Moolelo no Umi Blog

He Moʻolelo no ʻUmi: Kekahi Aliʻi Kaulana o Ko Hawaiʻi Nei Pae ʻĀina.

10/22/2014

A Moʻolelo for ʻUmi: A Famous Aliʻi of These Hawaiian Islands.

Auhea oukou e na hoa heluhelu o ke ala ulili, mai kahi kihi a kahi kihi o ko kakou kulaiwi o Hawaii, aloha nui kakou. Eia no kakou ke hoomau aku nei i ke kuamoo olelo o ko kakou alii kaulana, o Umi-a-Liloa hoi, a ina ua hele a luhi ke kino i ka loihi o ka hele ana i ke ala ulili, e noho pu oukou i ka lokomaikai o keia alii no Hamakua. Ma keia wahi mahele o ko kakou moolelo, e ike ana kou maka i na hana i kaulana ai keia alii, na hana hoi i hoopaa ia e ke alii maoli, e ke alii pono, a i kiahoomanao kona moolelo no kakou, na mamo e ola nei, i mea e ike ai kakou i ka pono a me ka pono ole o ka noho aupuni ana. I alii no o Umi i na kanaka ana i malama ai, oia hoi, ke kanaka nui a me ke kanaka iki, a oia no ke kumu i olelo ia ai keia olelo noiau e ka poe kahiko, "Hookahua ka aina, hanau ke kanaka. Hookahua ke kanaka, hanau ke alii."

Eia kekahi, mai keia mua aku i ko kakou heluhelu ana i ka moolelo nei no Umi, kakau ia keia mahele o ka moolelo e kekahi haku moolelo, o J. H. Z. Kalunaaina kona inoa. Penei kona olelo, i kona hoomaka ana i ka mahele nei o keia moolelo, "Ma kau noi ana mai e S. K. e i ana, 'E hiki i ka mea i loaa ka moolelo o Umi, ke hookui mai, a i na hoi ua hemahema, a pololei ole paha keia moolelo, e hai mai no ka mea i pau ka moolelo o Umi ma ke akea.' Nolaila, ke hoolawa aku nei au e like me kau noi ana mai." No laila, e ka poe aloha aina o ko Hawaii nei Paeaina, e hoomau kakou me ka mahalo nui no keia kakau moolelo Hawaiʻi naauao o ke au i hala.

Na Kealaulili
Iulai 11, 2014
Koholalele, Hamakua, Hawaii

Dear reading companions of the ala ʻūlili, from one corner to the other corner of our beloved homelands of Hawaiʻi, aloha to you all. Here we are continuing along the path of tradition of our famous aliʻi, ʻUmi-a-Līloa, and if perhaps your body has become weary from the long journey along the steep trails, then sit and rest here with the generosity of this aliʻi from Hāmākua. In this portion of our moʻolelo, your eyes with bare witness to the deeds that made famous this aliʻi, the deeds that are tended to by a true aliʻi, a pono aliʻi. For this moʻolelo stands as a reminder for us, the living descendants today, so that we may come to know of what establishes pono, or disturbs it, in the work of governance. ʻUmi was an aliʻi by the will of the people he cared for, that is, the "big person" and the "small person," and it is for this reason that the people of old would speak of these wise words: "The ʻāina creates the foundation upon which the people are born. The people create the foundation upon which the aliʻi are born."

Additionally, dear readers, from this point forward in our reading of this moʻolelo of ʻUmi, it is important to note that this portion of the moʻolelo was written by another storyteller by the name of J. H. Z. Kalunaaina. Here is what he said in his introduction to writing this portion of the moʻolelo, "As you had requested, [Simeon Keliikaapuni], 'Someone else who knows the moʻolelo of ʻUmi can surely join it here. And if perhaps this moʻolelo is inaccurate or incorrect in parts, the one who is to finish this moʻolelo of ʻUmi shall announce it publicly.' Thus, I am providing as you have requested." Therefore, dear aloha ʻāina, dear people who love this ʻāina of our Hawaiian Islands, let us continue on with gratitude for this brilliant Hawaiian author of a time now passed.

