Legend of Aiai. |
Kaao no Aiai. |
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Kuula was the father and Hina was the mother of Aiai. They lived in Niolopa,1 Nuuanu. Kuula and his wife were great fisher folks, and they had in their possession a pearl fish-hook of great value2 called Kahuoi. This pearl fish-hook was in the keeping of a bird called Kamanuwai and it was kept at Kaumakapili.3 This pearl fish-hook was so enticing that every time Kuula went out for aku, outside of Mamala,4 upon seeing the hook they would jump into the canoes of their own accord. This fish was the food which this bird lived on. [556] |
O Kuula ka makuakane o Hina ka makuahine, o Aiai ke keiki, o Niolopa i Nuuanu ka aina. He mau lawaia o Kuula me kana wahine o Hina, na laua ka pa ai, o Kahuoi ka inoa. O ka manu, o Kamanuwai, ke kiai o ua pa nei o Kahuoi; o kahi e waiho ai o ua pa nei o Kaumakapili; he pa ai o Kahuoi. Ke holo o Kuula i ka hi aku i waho o Mamala, na ke aku no e pii a e komo na waa, a o ka ai no hoi ia a ua manu nei o ka ia. [557] |
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While Kuula was out for aku one day, outside of Mamala, Kipapalaulu the king of Honolulu, also went out fishing; and when he came near the place where Kuula5 was fishing, he saw the aku jumping into the canoes of Kuula of their own accord. Upon seeing this he made up his mind to steal this fish-hook, Kahuoi, which in due time was carried out. This act not only deprived Kuula of his favorite hook, but the bird also hungered from loss of its food. Through this seizure of the pearl hook by Kipapalaulu the bird went without any food, it would fly on its roosting place and go to sleep. It was because the bird, Kamanuwai, closed its eyes from hunger was the reason why the place where it lived was called Kaumakapili,6 and the place is so called to this day. |
I kekahi holo ana a Kuula i ka hi aku, i waho o Mamala, holo aku o Kipapalaulu, ke ’lii o Honolulu i ka lawaia, ike oia i ka pii o ke aku i na waa o Kuula, lawe aihue oia i ka pa, ia Kahuoi, lilo iaia, nele o Kuula i ka pa, a pololi no hoi ka manu i ka ai ole. Ma keia lilo ana o ka pa, ia Kipapalaulu, nele iho la ka manu i ka ia ole e ai ai. Nolaila, kapaia o Kaumakapili i ka pili o na maka o ka manu o Kamanuwai, a hiki i keia la. Nolaila, kela inoa o Kaumakapili. |
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Some time after this Hina conceived and in due time gave birth to a male child, who was called Aiai. At the birth of the child the parents threw it into the stream just below Kaumakapili. The water carried the child to a rock called Nahakaipuami, just below the Haaliliamanu bridge, where it is seen to this day (of writing), where it floated. Kipapalaulu was at this time living at Kapuukolo,7 where his palace was situated, with his daughter, Kauaelemimo by name. One day at noon she went in bathing with her maids and discovered Aiai by a large rock. Kauaelemimo took the child as her own and brought it up. |
Hapai o Hina, a hanau he keiki kane o Aiai, kiola iho la laua i loko o ka muliwai e waiho la ma lalo o Kaumakapili, lawe ae la ka wai a hiki i ka uapo a Hooliliamanu makai iho. Aia ilaila he pohaku o Nahakaipuami kona inoa, e waiho nei a hiki i keia la, maluna o ia pohaku o Aiai i lana ai. Ma Kapuukolo na hale o Kipapalaulu e ku ana, me kana kaikamahine, o Kauaelemimo ka inoa. I ke awakea, hele o Kauaelemimo e auau me kona mau wahine, loaa iho la o Aiai e waiho ana, lawe ae la o Kauaelemimo i keiki nana, a hanai iho la. |
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When Aiai grew into manhood he was very handsome; so Kauaelemimo took him to be her husband. After a while she conceived a child and she began to have a longing for some fish; so Aiai went out rod fishing along the coast and after catching a few took the fish home and gave them to his wife. After the lapse of some twenty or thirty days, Kauaelemimo had a longing for aku; so she told Aiai to go out aku fishing. Aiai upon hearing his wife’s request asked her to go to her father, Kipapalaulu and ask him for a pearl fish-hook. The wife consented to this and went to her father. Upon coming in her father’s presence, he asked her: “What is it you want?” “I have come for a pearl fish-hook for my husband.” “Yes, here is a pearl fish-hook.” Kauaelemimo took it and returned to her husband. When Aiai saw the fish-hook, he said: “This pearl fish-hook is worthless, the fish will not bite it; it will weary one’s body for nothing.” The wife then asked him: “Where can I get another pearl fish-hook then?” Aiai replied: “You go to your father and tell him there is a pearl fish-hook that will enrich the fishermen. It is in the fishermen’s calabash of fishing utensils.” By this the husband wished to get possession of the pearl fish-hook Kahuoi which had been stolen from his father by Kipapalaulu. |
