Ka Moolelo o Eleio - Mokuna 7

S. N. Pualewa
October 1863

Reproduced below is the seventh installment of S. N. Pualewa’s 12-part mo‘olelo published serially in the Hawaiian Language newspaper Kū‘ōko‘a 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 benefited 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 "Mokuna 7" below.

Mokuna 7, Nupepa Kuokoa, 17 Okatoba, 1863

O ka manawa i ike pono ai na makua i ke kalohe o Kaululaau, oia no ka manawa e hele ana ke keiki i ka lealea, o kana hana lealea mau ia manawa e hele ana, oia no ke ke-a pua.

Ia manawa nae a Kaululaau e hele nei i ke ke-a pua, oia ka manawa e lele ai kana pua a kau iluna o ka ulu; ia manawa e kau ai iluna o ka ulu, alaila, kii aku la kela a hooluliluli ae la i ka ulu a haule iho la kea pua ilalo, alaila, he mea oluolu loa ia ia ia; aka hoi, i na e kau mau no kana pua iluna me ka haule ole ilalo ke hooluliluli ia; ia wa e puka ae ai ke kalohe o ua keiki nei a uhuki i ka ulu o ka maloo ka hope.

A i ka pua ana o ka ulu i ka uhuki ia, ia manawa i haiia aku ai ka lohe i na makua no ka uhukiia ana o ka ulu e ua keiki nei a laua; aka, aole no nae i hoomaopopo loa na makua i ke kalohe o ke keiki ia manawa.

A i ka manawa i hoomau mai ai ua keiki nei i ke kalohe, akahi no a hooiaio ae na makua i ke kalohe, no ka mea, o ka ke keiki hana no ke ke-a pua, kau no iluna o ka ulu, pau no ia ulu i ka uhukiia, a pela mau aku no ka uhuki ana i ka ulu, a oneanea loa kela wahi o Puako.

A ike iho la na makua i ke kalohe io o ua keiki nei, alaila, inaina loa iho la ka makuakane a me ka huhu i ua keiki nei.

Alaila, olelo aku la ka makuakane. "Aole e pono ke malama i keia keiki, no ka mea, he keiki kalohe, e aho e lawe keia keiki i Lanai e noho ai, he kalohe hoi keia, he kalohe hoi ke akua o Lanai, hookahi na halawai kalohe ana o laua.

"Akaka hoi ka lilo ana mai o kela aina i kona ano kalohe; a ina hoi i make mai i ke akua, aole no hoi he kalohe, aka hoi, i na hoi i pau mai ke akua o Lanai i ka luku ia, alaila, ua waiwai hoi ke kalohe ana."

Ia manawa koke no, o ka noonoo ae la no ia i ka wa kupono e lawe ai i ua keiki nei i Lanai e noho ai.

Ia wa nae a na makua e noonoo nei no ka lawe ana i Lanai e noho ai o Kaululaau; ia manawa, halawai mai la me ko Kaululaau uhane ma ka moeuhane kona akua, oia hoi o Lono. Hai mai la o Lono ma ka moeuhane ia Kaululaau, "E Kaululaau, ke ohumu nei ou mau makua e kiola ia oe i Lanai, i make oe i ke akua, nolaila, ina i olelo mai ou mau makua ia oe e hoolei i Lanai, alaila, e ae aku no oe i ko kaua aina, no ka mea aole oe e make ke malama oe ia’u, aka hoi, ina oe e haalele iaʻu, alaila, make io no oe."

A lohe mai la o Kaululaau i ka olelo a kona akua, oia hoi o Lono, alaila, lilo iho la ia i olelo malama nana, ame kona makaʻu ole no hoi i ka make.

I ka noonoo loihi ana o na makua i ke kumu e kipaku ai ia ia, ame ka aua ana iho no hoi ia ia e noho i Maui, aole i loaa ke kumu pono o kona noho ana; nolaila, hookahi mea i holo, o ke kipaku aku e hele i Lanai.

O Lanai nae, he aina kanaka ole ia mamua, hookahi no o laila kanaka o ke akua, ua hoopuniia ka aina a puni e ke akua, a ua nohoia no hoi ka pane poo o ko Lanai mauna e ke akua.

I ka laweia ana o Kaululaau i Lanai, aole he ai, he mau wahi pona ko elua, oia iho la ko laua wahi o o ka hele ana ma kela aina makamaka ole, hookahi no makamaka o ke akua o Lanai. Eono kanaka nana i halihali ia ianei a pae keia iuka o Lanai, alaila, hoi mai la ka waa ame na kanaka, a mawaho mai o kuaau nalu, nana aku la lakou ia Kaululaau i ka hele mai i ke one o Kawakee, eia nae ka lakou mea haohao ia manawa. I ko lakou nana ana aku elua mea e hele mai ana i ke one, no ka mea, hookahi no hoi a lakou mea i lawe aku ai a waiho, o ia hoi o Kaululaau, elua hoi keia mau mea e hele mai ana.