By Kealaulili
July 11, 2014
Koholālele, Hāmākua, Hawaiʻi

Helu 3.

Alaila, hoi aku la o Umi me Kaleioku, a noho iho la ma kona wahi, a noho iho la laua malaila [ma Waipunalei]. O ka hoomaka iho la no ia o Kaleioku e hana. O kana hana i hana'i, i mea e lilo ai ke aupuni no kana alii no Umi, no ka mea, ua maopopo ia ia he alii keia, he hanai kanaka, hanai holoholona, puaa, a me ka moa, he mahiai, he ao i ka makaihe, no ia hale ao mai kekahi mau kanaka akamai i ka pana laau, (oia o Koi, Omaokamau, a me Piimaiwaa.)

I ko Umi ma noho ana ilaila, ua liuliu loa. A iloko oia noho ana, nui mai na kanaka, o ka nui o na kanaka he eha kaau, ua like ia me 160 hale, i ke kaau hale hookahi, hookahi lau kanaka, a pela a pau na kaau hale eha, eha lau ia o na kanaka, ua like paha 1,600 ka nui. A pela no o Kaleioku i hoolako ai no kana alii, i na mea a pau e makaukau ai. No ka manao o ua Kaleioku, e lilo ke aupuni i kana alii, oia kona mea i hoomakaukau ai i na kanaka, i ke ao ana i ka makaihe.

Chapter 3.

Thus, ʻUmi returned with Kaleiokū, and the two stayed together there at his residence [at Waipunalei]. And so the work of Kaleiokū immediately began. His work was that which would ensure that the kingdom would be ruled by his aliʻi, ʻUmi. For he understood that ʻUmi truly was an aliʻi. He fed the people. He fed the animals, pigs and the chickens. He was a farmer. And he was well learned in the use of a spear, coming from the same school as that of other men skilled in the use of bows (that is, Kōī, ʻŌmaʻokāmau, and Piʻimaiwaʻa).

During ʻUmi's residence there, he remained for a significant period of time. Within that period of residence, a great number of people came to live there. The number of people was equal to that of four kaʻau (x40), that being, 160 houses. Within one kaʻau (group of 40) houses was one lau(400) of people, and so it was for each kaʻau of houses, equalling to four lau of people, that being 1,600 people total. That was how Kaleiokū supplied his aliʻi, with all the necessities to prepare him. For it was Kaleiokū's intention to bring the kingdom under the rule of his aliʻi. That is why he prepared the people with lessons in fighting with spears.

E ka mea heluhelu, eia mai kekahi lālā o kēia kuamoʻo ʻōlelo no ko ʻUmi noho ʻana me Kaleiokū. Wahi a S. M. Kamakau, "I ka lilo ana o Kaleioku i kahu hanai no Umi. O ka hanai no ia i kanaka, a piha ua halau a piha ua halau, a umi a umi na halau i paha i kanaka, hele mai kanaka o Hilo i ka paakai i Hamakua, a ua hanaiia i ka puaa, a o ko Hamakua huakai a me ko Kohala a me ko Kona, e hele ana ma Hilo a Puna i ka hulu, a hookipa ia lakou ma kahi hanai kanaka o Umi. Aole i hala ka makahiki, ua kauluwela ka nui o na kanaka, a ua kaulana ka lokomaikai o Umi, aia na kanaka a pau o ka mahiai ka hana nui, a i ke ahiahi o ke ao i na mea kaua, alaila kukui aku la ka lohe a hiki i Waipio, aia o Umi la me Kaleioku kahi i noho ai, he alii lokomaikai, he malama i ke kanaka nui i ke kanaka iki, i ka elemakule, i ka luahine, i ke keiki, i ka ilihune, i ka mea mai."**

