Legend of Wahanui.

Wahanui was the king, Kilohi was the prophet and Hawaii the land they lived in. Boarding his double canoe, he left Hawaii and set sail for Kaunolu, Lanai. The reason of this journey made by Wahanui was on account of an oath made by him, “When I step on the breasts of Kane and Kanaloa, then will I return to Hawaii.” Before Wahanui sailed from Hawaii, Kane and Kanaloa, together with their younger brother Kaneapua, were living at Kaunolu, Lanai. They were three gods who sometimes changed into other forms. Kane and Kanaloa taking the form of birds, while Kaneapua very often had a human form.

Once upon a time they became very thirsty, so Kane and Kanaloa requested their youngest brother to go to the uplands of Lanai for water, at a spring called Nanaihale. Upon the arrival of Kaneapua at the spring with his water jug, he urinated by the edge of the spring before he stooped down to fill his jug; he did not know that his urine had run into the spring. When he arrived home and met Kane and Kanaloa, they reached out for the water jug and each took a drink. When they had satisfied their thirst they discovered that it was urine instead of water, so they flew off and left Kaneapua on Lanai.

While Kaneapua was one day seated by the seashore on the Kaunolu point, he saw the double canoe of Wahanui passing by, so he called out from the shore: “Whose canoe is that?” “It is Wahanui’s,” replied the prophet Kilohi. “Wahanui is the chief, who is the prophet?” “Kilohi.” Kaneapua again asked: “A canoe, sailing where to?” “It is a canoe sailing to Tahiti to step on the breasts of Kane and Kanaloa.” Kaneapua called out: “Why not let me come too?” Kilohi answered: “The canoe is already loaded down.” “If the canoe is loaded down, let me ride on the sticks connecting the canoe to the outrigger.” “They are also overcrowded.” “Let me ride on the outrigger then.” “That too is overcrowded.” This conversation was carried on until every part of the canoe was requested for. Kaneapua then called after he had been denied a seat on any part of the canoe: “Return, it is going to be stormy.” Kilohi replied: “Who are you that shall cause my lord’s canoe to return?”

After leaving the Kaunolu point, they continued on their way until they were off the Kaena point, where they encountered a heavy wind; soon after this a storm arose and the canoe was overturned. Wahanui the chief got a severe cold and the things in the canoe were wet: so they returned and landed at Lele, in Lahaina. After spending the night at this place they again set out the next day. Upon passing by Kaunolu, Kaneapua again called out as before, and again the prophet, Kilohi, refused to allow him to come aboard. Not very far from this place they again were caught in another [518]storm and were forced to return a second time. On this return Wahanui began to realize how true the boy Kaneapua predicted and that he was much smarter than his prophet, Kilohi. On the next trip Kaneapua was given passage and the journey was then resumed. There were two sailing masters aboard, Hookele i Hilo and Hookele i Kau.1 Kaneapua sat behind the sailing masters. As soon as Kaneapua took his seat a thick fog was seen to approach them and before very long a thick darkness enveloped them; so thick indeed that those in the aft part of the canoe could not see those in the fore part. This darkness prevailed until they arrived at the land of Kanehunamoku, a land which appeared to them in the form of a dog. Kilohi said to Wahanui that it was a dog and begged him that they return to Hawaii and kiss the children and wives ere they be eaten up by the man-eating dog of Hina. At this it was made evident to Wahanui, that Kilohi was not the great priest that he had all along thought him to be, and that they would all have been killed if Kaneapua had not been allowed to join them.

