find my war helmet; under the place where our sister sleeps you will find a feather cape; at the foot of her sleeping place you will find the lei palaoa;6 and at the corner in the house is a kahili. Take our sister and make her your wife as she is fair to look upon and is also of proper age.” At the close of his friend’s instructions, Kamapuaa continued on his way until he came in the presence of his friend’s parents and sister. After proving himself a friend of Nihooleki’s by producing the different articles in obedience to the instructions given him by his friend he was married to the sister of Nihooleki. Keahaikiaholeha, who was Nihooleki, entered the tomb and disappeared. Thus ends this story. [489] |
A makaukau laua e haalele ia Waimea a me ka wahine, i aku o Nihooleki i ka wahine: “O ke keiki au e hapai nei, kapa iho oe i kuu inoa, o Kaehaikiaholeha; eia ka hoailona ke imi ae ia’u, o kuu laau a me kuu ahuula.” A lohe ka wahine i keia kauoha, uwe iho la. Maopopo i ka wahine, o kana kane no keia o Kaehaikiaholeha i kona wa e ola ana. Lohe aku la na ’lii, a me na kaikoeke, o ke ’lii no keia, alualu mai la lakou, luu laua nei i ke kai, a ea ana i Kuukuua, ma Waianae. A hookahi o Kauai alii i moe poo mai, o Pohakuokauai, oia kela pohaku ma Waianae a hiki i keia la. A kokoke laua i ka hale o na makua a me ke kaikuahine, a e ku ana hoi ka puoa hale o ke kino kupapau ona. “Auhea oe, i hele oe a hiki i na makua o kaua, ninau aku oe auhea la ko’u hoa hele i hiki mai nei? Na lakou ia e olelo mai. Alaila, ninau aku oe ia lakou i kou mau mea, alaila, wehe iho oe malalo o ka paepae puka, aia malaila ka mahiole; malalo o kahi moe o ke kaikuahine o kaua, he ahuula; ma na wawae, ka lei niho palaoa; ma ka hio o ka hale, he kahili. A o ke kaikuahine o kaua, o kau wahine no ia, no ka mea, he wahine maikai, ua nui no ke kino.” A pau ka olelo ana i ke aikane, hele o Kamapuaa, a hiki i na makua a me ke kaikuahine o laua, hana aku la ia e like me na olelo a ke aikane, a lilo iho la he kane na ko laua kaikuahine. O Kaehaikiaholeha, oia o Nihooleki, komo aku la ia i kona puoa kupapau a nalo iho la, oia ka pau o kona kaao ana. [498] |
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