Ka Moolelo o Eleio - Mokuna 1

S. N. Pualewa
September 1863

Reproduced below is the first part of S. N. Pualewa’s 12-part mo‘olelo published serially in the Hawaiian Language newspaper Ka Nupepa Kuokoa in September–November 1863. Although Pualewa’s title suggests that ‘Ele‘io, the fleet-footed messenger of Maui’s high chief Kāka‘alaneo, will be the hero of the story, the greater part of the story is, in fact, concerned with the life of Kāka‘alaneo’s son, the trickster-chief Kaululā‘au, who is still remembered for ridding Lāna‘i of its horde of murderous akua. The story of Kaululā‘au has undergone something of a revival with the publication of Ellie Crowe’s children’s book The Boy Who Tricked The Ghosts and with Keali‘iwahine Hokoana’s production of the one-man play The Legend of Kaululā‘au. Crowe’s book, in our opinion, would have benefitted from a careful examination of the story’s primary, Hawaiian language sources. Much of Hokoana’s success, on the other hand, stems from her adherence to Pualewa. We present Pualewa’s first installment below.

Mokuna 1, Nupepa Kuokoa, 5 Kepakemapa, 1863

He pono paha kakou ke kamailio maanei no Eleio, ke kahu o Kakaalaneo kekahi o na ‘Lii o Maui, a mahope aku e kamailio kakou no Kaululaau, ke keiki ponoi a Kakaalaneo ame Kelekeleiokaula kekahi alii wahine o Hawaii, ke kaikuahine o Kaleihaohia kekahi alii o Hawaii.

Ua olelo ia o Eleio, he kahu no Kakaalaneo kekahi o na ‘Lii o Maui, a ua manao wale ia, o Kakaalaneo, oia ka hanauna elima o na ‘Lii o Maui. Ina paha e hoonohonoho ponoia ko lakou mookuauhau mai a Kumuhonua mai a ia Kakaalaneo, alaila, ua hiki io no i ka lima o ka hanauna.

Aka, no ke kamailio ia Eleio, he pono hoi kakou e kamailio nona.

O Eleio, he kanaka mama i ke kukini, a no ka mama o Eleio, nolaila, ua koho no o Kakaalaneo ia Eleio i mea nana e hooko kona makemake ma na wahi loihi loa.

Penei paha kakou e hoomaopopo ai he kanaka mama o Eleio.

I ka wa e hoomakaukau ai na Aipuupuu a Kakaalaneo i ka ai, ame ka lawalu ana i ka i-a a ke ‘Lii. Ia manawa, hoouna ae la ke ‘Lii ia Eleio e holo i awa no ke ‘Lii, aia a hiki mai ka awa a Eleio e kii ai, alaila, hoomaka ka ahaina a ke ‘Lii.

O kahi nae o ka awa a Eleio e kii ai no ke ‘Lii, he wahi loihi loa, aia ia wahi i Koolau, o Maui, o Waiohue ka inoa oia aina.

Ina e hoomaka o Eleio e kii i ka awa i Waiohule, aole e mo-a na lawalu i-a, hiki e mai no o Eleio mamua o ka manawa e hoomaka ai ka ahaina a ke ‘Lii. O ka Eleio hana mau no ia, o ke kii mau i ka awa no ke ‘Lii; o kahi hoi e noho ai ke ‘Lii aia ma ka aoao mauka o Kekaa, kela puu e ku la ma Kaanapali, makai ae o Kealakikeekee a Maui.

Ua nui no na kii ana a Eleio i ka awa no ke ‘Lii, aka, aole nae i loaa o Eleio i ka pilikia, aka, i kekahi kii hou ana aku.

Ia manawa, halawai o Eleio me ka popilikia, no ka mea, i ka manawa a Eleio i hoi mai ai me ka awa mai Waiohue mai, e noho ana keia Akua o Koolau i ke alanui, o "Aahualii" kona inoa.

Ia manawa, nonoi mai la o Aahualii ia Eleio i ka awa. "E Eleio, e kapu aku no hoi ka awa no ko Alii, i wahi huluhulu mai no hoi ko‘u."