At this fear expressed by Kilohi, Kaneapua said reassuringly: “You are entirely mistaken, Kilohi, that is the land of Kanehunamoku. Upon seeing you to be a stranger the land is hidden from view, when it becomes clear [it will be seen]. There are people on the land as you can hear their voices.” When they drew nearer to the place they saw2 that it was land, they also saw a man who was gathering coral for food, a death-dealing food. Soon after this they left the land of Kanehunamoku and continued on their way. After they had sailed for some time they looked up and saw two hills, Paliuli and Palikea which appeared to be moving and towering above and ahead of them. These two hills were two demi-gods sent by Kane and Kanaloa who desired their destruction. Kaneapua said to Wahanui and Kilohi: “That is death, if those hills should crumble and fall on us we shall all be killed. They have been sent by Kane and Kanaloa.” Kaneapua then called out to Paliuli and Palikea: “Return down below else I shall be killed and you two will be ashamed.” At this call the two hills were shamed and the travelers were saved. Kaneapua then said to Wahanui: “You float here while I dive down below. Honunuikuaeaea my grandmother is down there; if her back is turned up it will mean our death, but if it is turned down, we will be saved.” He then dove down and called out: “Honunuikuaeaea, turn your face upward.” She then turned her face upward and called out: “Whose offspring art thou?” “Yours.” “What is your name?” “Kaneapua.” The grandmother then fell on him and wept, and then asked him: “What is the object of this journey that brings my lord here?” “I want a rope to moor the canoe with.” She then gave Kaneapua her intestines and Kaneapua rose to the surface and tied the rope to the canoe.

Kane and Kanaloa soon after opened the calabash in which was kept the wind of Laamaomao. The wind came up, a storm arose, the sea became rough, the waves beat down and broke over them causing the coral to be thrown up on the shore. This storm lasted ten days. When the storm abated the travelers once more thought of safety and that all their troubles were about over; but there yet remained one more object to be encountered, a dog that belonged to Kaneapua. They then landed and [520]moored their canoe. Kaneapua then said to Wahanui: “Go until you find three men who are lying down face up; they are Kane and Kanaloa, and the third one is Mauli. Step on the breasts of all three of them and return, but don’t look backward.” Wahanui then went on his way and after carrying out the instructions he returned. Kaneapua then instructed his companions, saying: “You must now wrap me up and make me appear to be striped and say that I am your god, Kaneapua.” When Wahanui heard this he went down on his knees before Kaneapua and offered him all the things of value brought by him; this being the first time that he was made aware that this person who had been with them all this time was Kaneapua. Shortly after this all manner of spirits3 gathered and asked: “Where is your god?” “Here it is standing.” “Yes, you have a large god indeed.” “Yes, you could all be devoured [by him] without satisfying his hunger.”

After this Kaneapua instructed his companions as follows: “When you get to the house don’t sit in the best places as that will mean your death, but sit in the bad places and you will be saved.” When they arrived at the house they followed out the instructions given them.

They lived here until after the expiration of some months when they made their preparation to return home. On leaving, Kaneapua gave Wahanui an image of a double-bodied giant,4 the bodies being joined together by means of the ribs growing into one another. It had two heads, four hands and feet and four eyes. If one was called to obey the laws of nature, the other accompanied without such desire, and so in all their movements. Upon accepting this present Kaneapua said to him: “Don’t show this image until you reach Hawaii for otherwise you will get killed.”

On the return voyage Wahanui first landed at Kauai, where they met a great crowd of people together with the king Kupakoili and his prophet Luluupali. Because of the shouts made by the people ashore Wahanui went ashore with his present.5 When the people saw this strange object they gave a mighty shout. When Kupakoili heard the shout, he inquired of his prophet, Luluupali: “How can I get possession of that image?” Luluupali answered: “Kill the king and his people and burn up the canoes.” This advice was carried out by Kupakoili, and Wahanui was killed and his image taken away. One man, however, escaped; he was one of the bailers; he dove into the sea and escaped. After a time he took unto himself a wife, a Kauai woman and settled there, taking up fishing as his occupation. It was this man’s usual custom while on his fishing trips to carry a large quantity of food along with him. After he had done this for some time his wife began to be inquisitive and at last asked him why he took so much food; he answered: “What fault is there in taking this food? Food is easily brought back again.” Shortly after this while out fishing, a storm came up and he was blown out to sea, and after a number of days he managed to land on Hawaii. When he met the people he told them that Wahanui and his followers had all been killed in Kauai, and that he was the only one who escaped. A proclamation was then issued calling the people of Hawaii to come together and to make preparations for avenging the death of [522]their king. A double canoe was then sent to Kauai to invite Kupakoili and his people to come to Hawaii and get all the canoes and all the property on that island. The invitation was as follows: “Let no man, woman, or child remain, all must sail for Hawaii.” This invitation was accepted and all the people sailed for Hawaii where they were all killed; no one escaped. [517]