Oh reader, here is another branch of this path of tradition regarding ʻUmi's residence with Kaleiokū. According to S. M. Kamakau, "When Kaleiokū became a guardian for ʻUmi, they began to feed the people until each and every hālau was filled. Tens upon tens of hālau were filled with a multitude of people. When the people of Hilo went to Hāmākua for salt, they were fed pork. And when those of Hāmākua, Kohala, and Kona journeyed to Hilo and Puna for feathers, they were greeted at the place where ʻUmi fed his people. Without even a year passing, the people were swarming in numbers, and the generosity of ʻUmi became well-known. The main work of the people was in farming, and in the evenings the things related to battle were taught. Eventually, word spread as far as Waipiʻo that ʻUmi was in residence with Kaleiokū, and that he was a generous aliʻi. He cared for the "big person" and the "small person" for the elderly men and women, for the children, for those in destitution, and for the sick."

No Nunu me Kakohe

Ua loohia na wahi elemakule kahuna a Hakau i ka mai. Inu laau hoonaha ua mau wahi elemakule nei, a naha iho la ko laua mau apu, a pau ka inoino o ko laua mau opu, ia manawa koke no, olelo aku la laua i ko laua kanaka, e hele i o Hakau la i ko laua haku. No ka mea, he punahele ua mau wahi elemakule nei, ia Liloa i ka makuakane o Hakau me Umi, eia ke kumu i punahele ai laua ia Liloa. Aia ia laua ka malama o Kaili ke akua o ua Liloa nei, ia laua wale no e hiki ai, aole i kekahi mea e ae. I na no ke kaua mai, hele aku no o Liloa ia laua, na laua no e hoole mai, "aole kaua," pau ae la no, a pela aku no i kela hihia o ke aupuni, keia hihia. A hiki i ka wa i make ai o Liloa, ua hooili ae i ka aina no Hakau.

I ka wa i hele aku ai o kahi kanaka o ua mau elemakule nei imua o Hakau ke alii, ninau mai ke alii ia ia, "Heaha mai nei kau?" I aku ia, "I hele mai nei au imua ou o ke alii, na na wahi elemakule i hoouna mai nei, e hele mai au imua ou o ke alii, i ai, i i-a, i awa, no laua, i mea e hoopaa ai i ka naha laau o laua," pane mai la ke alii ia ia. "O hoi oe a ia laua hoole aku.'' Hoi mai ua kanaka nei, a hai mai i ka ke alii mea i olelo mai ai ia ia, imua o ua mau wahi elemakule nei, lohe iho laua, he mau olelo inoino loa ka ke aili no laua, loaa ia laua kaohumu ma ko laua naau, (lilo ka aina ia Umi la.)

I ka wa i noho iho ai mahope iho o ka lohe ana i na olelo a ke alii, kaumaha ko laua nei manao, me ke kahaha nui loa, olelo aku kekahi wahi elemakule, i kekahi elemakule, "Pehea la ka Kaleioku hanai, e loheia mai nei? E hele paha kaua malaila ?" Ae mai la kekahi elemakule, "Ae, e nana wale aku hoi kaua i ka maikai o kana hanai, me ka maikai ole," ua holo like ia i ko laua manao.

Regarding Nunu and Kakohe

The elderly kahuna of Hakau were overwhelmed by sickness. These elderly men drank a purgative medicine, and when their coconut shell cups were taken, the pain in their stomachs resided. At that moment, they told their attendants to go to their chief, Hakau, because these old men were favorites of Līloa, the father of Hakau and ʻUmi. Here is the reason for Līloa favoring them. Theirs alone was the task of caring for Kāʻili, the akua of Līloa, no one else could do the same. If war was imminent, Līloa went to them, and it was they who told him, "No war," and it was finished. And so it was for each and every difficulty of the kingdom, until the time of Līloa's passing arrived, and the ʻāina was inherited by Hakau.

