Ka Moolelo o Eleio - Mokuna 9

S. N. Pualewa
October 1863

Reproduced below is the ninth 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 tale, 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 9" below.

Mokuna 9, Nupepa Kuokoa, 31 Okatoba, 186

A pau ke koena o ke akua o Kaunolu i ka lukuia, a pepehi pu ia kekahi akua opu ohao, o Kuahulua ka inoa oia akua, a no ka make ana oia akua ia Kaululaau, nolaila, hele hou ae la lakou a noho ma Manele.

A malaila, ua noho loihi loa lakou i kekahi mau la ame kekahi mau po, a o ka Pahulu hana mau no hoi ka hele e nana i ke akua ma o a maanei. A no ka halawai ole o lakou me ke akua, nolaila, hooholo lakou i ka olelo e pii o Kaululaau ame Lono iuka a o Pahulu hoi, ua hele loa oia ma kahakai a hiki aku i Naha, a malaila oia e huli ae ai ia Kaululaau ma.

A o Kaululaau ma hoi, hele aku la laua mai Manele aku a pii aku a hiki i Kanauau, a malaila aku no a ke kuahiwi o Kaohai, a hele ae la no malaila a Kahaalelepaakai, a ma ia kuahiwi aku no ka hele ana a hiki ae i Ohiahalo, a malaila aku ka hele ana a hiki i ka mauna o Lanaihale, kahi hoi a Kaululaau i kapili ai i ka maka o ke akua i ke kepau; a ia laua i hiki aku ai ma Lanaihale, a liuliu iho, alaila, hiki mai ana no hoi o Pahulu mahope mai o laua.

Ia manawa no a lakou nei i hiki mai ai ma Lanaihale, alaila, olelo aku la o Pahulu ia Kaululaau ma, "E paa no nae paha ka hale ia oe i keia la ke hana."

O ka hana koke ae’la no ia o Kaululaau i ka hale a paa no i ka la hookahi, a komo no i ka la i hanaiaʻi.

I ka paa ana nae o ka hale i ka hanaia, alaila, olelo aku o Lono ke Akua o Kaululaau, "Auhea oe e Kaululaau, nani ia ua paa ae nei ka hale ia oe, o na puka no hoi ekolu ea, ekolu no hoi kakou, o oe no hoi ma kekahi puka, o Pahulu no hoi ma kekahi puka, owau no hoi ma kekahi puka."

A pau na kauoha i ka malamaia alaila, hele aku la o Pahulu e kuahaua i ka nui o ke akua o Lanaihale, me ka olelo aku no, e hoakoakoa mai ka nui o ke akua o kakou, a hoopihaia loko o ka hale a Kaululaau i ako ai, pela ko’u makemake ia oukou a pau.

Alaila, olelo mai la kekahi akua ia Pahulu, "O ka mea no kela nana makou i hoopunipuni mua, i pau ai makou i ka make, nolaila, mai hele aku kakou mamuli o ka olelo a Pahulu, no ka mea, pela mau no ka Pahulu hana ia kakou e hana nei, o kakou no ke pau ana i ka make, aole o Pahulu wahi mea a make iho, nolaila, mai puni hou kakou i kana olelo mai, o pau hou kakou i ka make ia ia."

Alaila, olelo ae la hoi kekahi akua, o ke akua nae i ike ole ia Kaululaau a me kana mau hana.

"E aho paha kakou e hele e nana i ke ano o ka hale a Kaululaau i hanaʻi no ka mea, he oleloa hoi ko kakou lohe pepeiao mai ia hai."

Alaila, o ka hele akoakoa mai la no ia o ke akua a komo iloko o ka hale, a o na puka hoi ekolu ua pani ia iho la no ia e lakou nei a paa, lilo iho la lakou i poe kiai no na puka.

A i ka akoakoa ana mai o ke akua, alaila, kakali aku lakou nei o ka moe iho o ke akua. A pela no lakou nei i hahai ala aku ai me ke akua, a hiki i ka wanaao, aole no he moe iho o ke akua, aole no hoi o lakou nei wahi a makahiamoe iho.