Ia manawa koke no, hoole aku la o Eleio, "Aole," alaila, hoopohopoho aku la o Eleio i kona lemu ia Aahualii, ame ko Eleio haawi aku i na huaolelo inoino loa. Ia manawa, huhu loa iho la Aahualii, a o ka uhai aku la no ia ia Eleio, a maanei kakou e ike ai i ka mama launa ole mai o Eleio.

I ka manawa o Eleio e kii mau nei i ka awa no ke Alii, o ka lima paha ia o kona kii ana i ka awa. I ka manawa o Eleio i alualuia‘i e Aahualii, alaila, hoomau no o Eleio i ka holo imua, me kona hoike i kona ano mama. Eia nae, ia laua no e hoomaka ana e hookuu i ko laua mau kino i ka mama loa, oia mau no ko laua kowa kaawale ma waena o ko laua kulana, kukino. Ua holo mai laua mai Koolau mai o Maui, a hiki mai i Hamakualoa, Hamakuapoko, a pela mai no ko laua holo ana, a hiki i Wailuku a Kamaalaea, a ka pali o Aalaloloa, a kaihona o Papalaau, alaila, alawa aku la Eleio i hope, a ike aku la oia i ke akua ia Aahualii e hoomau mai ana no i ke alualu ia ia nei, alaila, hoolele ia ae la ko Eleio luna manao e ka makau, no ka mea, ua aneane koke loa mai la o Aahualii, hookahi nae a Eleio mea makau ia manawa a laua nei e holo ana, o ka lapalapa mai o ka waha o Aahualii me he ahi la, me he mea la ka waha o Aahualii e upoi iho ana ia Eleio. Hoomau mai no nae keia i ka holo a hala o Ukumehame, hiki keia i Olowalu, a hala Olowalu, hiki keia i Awalua, a hala o Awalua, hiki keia i Kulanaokalai, a hala o Kulanaokalai, hiki keia i Launiupoko, a hala o Launiupoko, hiki keia i Waianuukole, ia ia nei nae i Waianuukole, hookokoke loa ae la o Aahualii ma hope o ia nei.

Ia manawa, nui loa mai la ko Eleio makau, no ka loaa mai ia Aahualii. Aka hoi, manao ae la o Eleio iloko ona, ina oia e hoi loa mai ma kahakai, loaa koke mai no oia. No ka mea, o ke alanui kahiko no ia mamua, ma kahaki mai o Puunoa, a me Molakia a me Mokuhinia, a Luaehu, Pelekane, a hiki mai i Aki, ma ke one mai o Puunoa.

Aka, i keia manawa hoi a Aahualii e alualu nei ia Eleio, alaila, hoomaka ae la keia e holo mai ma loko mai o ka ulu niu, a me ka ulu, ia Eleio i hoomaka ai e holo mai ma ka ulu niu, a me ka ulu, alaila, hoomaka mai no hoi o Aahualii e holo mai mahope o Eleio, aka, no ka paapu o mua i ka laau, no laila kuhihewa o Aahualii i ka laau e ku mai ana mamua o Eleio ia, nolaila, hopu hewa o Aahualii i na laau.

A mamuli o ia hopu hewa ana o Aahualii i na laau, oia iho la ke kokua nana i hookaawale aku ia Eleio ia manawa. A puka aku la o Eleio mawaho o Mala, aia no o Aahualii maloko o ka uluniu, a me ka ulu kahi i hopu hewa ai.

A i ka puka loa ana aku hoi o Aahualii i waho o Mala, alaila, ike pono aku la o Eleio, aia no e holo ana imua, alaila, hookuu hou aku la o Aahualii i kona ano mama, a aneane no o Aahualii e hookokoke loa aku mahope o Eleio, aka, piha loa mai la o Eleio i ka makau.

Ia Eleio no e holo ana mamua o Aahualii, ia manawa, ikiiki loa mai la o Eleio i ka naenae a me ka paupauaho.