When one of the attendants of these old men went before Hakau, the aliʻi asked of them, "What is your business here?" The attendant responded, "I have come before you, oh chief, because the old men have sent me to come before you to request some food, fish, and ʻawa for them, so that the purgative medicine they took can be complete." The aliʻi responded to them, "Return to them and tell them no." Their attendant then returned to them and told them what the aliʻi had said. When they heard that the aliʻi had only very wicked words for them, a plot of conspiracy developed in their naʻau (rule of the ʻāina would be taken by ʻUmi).

In the time they spent after the words of the aliʻi were heard, their thoughts were burdened by great displeasure. One of the old m"en said to the other, "What about the hānai of Kaleiokū that we heard about? Perhaps we should go there?" The other old man agreed, "Yes, let us go see for ourselves what is good and perhaps not good of his hānai." Their thoughts were in alignment.

Wahi a S. M. Kamakau, "Makemake iho la o Nunu a me Kakohe e ikemaka no ka mea, he kaikaina o Kaleioku no laua iloko o na makua hookahi, a he poe hoi mai ka pupuu hookahi mai, a mai ka papa kahuna mai hoi a Lono."**

According to S. M. Kamakau, "Nunu and Kakohe wanted to see for themselves, because Kaleiokū was a kaikaina (younger familial relative) of theirs, coming from a common parent, that is, they came from the same womb, and from the priestly class of Lono."

O ko laua nei hoomaka no ia i ka hele ana, o ko laua nei hele no ia, a poakolu laua nei i ke alanui, mai Waipio aku laua nei ka hele ana 'ku, e hele ana laua i Hilo, ma ka aoao akau aku o Hamakua.

(Aole i pau)

Kākau ʻia e J. H. Z. Keliikaapuni, Pep. 22, 1862
Hoʻopuka hou ʻia a ʻunuhi ʻia e Kealaulili

And so they began their journey. They traveled for three nights along the trail from Waipiʻo heading towards Hilo, on the northern side of Hāmākua.

(To be continued)

Written by J. H. Z. Keliikaapuni, Feb. 22, 1862
Republished and translated by Kealaulili

** S. M. Kamakau excerpts from "Ka Moolelo Hawaii," Helu 49. Ke Au Okoa. Nov. 17, 1870.

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He Moʻolelo no ʻUmi: Kekahi Aliʻi Kaulana o Ko Hawaiʻi Nei Pae ʻĀina.

10/19/2014

A Moʻolelo for ʻUmi: A Famous Aliʻi of These Hawaiian Islands.

No ko ʻUmi Noho ʻIlihune ʻana ma Laupāhoehoe. ʻUmi's Life in Destitution at Laupāhoehoe. Illustration by Haley Kailiehu, 2014.

E na hoa makamaka o ke ala ulili, ua hiki mai nei kakou i kekahi mahele nui o nei moolelo, a e ike ana kakou i ke ano haipule o ke alii i kona wa e noho ilihune ana ma Laupahoehoe a i kona noho aupuni ana i ke kuapapa nui ana o ka moku iaia. He ano kaulana keia ona, a wahi a kahiko, o ke alii haipule i ke akua, oia ke alii i ku i ka moku. Nolaila, e na hoa heluhelu, e iho kakou i kai o Laupahoehoe a e hoomau aku kakou i ke kuamoo o ka mea nona keia moolelo, oia no o ke alii kaulana o Hamakua, o Umialiloa.

Na Kealaulili
Koholalele, Hamakua, Hawaii
Iulai 1, 2014

Oh companions of "the steep trail," we have arrived at an important part of this moʻolelo, and we are about to see the pious nature of the aliʻi during his time living in destitution in Laupāhoehoe, until the time in which he reigned, after having unified the island under him. This was a famous characteristic of his, and according to the traditions of old, the aliʻi who worshipped the akua was the aliʻi who would rule the island. Therefore, oh reading companions, let us descend to the shore at Laupāhoehoe, and we shall continue along the path of the one for whom this moʻolelo is written, that is, the famous aliʻi of Hāmākua, ʻUmialīloa.