A i ka malamalama loa anaʻe, alaila, moe iho la ka nui o ke akua a pau, aole mea hookahi e ala ana, o lakou nei wale no ka poe e ala ana, o lakou nei wale no ka poe e ala ana. A ike o Pahulu a me Lono i ka moe ana o ke akua, alaila, olelo aku la laua ia Kaululaau, "E, ke ahi, ho-a ia mai." Alaila, o ko Kaululaau ho-a ae la no ia i ke ahi, eia nae, ua kapilipili mua iho la o Kaululaau i na maka o ke akua i ke kepau a paa.

A i ka pau ana o ka hale i ka a ia e ke ahi, a wela aku la ke akua i ke ahi, alaila, kahea ae la ke akua me ka leo nui, "E Kaululaau e, akahi hoi ka po piapia e Kaululaau. E, Kaululaau e, akahi hoi ka po piapia e Kaululaau."

Pela no ke kahea mau ana a ke akua, me ka manao paha e loaa ia lakou ke aloha ia mai e Kaululaau, alaila, e pakele lakou i ka make.

Aka, aole o Kaululaau i haawi aku i mea no lakou e pakele ai i ka make.

A pau ke akua o Lanaihale i ka lukuia maloko o ke ahi, alaila, hoomaha iho la lakou ia manawa.

Alaila, ninau aku la o Lono ia Kaululaau penei, "Auhea ko wahi pona ko e Kaululaau."

Alaila, e olelo mai la o Kaululaau, "Eia no."

Olelo hou aku la hoi o Lono. "E aho e hoi kakou a kahi a kaua i noho mua’i, ilaila e ai ai i ko wahi pona ko i koe a pau."

Alaila, ninau aku la o Lono ia Pahulu, "Aole anei he alanui kokoke e iho aku ai a hiki i kai o Kawakee ma Naehehe."

Olelo mai la o Lono ia laua, "He alanui no, oia no o ke alanui e moe la ma Kaluahonu, oia pololei no a hiki i Kawakee."

A hoi aku la lakou nei a hiki i kai o kahi a laua i noho muaʻi: alaila, ai iho la keia i kahi pona ko ana a pau, alaila, noho wale iho la keia me ka ai ole i ka ai.

A moe iho la o Kaululaau ia po, a ao ae la, alaila, olelo aku la o Lono ia ia.

"E aho paha e pii oe i ka laau hale no kaua, eia na laau au e pii ai e oki, o ke Aalii a me ka Lama, o ke oa no ia." Alaila, o ka ae wale aku no hoi ka Kaululaau i ka olelo mai a ke akua.

Pii aku la no hoi keia, a uka ooki i na laau i olelo ia mai ia ia nei, o ke kumu no o ke aa, hoi ana keia i kai.

I nana mai auanei ka hana o Lono e hoi aku ana keia me ka laau, aole no hoi o kana mai o ka ikaika.

Ia la hookahi no o ka paa no ia o ka hale i ke ako ia.

A paa ka hale, olelo aku o Lono ia Kaululaau, "E aho e hele oe ma ka ae one e nana hele aku ai, malama ua holo mai kekahi waa Molokai a ua make i ka moana, puhi ia mai la ka ukana e ka makani, malama o pae mai kekahi pu awa a me ke kalo, ka maia, alaila, loaa ka ai o ka hale e komo ai alaila noa hoi ke kapu o ka aina."

Alaila, hele aku la keia ma kahakai e like me ka Lono i olelo mai ai ia ia, loaa io no hoi ka puawa, ke kalo, ka maia, hoihoi mai la no keia ia mau mea a ike o Lono.

Olelo aku la o Lono, "Ua loaa mai nei keia mau mea, hookahi mea i koe o ka malo."

Ia hoi hou ana aku a ia nei, ike aku la keia i keia mea e moe loihi mai ana i kahakai, lalau aku la keia a hoihoi aku la ia Lono, a ike mai la o Lono, alaila, olelo mai la o Lono ia Kaululaau. "Oia hoi paha ka malo la, e aho e kahei ae ma ko hope, kahei ia a paa."

