Statewide County HI Archives News.....Wiki Mo'olelo  Part 12 . November 5, 2008
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Darlene E. Kelley donkeyskid@msn.com November 16, 2008, 8:51 am

Keepers Of The Culture, A Study In Time Of The Hawaiian Islands November 5, 2008

Contributed for use in 
USGenWeb Archives
by Darlene E. Kelley
donkeyskid@msn.com
November 5, 2008

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Historical Collections of Hawai'i
Keepers of the Culture
A Study in Time, of the Hawai'ian Islands
Wiki Mo'olelo - Part 12.
by Darlene E. Kelley

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Wiki M'olelo

Part 12

Destruction of Kamehameha's Fish-Ponds


Mount Hualalai is on the western side of the island Hawai'i. It has been
announced as a extinct volcano because a few signs of volcanic life
appear at present; but in the year of 1801 there was a very violent
eruption from the foot of the mountain, and the expectation of future
action is so strong that scientists classify Hualanai as 
" active."

Ellis, writing in 1824, says; " This eruption of 1801 poured over
several villages, destroyed a number of plantations and extensive
fish-ponds, filled up a deep bay twenty miles in length, and formed the
present coast. An Englishman who saw the eruption has requently told us
that he was astonished at the irresistible impetuosity of the torrent.
Stone walls, trees, and houses all gave way before it. Even large masses
of rocks of ancient lava, when surrounded by the fiery stream, soon
split into small fragments and falling into the burning mass appeared to
melt again while borne by it down the mountainside.

Numerous offerings were presented and many hogs were thrown into the
stream to appease the anger of the gods, by whom they supposed it was
directed, and to stay its devastating course. All seemed unavailing
until one day King Kamehameha went to the flowing lava, attended by a
large retinue of chiefs and priests, and as the most valuable offering
he could make. cut off his own hair which has always considered sacred
and threw it into the torrent. In a day or two the lava ceased to flow.
The gods, it was thought, were satisfied. The people attributed this
escape to the influence of Kamehameha with the dieities of the volcanoes
"

There are several very interesting 
" blowholes " in this lava. When the lava struck the waves, the surface
and sides were hardened, but the red molten mass inside rolled on into
the sea.Thus many sea-caves were formed, in to which waves beat
violently with every incoming tide. If the shore end of a cave broke
open, a fine out let was made for the torrents which were hurled up
through the opening into splendid fountains of spray.

The account in the Kuokoa, a newspaper published in the native language
in 1867, adds to the story of the foreigner, the element of
superstition, and is practically as follows: 

"Pele began to eat Hue-hue,a noted breadfrut forest owned by Kameameha.
She was jealous of him and angry because he was stingy in his offerings
of breadfruit from the tabu grove of Hue-hue. This was the place where
the eruption broke out.

After she destroyed the breadfruit grove, she went in her river of fire
down to the seashore to take Kamehameha's fish-ponds She greatly desired
the awa fish with the mullet in the fish-pond at Kilolo, and she wanted
the aku or bonita in the fish-pond a Ka-ele-hulu-hulu. She became a
roaring flood, widely spread out, hungry for fish.

Kamehameha was very much ashambed for the evil which had come upon the
land and the dstruction of his fish-ponds. Villages had been
overwhelmed. Several coconut groves had been destroyed, and lava land
was built out into the sea.

There were no priests who could stop this a-a eruption by their priestly
skill. Their powers were dulled in the presence of Pele. They offered
pigs and fruits of all kinds, throwing them into the fire. They uttered
all their known incantations and prayers. They called to the au-makuas
( ancestor ghost-gods), but with out avail.

Kamehameha sent for Ka-maka-o-ke-akua
( The -eye-of-the-god ), one of the prophets of Pele, and said: " You
are the prophet of Pele. I have sent for you because I am much
distressed by the destruction of the land and the ponds by the sea.  How
can I quiet the anger of Pele?

The prophet bowed his head for a time, then, looking up, said " The
anger of the god will cease when you offer sacrifice to her."

The King said, " Perhaps you will take the sacrifice."

The prophet said; " From the old time even until now, there has been no
prophet or priest of the mo-o or dragon clan who has done this thing. It
would not please the goddess. The high chief of the troubled land, with
a prophet or priest, is the only one who can make peace. He must take
his own offering to the fire as to an alter in a temple. Then the anger
of the goddess will be satisfied and the trouble ended."

Kamehameha said: " I am afraid of Pele. Perhaps I shall be killed."

The Prophet replied, " You shall not die."

The King prepared offerings and sacrifices for Pele and, as a royal
priest, went to the place where the lava was still pouring in floods out
of its new-born crater.

Kaahumanu, the queen, and many other high chiefs and chiefesses thought
they would go and die with him if Pele should persist in punishing him.
One of the high chiefesses, Ululani, had lost a child some time before.
This child after death was given to Pele with sacrifices and ceremonies
which would make it one of the ghost-gods connected with the Pele
family.

A prophet told Kaahumanu: " The Pele who is in the front of this
outburst of fire is not strange to us. It is the child of Ululani."

Kaahumanu took Ululani with her to the side of the lava flow.

There they saw the lava like a river of fire flowing toward the west,
going straight down to the sea with leaping flames and uplifting
fountains of smoke. There was a very strong flashing light breaking out
at the front of the descending lava.

Ululani asked, " Who is that very strange fire in front of Pele ?" the
fire was active as if it had life in itself.

The prophet replied: " That is the child among the au-makuas. That is
your first born."

Then came great winds and a mighty storm. Houses were overturned and
tress blown down. 

Kamahameha and the prophet went up to the side of the lava and placed
offerings and sacrifices in the flowing fire. They prayed to Pele, but
the fire burned on. Kamehamha then cut some of the hair from his head
and threw it into the fire as his last offering, thus giving himself to
the god of fire. Then they came away and soon the fire went out ".

It should be remebered that in recent years, when a lava flow came down
on the city of Hilo, threatening its destruction,
Princess Ruth, one of the last of the Kamehameha family, went from
Honolulu to Hilo and up to the river of lava with the feeling that a
Kamehameha who was under the especial protection of Pele could intercede
for the welfare of the people. It is certain that she came at a very
opportune time, for the eruption ceased in a day or so.

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Next = Part 13



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