By Kealaulili
Koholālele, Hāmākua, Hawaiʻi,
July 1, 2014

Helu 2. (Hoʻomau ʻia)

I ko lakou noho ana malaila [ma Waipunalei], kuka lakou e huna ia Umi, aole e hai i kona inoa; kuka hou lakou, aole e hana o Umi, e noho wale no, a noho wale o Umi e like me ko lakou manao. A i ko lakou liuliu ana malaila, hele aku o Piimaiwaa, a me Koi, me Omaokamau, e mahiai ma ke kihapai o ko lakou makuahonowai aka, o Umi ka i hele ole. I ko lakou hoi ana, mai ka mahiai mai, olioli ko lakou makuahonowai no ko lakou ikaika i ka mahiai. Aka, o ko Umi mau makuahonowai, kaumaha loa no ko Umi ikaika ole i ka mahiai no kana wahine.

A i kekahi wa, hele lakou ma kahakai o Laupahoehoe, he akamai o Umi i ke kahanalu, a heihei ana, hooke ikaika mai o Paiea [he kanaka akamai i ka heenalu no Laupahoehoe] ia Umi [i ka pohaku], eha loa ko Umi poohiwi ia Paiea, oia ko Paiea hewa i make ai ia Umi, i ko Umi wa i ku ai i ka moku.

A hiki i ke kau Aku o ua wahi la, holo o Piimaiwaa, Omaokamau, me Koi, i ka hoe Aku me kamaaina o ia wahi. I ka wa i loaa mai ai ka lakou Aku, olioli ko lakou mau makuahonowai; aka, o ko Umi mau makuahonowai, kaumaha loa no ko Umi holo ole i ke kaohi Aku me na lawaia o ia wahi. I mai na makuahonowai o Umi i kana mau wahine. "Ina paha ka puipui o ka olua kane, he kanaka lawai-a, ina ua aina ke Aku; aka, makehewa ko olua mau kino ia ia." I kekahi manawa, ike mai na lawai-a he kanaka puipui o Umi, i mai lakou ia ia e hele i ke kaohi Aku, ae aku no o Umi i ka lakou olelo, aole nae lakou i ike he alii o Umi; aka, ua kaulana loa ka nalo ana o Umi. Aole nae lakou i ike o Umi keia. I ko Umi holo ana e kaohi Aku i ka wai, haawiia mai ai kana Aku e ka lawai-a, ike aku o Umi, ua polalo mai ka lawai-a i ke Aku malalo o ka lemu, aole o Umi i lawe ia i-a nana.

Aka, kuai aku o Umi i kana ia me ke kaohi e, ka mea i haawiia mai kona ia maluna mai, i mai o Umi, "Homai na'u kau i-a uuku, eia mai kau o ka i-a nui," ae mai kela kaohi. Aole o Umi i ai i ua i-a nei, lawe aku no na Kaili, (kona akua) aia no ma kahi o Hokuli, ko Umi wahi i huna ai.

Chapter 2. (Cont'd)

As they settled in there [at Waipunalei], they discussed concealing 'Umi, and not speaking his name. They further discussed that 'Umi should not work, but just rest. And so 'Umi consented with their wishes. As they remained there for some time, Pi'imaiwa'a, Kōī, and ʻŌmaʻokāmau began to go and cultivate the fields of their wahine's parents, but ʻUmi did not go. When they returned from their farming, the parents of their wahine rejoiced in their strength as farmers. However, the parents of ʻUmi's wahine were deeply bothered by ʻUmi's lack of effort in farming for his wahine.

At another time, they went to the ocean at Laupāhoehoe. ʻUmi was very skilled in body surfing, and in one particular contest urged on by Paiea [a skilled surfer of Laupahoehoe], ʻUmi was crowded [into the rocks] by Paiea, and ʻUmi's shoulders were struck and injured. That wrongdoing of Paiea is what brought death to him by ʻUmi, when ʻUmi later ruled the island.