Nolaila, ia lakou i hoi ai a hiki i Maui, alaila, hai aku la lakou i keia mea imua o na makua; nolaila, makaʻu iho la na makua, no ka mea; na io e ola mai ana o Kaululaau i ke akua o Lanai, o ka hoi mai no ia a luku mai i na makua ame na kanaka, a lilo pu me ka aina, a o ka pilikia ka hope.

I ke kakahiaka ana iho o ua la nei i lawe iaʻi o Kaululaau i Lanai, alaila, olelo aku la o Lono ke akua o ua o Kaululaau, "A i ka wa auanei o kaua e moe ai, alaila, e hoi kaua i kela lae la i Waiahoolae, ilaila kaua e moe ai, no ka mea, ua hele aku nei au e nana, a ua ike au, he wahi ana aia ilaila, ua pau pono no kaua i kela wahi ana; o oe mai no maloko, owau no hoi ma ka puka, a pela wale no kaua e pono ai ke noho i keia wahi."

A Poaha ko laua nei noho ana, a moe ana ma keia wahi ma Waiahoolae, aole laua nei i ike i kekahi mea keakea ame ka hoopilikia mai ia laua nei ia manawa. Aka, i ka Poalima o ko laua nei noho ana ma ia wahi, a i ke anoano ahiahi ana iho, hele mai ana keia akua io laua nei la, oia hoi o Pahulu.

I ko Pahulu hele ana mai a hiki i o laua nei, alaila, ninau mai la o Pahulu ia Kaululaau. "I hea oe e Kaululaau e moe ai i keia po."

Hai aku la no hoi o Kaululaau. "I kela moku puakala e ku mai la la."

A maopopo ae la ia Pahulu kahi e moe ai o Kaululaau ma, alaila, i keia po no, kuahaua aku ana keia i ke akua o Lanai a puni, me ka olelo aku, "Aia i kela moku puakala o Kaululaau ma e moe ai la, nolaila, i keia po auanei, hoakoakoa kakou a pau ilaila, i na io ilaila laua e moe ai i keia po, alaila, o ke kaikai no auanei ka kakou a hiki iloko o ke kai, a i kahi hohonu loa, ilaila kakou e hoolei ai ia ia, malama o make ia, koe no ko kakou aina ko ke akua."

I ka moe ana i ua po nei, aole i hele o Kaululaau ma i ua moku puakala nei e moe ai, aka, miki e ae la no o Pahulu ame ka nui o ke akua i ka moku puakala, i miki ae ka hana, aole he mea a loaa iki o Kaululaau ma i ua moku puakala nei. I ke ao ana ae o ua po nei, hele mai la o Pahulu, a ninau mai la ia Kaululaau, "I hea hoi oe e Kaululaau kahi i moe ai i keia po."

Alaila, olelo aku la no hoi o Kaululaau, "I ka moku puakala no hoi paha."

Olelo hou mai la o Pahulu, "Ilaila no hoi makou aole oe?"

I aku la o Kaululaau. "I ka moku puakala nui ae hoi oukou, i kahi moku puakala uuku iho hoi maua."

I mai la o Pahulu, "Ae, aole no la hoi makou i hele aku i kahi moku puakala uuku, i ka moku puakala nui ae no la makou kahi i huli ai ia olua, eia nae, ua pau loa ka nui o ke akua i ka make, no ke kuku i ka puakala." Alaila, noho iho la no o Pahulu a kokoke i ke anoano ahiahi, alaila hiki hou ana no ua o Pahulu i o Kaululaau ma la.

Alaila, ninau hou mai la no o Pahulu, "I hea auanei o ua o Kaululaau ma e moe ai i keia po?"

Hai aku la no hoi o Kaululaau, "I kela moku nohu no hoi paha e ku mai la la."

A lohe o Pahulu i ko Kaululaau ma wahi e moe ai ia po, hoi aku la o Pahulu a kuahaua aku i ka nui o ke akua e hele mai e pepehi ia Kaululaau ma, me ka hai pu aku no hoi. "Aia i ka moku nohu o Kaululaau ma e moe ai i keia po."

Ia manawa, o ka lohe aku la no ia o ka nui o ke akua a pau i kahi a Kaululaau ma e moe nei, i keia kuahaua ana a Pahulu, a o ko lakou hoomakaukau ae la no ia no ke kii ia Kaululaau ma.

O ka nui o kahi a Pahulu e kii nei e kuahaua i ke akua e hele mai e pepehi ia Kaululaau, mai ka lae mai o Kamaiki a ka wai o Keomuku, o ka lehulehu o na akua maloko oia apana, oia kai koiia e hele mai ia po ma ka moku nohu.