Alaila, kahea aku la o Eleio me ka leo nui ia Kakaalaneo, penei ke kahea ana, "e Kakaalaneo-e! E wehe ae i ka puka." "e Kakaalaneo-e! E wehe ae i ka puka." I ka lohe ana mai o Kakaalaneo, a me na kanaka o ka hale i keia leo kahea, ia manawa, wehe ia ae la ka puka o ka hale o Kakaalaneo, alaila, ike pono aku la lakou i keia mea kupanaha, e ulaula mai ana ka waha o Aahualii me he ahi la, ia wehe ia ana ae o ka puka o ka hale, o ka manawa ia komo ana o Eleio iloko o ka hale. I ko Eleio manawa i komo ai iloko o ka hale, o kona waiho aku la no ia me he mea ala ua make, no ka mea, ua pau ke aho i ka holo ana, no ka loihi o kahi i holo mai ai. Ia Eleio no hoi i komo ai iloko o ka hale, alaila, papani ia ae la ka puka, ia manawa no hoi ku ana o Aahualii mawaho o ka pa o ka hale. (Maanei e waiho iki kakou i ke kamailio ana no Eleio me Aahualii.)

Aka, e kamailio iki kakou, no ke kamailio ana o ke Alii Kakaalaneo, me Aahualii, ke akua. I ka wa e ku mai ana o Aahualii ke akua mawaho o ka pa, ia manawa, hoomau mai no kela i ke noi mai ia Kakaalaneo, i ka awa, me ka lana o ka manao e loaa io mai ana no ka awa ia ia, aka, aole nae o Kakaalaneo i haawi aku i kahi awa nona.

Ia manawa, olelo maila o Aahualii ia Kakaalaneo, "He aha la hoi kou mea e Kakaalaneo e aua nei i ka awa ia‘u, no ka mea, o ka‘u mea hoi ia i hiki mai ai i keia wahi loihi."

Olelo aku la hoi a Kakaalaneo, "Aole no au e haawi aku i awa nou, no ka mea, aole no i maa ka inu pu ana o ke kanaka i ka awa me ke akua, eia wale no penei e launa ai ke Akua i ka awa, aia a pau ka awa i ka mama ia, a ku i ke kanoa, a nini i na apu a makaukau ke kanaka e inu alaila, kaumaha aku i ke Akua, oia ihola no ko oukou kuleana; a ina no makou e hoole aku, o ka ole iho la no ia."

I ka lohe ana o Aahualii i keia olelo a Kakaalaneo ke ‘Lii, alaila, hilahila ihola oia, ame ka huhu pu no nae ia Kakaalaneo, ia manawa, hoomau hala loa ihola o Aahualii ia Eleio.

Hoi aku la nae o Aahualii a noho mauka o Hahakea, aia ia wahi i uka pono o Ahikule, he ana ia, a malaila o Aahualii i noho mau ai me ka hoomakakiu malu ia Eleio, me ka manao, ina e loaa hou o Eleio ia ia, o ka make kona hope.

O ke kumu nae o neia hoomau hala ana o Aahualii ia Eleio, a me Kakaalaneo, oia no ka aua ana i ka awa; aka, ia Aahualii nae e noho ana i uka o ke ana o Hahakea, aia hoi, e pio mau ana no ke anuenue ma kahi a Aahualii i noho ai; o ke kumu o keia pio mau ana o ke anuenue, he wahi Akua ano alii no o Aahualii.

I ka manawa nae e pio mau ana ke anuenue i uka o Hahakea; ia manawa, ikeia mai la keia anuenue e Maa, oia hoi o Lanikaula, (he inoa hou o Lanikaula, a o Maa no kona inoa mua, aka, no ka ike o Maa i na mea kilokilo, nolaila, ua kapaia kona inoa o Lanikaula.)

Ia manawa nae a Lanikaula e ike mau nei i ka pio mau o ke anuenue i uka o Hahakea, ua ane uluhua loa o Lanikaula i ke anuenue, a ua manao o Lanikaula, he kipi paha keia no ka aina o Kakaalaneo. No laila, hoouna mai la o Lanikaula i kona kanaka e holo mai e ninau pono ia Kakaalaneo.