When the aku season arrived at that place, Piʻimaiwaʻa, ʻŌmaʻokāmau, and Kōī went out aku fishing with the kamaʻāina of that place. When the time came that they caught their aku, the parents of their wahine again rejoiced. But the parents of ʻUmi's wahine were troubled by ʻUmi's refraining to go catch aku with the fishermen of that place. These parents of ʻUmi's wahine said to their daughters, "If your strong, able-bodied kāne was perhaps a fisherman, then the aku would be yours to eat, but your bodies are being wasted upon him." At another time, the fishermen saw that ʻUmi was a sturdy man, so they told him to come aku fishing with them. ʻUmi agreed to their request, but they did not see that he was an aliʻi. Though it was well known that ʻUmi was in hiding, they did not know that this indeed was ʻUmi. When ʻUmi went out to catch aku in the water, he was given a fish by the other fishermen, but ʻUmi saw that the fisherman had reached between his legs and grabbed the aku from under his buttocks. So ʻUmi did not take that fish for him.

Instead, ʻUmi traded his fish with the one who had withheld the fish taken from above for himself. ʻUmi said to him, "Give to me your small fish. Here is yours, a big fish," and that withholder agree. ʻUmi, however, did not eat that fish. It was taken and offered to Kāʻili (his akua), at a place called Hokuli, where ʻUmi had hidden it.

E ka mea heluhelu, e nana kakou i kekahi lala o keia kuamoo olelo no keia hana kapanaha a Umi. Wahi a Samuel M. Kamakau, "I ka ike ia ana o Umi he kanaka ikaika, a ua makemake nui ia o Umi i kanaka kaohi malau aku, a ua makaukau io no, a ua ikaika maoli no i ka hoe waa. I kekahi wa, ua nui ka ia, a ua haawi pono ia mai ka ia, a i ka wa uuku o ka ia, ua poho lalo ia malalo o ka noho'na ke pakahikahi aku, alaila, ua haumia kela ia malalo o ka noho'na, a ua hoopailua ke akua aole pono ke hoali aku na ke akua, a nolaila, ua kuai ia me ke kanaka i loaa pono ka ia maluna pono mai, aole ma ka noho'na, a ina hookahi wale no wahi ia, aole e ai o Umi, ua waiho no oia na kona akua na Kukailimoku, aia ma ke ala iho o Hokuli [he pali ia], a ua huna ia iloko o ke ana; a no ka ikaika o Umi i ke kaohi aku a me ka hoe waa, ua kapaia o Puipui-a-kalawaia."**

Oh reader, let us now look at another branch of this path of tradition about these wonderful deeds of ʻUmi. According to Samuel M. Kamakau, "When it was seen that ʻUmi was a strong man, many desired that he join them in aku fishing, for he was indeed skilled and truly strong as a canoe paddler. At times, when the fish were abundant, the fish was given out in a pono way. However, in times when the fish were scarce, they were dealt dishonestly from beneath the seat when apportioned out. Those fish from below the seat were then haumia (defiled), and the akua would become offended by it if it were offered to the akua. Therefore, an exchange would be made with someone who received fish in a pono way, from above rather than below the seat. And if there was only one fish, ʻUmi would not eat it. He would leave it for his akua, Kūkāʻilimoku, which was hidden inside of a cave along the trail descending Hokuli [a cliff]. Thus, because of his skill and strength in aku fishing and canoe paddling, ʻUmi was called "Puʻipuʻi-a-ka-lawaiʻa" (Stalwart fisherman).

I kona holo pinepine ana i ka lawai-a, haohao o Kaleioku [he kahuna oia] i ka pio mau o ke anuenue ma ia malau. Manao o Kaleioku, o Umi paha kela; no ka mea, ua loheia ko Umi nalowale ana. Alaila, iho mai o Kaleioku me ka puaa, a ike oia ia Umi e noho ana me ka hanohano, a manao iho la o Kaleioku, he alii keia.