Hana iho la no hoi o Kaululaau e like me ka Lono i olelo mai ai ia ia.

Olelo hou aku la no hoi o Lono ia Kaululaau. "Mamaia hoi paha i awa komo no ko hale."

Alaila, mama iho la no keia, e like me ka olelo a ke akua ona.

Ia ianei nae e mama ana i ka awa, alaila, olelo aku la o Lono ia Kaululaau, "Kena ia o Pahulu e hele i wai no ko awa."

Alaila, kena ae la keia ia Pahulu e hele i ka wai, a hele aku la oia i ka wai, a liuliu aku, alaila, olelo hou aku la o Lono, "Kii ia o Pahulu e pepehi a make loa?"

Alaila, olelo mai la o Kaululaau ia Lono, "Pehea ka hoi ka pepehi ana aku i ko kaua kokookolu o ka hele ana o keia wahi kanaka ole, hookahi kanaka o ke akua."

Olelo aku la o Lono, "Mai au-a oe ia Pahulu, no ka mea, ina oe e hoola ia ia, alaila, oia no ke kipi o ka aina, e aho e make oia."

Ia manawa, hele aku la o Kaululaau, e noho ana kela i ka punawai; ia wa, e hoonou iho ana keia i ka pohaku maluna iho, o ka make no ia o Pahulu.

A make o Pahulu, a ua ola aku nae oia ma ka maneo o ka i-a; a oia ka mea i maneo ai ke poo o ka Weke, no ka make ana o Pahulu; a ke mau loa nei ka maneo ana o Kela i-a ma Lanai e noho nei i keia manawa. A pau ka awa i ka mamaia, a inu iho la o Lono ke akua o Kaululaau, a pau ka inu ana, alaila, moe aku la o Kaululaau ame Lono no ka ona i ka awa.

Ia manawa nae a Kaululaau ma e moe ana, oia ka manawa i okipoepoeiaʻi ka omaka o Kaululaau.

I ka wa a laua e hiamoe ana, a i ke ala ana ae, akahi no a ike iho la o Kaululaau i ka mea i hanaia mai ai ia ia, e like me ka make o ke akua ona.

Ia ala ana ae nae a laua nei mai ka hiamoe mai, ia wa, ike aku la laua i keia wahine e hele mai ana ma kahakai mai o Kikoa, ua kaeiia ka hope i ka pohuehue; a o keia wahine, he wahine keia i holo mai mai Maui ae, a e holo ana i Molokai, aka, make e ma ka moana, a pae ae ma Lanai, o ka inoa nae o kela wahine oia o Luamaheau a oia no ka wahine a Kaululaau i noho ai ma Lanai.

A noho o Luamaheau me Kaululaau; ia wa no hoi, pae hou ae la no ia wahine malalo ae o Kawailoa, a hele mai la no ma kahi a Luamaheau i hele mai ai, eia no ka o ke kahu no o ke alii wahine, o ka laua hele pu ana mai no a make no i ka moana, a-u okoa no hoi ke alii wahine ma kana wahi i a-u ai, a-u okoa no hoi ke kahu ma kona wahi i a-u ai, a i ki pae ana ae iuka; o ka huli ka hana o kekahi i kekahi; aka, i ka huli ana mai nae o ke kahu a ike oia; ka meheu o ke one i ke kapuai o ka wawae; alaila, manao ae la oia ua pae io no ka hanai ana iuka no ka mea, ua ike oia i ke ano o ke kapuai o ka wawae o ka haku ona.

A i ka paa ana o ka hale o Kaululaau, a noho pu oia ma kana wahine, alaila, olelo mai la o Lono ia Kaululaau. "E aho paha e ho a ae oe i ke ahi i keia moku pili e ku mai nei la, nana ia e a aku i ke kula, anoai o ike mai ou mau makua, alaila, laweia mai i ai nau, i i-a, i puaa, maia, ulu, ko, ame na mea no a pau e kupono ana i kou hanohano alii ana mai ou mau makua mai."