Ia manawa o ka holo ana mai o ke kanaka a hiki imua o Kakaalaneo, alaila, ninau aku la oia ia Kakaalaneo penei, "E ke ‘Lii, i hoounaia mai nei au e Lanikaula e ninau aku ia oe i ka pono a me ka hewa o kou noho ana."

Alaila, olelo mai la o Kakaalaneo, "Ua hewa ko‘u noho ana, eia ka mea i hewa ai, o ke Akua o Aahualii, ua hoomaau ia‘u, a me kuu kauwa me Eleio, no ka aua ana o maua i ka awa, nolaila, ua hoi aku nei kela aia i uka o Hahakea kahi i noho ai i keia manawa, ke hoomakaulii mai nei ia Eleio; nolaila, e hoi oe, a i ke kaula ia Lanikaula, e holo mai oia e hana i keia mea e hoopilikia mai nei ia‘u ame ko‘u mau kanaka."

I ka hoi ana aku o ke kanaka o Lanikaula mai Maui aku nei a hiki i o Lanikaula la, alaila, ninau mai la o Lanikaula i kona kanaka, "Pehea mai nei ka manao o ke ‘Lii o Maui."

Alaila, hai aku la ke kanaka o Lanikaula, "Heaha hoi auanei ka hana i koe eia no paha ka ke ‘Lii i kauoha mai nei e hele no oe e hana i pau ai kona pilikia ame kona kanaka, o kela anuenue nae au e ike mau nei i ka pio i uka o Hahakea, he anuenue no ke Akua no Aahualii, oia ke Akua o Koolau o Maui."

I ka lohe ana o Lanikaula i ke kauoha a Kakaalaneo, alaila, noho iho la o Lanikaula ia mau la e noonoo, i akaka‘i kana pono e hana aku ai.

A mamuli oia noonoo ana a Lanikaula ia manawa, hoomaopopo iho la o Lanikaula i ke kumu e pau ai ka pilikia o ke ‘Lii ame kona mau kanaka. Hookahi wale no kumu e pau ai ka pilikia, aia a make kela Akua, alaila, pau ka pilikia o ke ‘Lii ame kona mau kanaka, maikai pu no hoi me kona noho aina ana.

I ka holo ana mai o Lanikaula mai Molokai mai a pae mai oia ma kahi o ke Alii Kakaalaneo, no ka mea, aia no oia ma Kekaa, kahi e noho ai. I ka ike ana mai o na kanaka o Kakaalaneo i keia waa, e lana ana malalo iho o ka pohu o Kekaa, alaila, kukui aku la ka lono ia Kakaalaneo.

I ka lohe ana o Kakaalaneo i ka hiki mai o Lanikaula, alaila pihoihoi loa iho la o Kakaalaneo, a kauoha koke ae la o Kakaalaneo, ia Lanikaula e pii koke mai mai ka waa mai. A i ka hiki ana aku hoi o Lanikaula imua o ke Alii, alaila, kauoha koke ae la ke Alii ia Lanikaula, e hoi laua imua e noho ai, i ka hoi ana i mua, malaila laua e kamailio ai no ke akua, no Aahualii.

Ia manawa, hoakaka mai la o Kakaalaneo ia Lanikaula i ka mea i hana ia e ke akua Aahualii. A pau ka ke Alii hooakaka ai a alaila, wehewehe akula no hoi o Lanikaula i kana pono imua o ke Alii, a pau ka laua kamailio ana, alaila, kukakuka ae la laua i ka mea e make ai o Aahualii, alaila, waiho pono iho ke Aupuni o Kakaalaneo a me kona mau kanaka.

(Aole i pau.)

Ka‘iwakīloumoku’s Hawaiian language transcription of Ka Moolelo o Eleio was made by Keali‘iwahine Hokoana and edited by Kīhei de Silva. The story can be viewed in its original Kuokoa context on the websites papakilodatabase.com or ulukau.org.