A nui o Aiai, he keiki maikai loa ke nana aku, lawe ae la no o Kauaelemimo i kane nana, a moe iho la. A hapai o Kauaelemimo, ono iho la ia i ka ia, hele aku la o Aiai i ke kamakoi ma kela wahi i Halekuke, a loaa na ia hoi mai la ai ka wahine. A hala he mau anahulu, ono o Kauaelemimo i ke aku, olelo aku ia Aiai, e holo i ka hi aku; olelo mai o Aiai: “O hele i pa i ko makuakane ia Kipapalaulu.” Ae aku ka wahine, hele aku la ia a hiki i mua o Kipapalaulu. Ninau mai o Kipapalaulu: “Heaha kau?” “I hele mai nei au i pa na kuu kane.” “Ae, he pa, eia ka pa.” Hoi aku la ka wahine a hiki, haawi aku la i ka pa ia Aiai. Olelo mai o Aiai: “Aohe loaa a keia pa; he pa ai ole, hoeha kino i keia pa.” A olelo mai ka wahine: “A auhea la auanei ka pa?” I aku o Aiai: “O hele a ko makuakane olelo aku, he pa no, aole e nele ka lawaia i ka pa, aia iloko o ka ipu holoholona a ka lawaia.” O ko Aiai manao ma keia olelo i ka wahine, i loaa ka pa o Kahuoi, a kona makuakane, i aihue ia ai e Kipapalaulu. |
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Upon coming to her father she asked for another pearl fish-hook. Kipapalaulu refused, saying: “There is none left to give; that was the last pearl fish-hook I had which I gave you.” Kauaelemimo said: “Aiai told me, you had another one; it is in the fishermen’s calabash of fishing utensils.” “Yes, certainly there is one. I now remember it for the first time.” The calabash was then brought to the king and when he looked in it he found the hook which he gave to his daughter. The wife then returned with it to her husband. Aiai took it and said: “My days of poverty8 are now [558]over since you have come back.” Aiai then said to his wife: “Go back again to your father and ask him for a canoe; not one of five or eight fathoms in length, but get one that is ten fathoms in length; that is the size of the canoe that I want from your father.” When Kauaelemimo arrived in the presence of her father, she asked for the canoe described by her husband. When the canoe ten fathoms in length was brought the father asked the daughter: “Who will be able to paddle this canoe?” “My husband will.” When Aiai heard the answer made by his wife, he took the canoe and set out with the bird, Kamanuwai, taking the pearl fish-hook, Kahuoi, along. When he arrived off of Mamala he took out the hook and began fishing. The aku began to come and jump into the canoe of their own accord until it was loaded down deep. The bird then eat some of the fish and was again restored to its former self. When Aiai came home his double canoe was loaded down deep with aku. Upon arriving in the presence of his wife he gave her all the fish, but the pearl fish-hook was taken by the bird, Kamanuwai, its guardian. This is the legend of Aiai. [555] |
A hiki ke kaikamahine i mua o Kipapalaulu, nonoi aku i pa e haawi hou mai, hoole mai o Kipapalaulu: “Aohe pa i koe; o ka pau ae la no ia o na pa.” I aku o Kauaelemimo: “Ka! Olelo mai nei o Aiai, he pa no, aia ka iloko o ka ipu holoholona a ka lawaia.” “Ae, he pa io, akahi au a manao.” Kiina aku la a lawe ia mai la, i nana iho ka hana, he pa. Lawe aku la ka wahine a mua o Aiai, lalau mai la o Aiai a olelo iho la: “Ola na iwi ua hoi mai nei oe.” [559] I aku o Aiai i ka wahine: “E hoi hou oe i waa no’u; aole ka waa elima anana ka loa, a e walu, o ka waa he umi anana ka loa. Oia ka waa au e olelo aku ai i ko makuakane.” A hiki ka wahine imua o Kipapalaulu, nonoi aku la i waa, a hiki i ka waa umi anana ka loa. Olelo mai ka makuakane: “Nawai e hoe e hiki ai keia waa?” “Na kuu kane no.” A lohe o Aiai i ka olelo a kana wahine kii aku la ia a lawe mai la i ka waa, holo aku la ia me ka manu, o Kamanuwai, a me ka pa o Kahuoi, a waho o Mamala, wehe ka pa a lawaia, na ke aku no i pii a komo ka waa, ai iho la ka manu a ola ae la. Hoi mai la o Aiai, ua piha na waa i ke aku, a hiki i mua o ka wahine, haawi aku la i ka ia, o ua pa nei lilo aku la ia Kamanuwai ke kiai. Pela ke kaao no Aiai. [558] |
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5 Kuula was deified upon his death at the cruel hands of Hua of Maui, according to tradition, that he became the god of fishermen to whom the koas around Oahu, Maui, and other islands are dedicated, and though these outward evidences of idolatrous practice have passed away, the inward feeling of recognition of this god’s claim on their effort is still stronger among the old fishermen than they are willing to admit. ↑ |