O ko Kaululaau ho-a aku la no hoi ia i ke ahi, a-a ke ahi; ia wa, ike mai la o Maui a puni i ka moe kokolo o ka uwahi i ke kula pili, manao ae la no ko Maui poe, aole no kela he ahi e, na Kaululaau no kela ahi e a mai la, aole no i make i ke akua o Lanai.

Ia manawa, ike mai la na makua o Kaululaau i ka a aku o ke ahi, alaila, pihoihoi iho la laua me ka makahahi no ka mea, ua hoomanao ae la laua i ka olelo wanana mua a ke kaula a Kukamolimoliaola i olelo ai. Ina e kali na makua a i a ole mai ke ahi o Lanai, alaila, ua make o Kaululaau i ke akua; aka hoi, ina hoi i a mai ke ahi o Lanai i ke pili, a i ole ia, i ke kuahiwi paha, alaila, e pono olua ke ike koke i ke keiki a elua, ina olua aole e ike aku make olua.

A no ia olelo wanana mua a ke kaula ia laua, oia no ke kumu i pihoihoi loa ai na makua i ka hoouna i na kanaka, e holo ma na waa me ka ai, ka i-a, puaa, maia, ulu, koniu, ame ke kapa, kela mea ai keia mea ai i hoomakaukauiaʻi na ke keiki.

I ka manawa i hoomakaukau ai i na mea ai, holo mai la na kanaka mai Maui mai a hiki ma Lanai, a lana mai la na waa mawaho aku o Kahalapalaoa, alaila, nana mai la na kanaka, a ike mai la lakou ia Kaululaau e holoholo ana i ke one o Kawakee, no ka mea, ua ike aku la oia i na kanaka o kena mau makua, nolaila, a nui iho la kona olioili a peahi aku la e pae mai na waa iuka, aole nae i pae mai na waa ame na kanaka iuka, no ka makaʻu no i ke akua, no ka mea, aole no lakou i manaoio ua pau ke akua i ka make ia ia i ka lukuia.

Nolaila, hoolei mai la na kanaka i ka ai, ka i-a, ame na mea ai no a pau, a pae mai la ia mau mea iuka, a hookahi nae kanaka i ka hoomanawanui i kona maka’u, oia ke kanaka nana i hoau mai i ke kapa ame ka malo a pae iuka, a kamailio pu me Kaululaau, hai aku la no hoi keia, "Aole he akua i koe o Lanai nei."

A hoi aku la ia kanaka a kau iluna o na waa, a holo aku la lakou a pae i Maui; ia wa, ninau mai la o Kakaalaneo i ka lakou mea i ike ai, alaila, hai aku la no hoi lakou i ka lakou mea i ike ai no Kaululaau.

A lohe ka makuahine i ke ola ana o kana keiki, alaila, uwe nui iho la oia no ke aloha i ke keiki, no kona noho mehameha ana i kela aina kanaka ole, hookahi no kanaka o ke akua o Lanai.

I ka wa no hoi i lohe ai o Kakaalaneo i ke ola io ana o ka laua keiki; ia wa koke no, hoolale ae la oia i na kanaka a pau, mai kela pea o Lahaina a keia pea o Lahaina, e ho-a i ka ai, a e hoomakaukau i na mea ai a pau a kela mea keia mea, alaila, ohiia mai la i mau kanaka e noho pu ai me Kaululaau, elua lau ka nui o na kanaka i laweia i Lanai.

Ua manaoia e kekahi poe kakaolelo, ma o Kaululaau la i puka mai ai na’lii o Lanai, a pela no hoi na kanaka, ua manaoia, o keia mau kanaka o Kaululaau i laweiaʻi i Lanai, malaila mai i laha mai ai na mamo oia aina, oia no paha na mamo i kaulana ai ia aina i ke aea.

A hiki aku la ka waiwai ame na kanaka a pau i Lanai, alaila, hookuonoono iho la o Kaululaau e malama i kona aina ia Lanai, a oia no ke alii maluna oia aina ia manawa; a o na kanaka nae o Molokai i pae mua mai ai, ua hoomanao no o Kaululaau ia laua.

(Aole i pau.)

Kaleinamanu’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.