Ia poeleele ana iho no o ua la nei, hiki no ke akua i ka moku nohu i oleloia, aole nae laua nei i hele ilaila e moe ai, eia no laua i ke ana a laua nei i moe muaʻi, a malaila no ko laua wahi i moe ai ia po; aka, o ke akua o ianei, oia hoi o Lono, ua ike aku oia, a ua lohe pu aku no hoi laua a elua i ka ninau ana mai o kahi akua i kahi akua, me ka olelo mai, "Aia la hoi i hea iho nei o ua o Kaululaau ma kahi i moe ai."

I mai la hoi o Pahulu. "Eia ianei e moe ai, pela kana olelo ana mai ia’u, he wahahee ka paha, i na paha ia nei loaa ae nei ia kakou, mai ka wa lehulehu mai nei o kakou a ke pau mai nei kahi poe o kakou i ka make i ke kuku i ka nohu; a ina penei kakou e hana mauiaʻi, e pau loa ana kakou i ka make, aohe wahi e ola ai."

Alaila, hoi aku la ka nui o ke akua a pau; ia manawa, hele aku la o Kaululaau ame Lono kona akua, e nana i ka moku nohu, i nana aku auanei ka hana, e ahu mai ana ke akua ua pau i ka make.

A nolaila, hoi aku la laua nei a moe iho la ia po, a ao ae la, a i ke kakahiaka nui, hiki ana o Pahulu, a ninau mai la oia ia Kaululaau. "I hea hoi oe kahi i moe ai i keia po e Kaululaau?"

Hai aku la no hoi o Kaululaau. "I ka moku nohu no hoi paha maua kahi i moe ai."

I mai la o Pahulu, "Ilaila hoi makou aole hoi oe."

Hai hou aku la o Kaululaau, "I ka moku nohu nui ae oukou, i kahi moku nohu uuku iho hoi au."

I ka pau ana ae o ka laua kamailio pu ana me Pahulu, a hoi aku la o Pahulu i kona wahi noho mau.

Alaila, ninau aku la o Kaululaau i ke akua ona ia Lono, "E Lono, pehea ko kaua pono e noho nei i keia wahi? Aole no anei e loaa hou aku ua wahi pono o kaua e noho ai, o kahi pono wale no anei keia?’

Alaila, i aku la o Lono, "Ae, nani hoi ha ua ninau mai nei oe ia’u, nolaila, he wahi pono no, aole nae i keia manawa, e aho e hoomanawanui kaua i ka noho ana i keia wahi, a i elua paha o kaua po hou i koe, malama hoi paha o pau ke akua o keia wahi ia oe, alaila, nee aku ana kaua ma kahi i koe o ke akua, ilaila kaua e noho ai a pau ko laila akua, a pela no kaua e nee hele ai a puni o Lanai nei, alaila, pii kaua iuka o ka mauna, no ka mea, ua oleloia, aia o ka mauna kahi nui o ke akua o keia wahi."

Ia wa a laua e kamailio nei a pau ae, noho iho la no hoi laua nei a ahiahi, hiki hou ana no o Pahulu, o kana hana mau no ia o ka ninau i kahi a Kaululaau e moe ai ia po. Hai aku la no hoi o Kaululaau. "Aia i kela moku pohuehue la, ilaila wau e moe ai i keia po."

Ia po iho no hiki ana ke akua i ua moku pohuehue nei, e like no me na hana ana mamua, pela no keia hana ana.

A hala keia po, hiki hou no i ke ahiahi o kekahi la ae o Pahulu, o kana puni no hoi o ka ninau i kahi e moe ai. Hai aku la no hoi o Kaululaau. "Aia iloko o ka ale o ke kai e moe ai ia po."

A lohe aku la o Pahulu i keia mau olelo a Kaululaau, alaila, he mea lealea loa iho la paha ia i ko Pahulu manao.

A i ke ahiahi poeleele ana iho o keia po a lakou i kamailio ai, alaila, o ka hiki mai la no ia o ke akua; a i nana aku auanei ka hana o Kaululaau i ke akua, e pupupu mai ana iloko o ke kai, e huli wale ana no ia Kaululaau; o ka po no keia, pau loa ke akua o keia wahi i ka make i ka nalu, koe wale mai no o Pahulu, oia hookahi wale mai no ka mea i hoopakeleia i ahailono.

I ke ao ana ae o ua po nei, miki mai la no o ua o Pahulu i o Kaululaau la, o kana hana no hoi o ka miki, ia hiki ana mai o Pahulu, a ninau mai, "Ihea hoi oe e Kaululaau kahi i moe ai i keia po, ua huli wale hoi makou ia oe aohe loaa iki."

Hai aku la no hoi o Kaululaau, "Iloko no hoi paha wau o ka ale kahi i moe ai i keia po, e like no hoi me kaʻu i olelo aku ai ia oe."

I mai la hoi o Pahulu, "Ilaila hoi makou aole oe, hookahi no nalu, o ka pau loa no ia o ka nui o ke akua o makou i ka make, aohe wahi akua iho i koe."

(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 Kū‘ōko‘a context on the website Ulukau.org.