Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands - As told by the Ancient Hawaiians (Part 5) The US GenWeb Archives provide genealogical and historical data to the general public without fee or charge of any kind. It is intended that this material not be used in a commercial manner. All submissions become part of the permanent collection. Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands " Keepers of the Culture " A study in time of the Hawaiian Islands by Darlene E. Kelley October 13, 2000 http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part 5 -- As told by the Ancient Hawaiians. Mo'ikeha and Kila; Mo'ikeha was a high chief [ali'i nui] from Moa'ulanuiakea, Tahiti, where he lived with his wife Kapo. They had a child named La'amaikahiki. When 'Olopana and Lu'ukia arrived in Tahiti after their leaving their homeland because of a flood, Mo'ikeha became infatuated with Lu'ukia and soon after took her as his lover. "Olopana harbored no ill feeling toward Mo'ikeha; in fact he approved of his friend's affair with his wife. 'Olopana was appointed the higher officer [ Kuhina nui ] of the lands of Tahiti. About this time Mua lusted after Lu'ukia, but she discouraged his approaches, even though he pressed his suit with great vigor. When he saw that he was rejected while Mo'ikeha received Lu'ukia's favors, he decided to cause trouble between them and to persuade Lu'ukia to leave Mo'ikeha. Mo'ikeha was very fond of athletic sports and often joined games such as pahe'e [ sliding or skipping a wooden dart for distance ] and 'olohu [ rolling a stone wheel for distance ]. At the fields where the games were held, people gathered to cheer for the winners. Lu'ukia often heard the commotion and cheering. One day Mua happened to be with Lu'ukia when he heard the cheering and said; " E Lu'ukia, do you hear the cheering at the ali'i's games? " Yes, I hear the cheering, " replied Lu'ukia. " I don't think the cheering means well for you. No, Mo'ikeha is publicly defamng you," said Mua. Lu'ukia believed this lie and grew angry at Mo'ikeha. So she called her attendants and ordered them to bind her. She was corded from her waist down to mid-thighs, and the ends of the rope was hidden in this lashing so it could not be undone. This lashing is used to secure the covers of water-gourds and also to lash together the parts of a single and double-hulled canoes. After Mo'ikeha enjoyed himself in the games, he returned home and met Lu'ukia. He could see from her face that omething was wrong, so he asked her why she was unhappy. Lu'ukia refused to answer him and continued this for four days. So Mo'ikeha finally gave up and said " Very well then, since you no longer want me. I will go elsewhere. " Voyage to Hawai'i--- Mo'ikeha directed his foster-son Kamahualele to make ready a double-hulled canoe. " Let's go to Hawai'i," he said. " Here I'm tormented by my love for Lu'ukia; when the ridge-pole of my house Lanikeha disappears blow the horizon, I'll no longer think of Tahiti." Kamahualele directed the paddlers to get the double hulled canoe ready. Mo'ikeha planned to take his sisters, Makapu'u and Makaaoa, his two younger brothers, Kumukahi and Ha'eha'e, his priest Mo'okini, and his prominent men [ na kanaka koiko] -- navigators [ ho'okele], favorite priests [ kahuna punahele ] and his lookouts [ kiu nana ], who would spy out land. Early one morning at dawn, at the rise of the navigation star, Mo'ikeha boarded his double hulled canoe with his fellow voyagers, and left Tahiti. From the mornng of departure until sunrise when they first beheld Hilo, all went well. Kamahualele stood up and celebrated their arrival in Hawai'i with a mele; Behold Havai'i, an island, a man A man is Hawai'i A man is Hawai'i A child of Kahiki A royal bud from Kapa'ahu From Moa'ulanuiakea Kanaloa A decendant of Kahiko and Kapulanakehau Born of Papa, The daughter of Kukalani'ehu and Kahakauakoko Sprouts of land in a line Placed alike to the East, to the West Arranged evenly in a line Joined to, joined from Holani Kaialea, the seer, circumnavigated the islands Left Nukuhiwa behind; landed on Borabora Kahiko is the source of land He divided and separated the islands Severed the fish-line of Kaha'i Cut by Ku-Kanaloa Divided up was the lands, the islands Cut by the sacred bamboo knife of Kanaloa Of Haumea Manukahikele Mo'ikeha is the chief who will live there My chief shall dwell in Hawai'i Life! Life! Set life free! Long live the chief, the priest, Long live the seer, the servant, They shall dwell quietly in Hawai'i The grandchildren will sing out on Kaua'i Kaua'i, the island Mo'ikeha, the chief. After the canoe landed at Hilo, Kumukani and Ha'ena'e were charmed by the 'aina [ land ] and told Mo'ikeha they wanted to remain there, so Mo'ikeha let them off the canoe. Soon after, Mo'ikeha set sail from Hilo, passing along the north coast of Hawai'i until he arrived at Kohala. Mo'okni and Kaluawilinau wanted to reside at Kohala, so Mo'ikeha put them ashore there. He sailed on to the east coast of Maui an landed at Han a Honua'ula wanted to reside there, so he was allowed to remain behind. Mo'ikeha sailed on. When he was between Lana'i and Moloka'i directly of Kawela, Kamahualele spied a fishing canoe, outside Kala'au Point, so he steered Mo'ikeha's canoe there. Arriving at the fishing canoe, he found it belonged to Kakakauhanui, who came there regularly. When Mo'ikeha saw this large, wel built man, who appeared powerful and fearless, Mo'ikeha befriended him. " I'm goin to leave you here, but when I find a place for us to live, I'll send someone to bring you to me." Mo'ikeha and his people continued on their journey. Arriving at O'ahu, Mo'ikeha's sisters Makapu'u and Makaaoa told him they wished to reside there, where they could see the cloud drifts of Tahiti. So Makapu'u and Makaaoa were allowed to remain on O'ahu, thus leaving Mo;ikeha,his foster-son Kamahulele, the two paddlers Kaahi and Moanaikaiaiwe, Kipunuiaiakamau and his companion, and the two lookouts, Kaukaukamunolea and his companion, to continue on the journey.