Alaila, kaumaha aku la oia i ka puaa, me ka i aku, "Eia ka puaa e ke akua, he puaa imi alii." I ka Kaleioku kuu ana'ku i ka puaa, holo aku la ka puaa a ku ma ko Umi alo; alaila, huli hou mai ua puaa nei ia Kaleioku. Ninau aku o Kaleioku, "O Umi anei oe?" Ae mai o Umi, "Ae, owau no." I aku o Kaleioku, "E hoi kaua i ko'u wahi." Ae mai no o Umi; alaila, i ae la kona mau makuahonowai, a me kolaila mau kanaka a pau. "He alii ka keia! o Umi ka ia!! o ka Liloa keiki ka!!! ka mea a kakou i lohe iho nei i keia mau la, ua nalowale."

O ka hope keia o ka moolelo o Umi, o ka pau ana keia, ina he nui aku koe, o keia moolelo, e hiki no i ka mea i loaa ia ia ka moolelo o Umi, e hiki no i ka mea i ike ke hoolawa mai, a hookui mai i keia moolelo o Umi, ma keia pepa hou mai. A ina hoi ua hemahema a pololei ole paha keia moolelo, e hai mai no ka mea i pau ia ia ka moolelo no Umi ma ke akea.

Eia kekahi, ma keia hope aku, e hai hou aku ana au i ka Moolelo o ko Kamehameha I., noho aupuni ana maluna o keia Pae Aina o Hawaii nei, mai ka makahiki 1794 a hiki i ka makahiki 1811. A pela hoi i ka wa i hiki mai ai na Misionari mua i Hawaii nei, a me ko Kaahumanu hooponopono Aupuni ana, a me Kamehameha II., a pela'ku, Owau no me ke aloha aku i ka poe e heluhelu ana. S. K.

[E nā hoa heluhelu, ʻo kēia ka hopena o ko Simeon Keliikaapuni kākau hou ʻana i ka moʻolelo o ʻUmi i paʻi mua ʻia i ka buke Moʻoʻolelo Hawaiʻi mai ke kula ʻo Lāhaināluna mai i ka makahiki 1838. Mai kēia mua aku, kākau ʻia kēia moʻolelo e kekahi haku moʻolelo, ʻo J. H. Z. Kalunaaina kona inoa.]

(Aole i pau)

Kākau ʻia e Simeon Keliikaapuni, Pep. 8, 1862
Hoʻopuka hou ʻia a ʻunuhi ʻia e Kealaulili

As he began regularly going out fishing, Kaleiokū [a kahuna] marveled at the frequent appearance of the arching rainbow above those calm aku fishing grounds. Kaleiokū thought, perhaps that was ʻUmi, because ʻUmi's disappearance had been heard of. Therefore, Kaleiokū descended with a pig, and he saw ʻUmi sitting there in a dignified manner. Kaleiokū then thought to himself, this is a chief.

He then lifted the pig and spoke thus, "Here is the pig, oh akua, a chief-seeking pig." Then as Kaleiokū released the pig, the pig ran forth and stood before ʻUmi, then turned back towards Kaleiokū. Kaleiokū questioned, "Are you perhaps ʻUmi?" ʻUmi nodded, "Yes, it is I." Kaleiokū then said to him, "Let us return to my place." ʻUmi agreed, and then the parents of his wahine, and all the people of that place spoke out, "This is an aliʻi! It is ʻUmi!! Līloa's child!!! The one we had all heard over these past days, had disappeared!"

[This is the end of the moʻolelo of ʻUmi. This is where it will end. If there is much else to tell of this moʻolelo, then someone else who knows the moʻolelo of ʻUmi can surely provide it here, and join it to this moʻolelo of ʻUmi in the coming issues of this paper. And if perhaps this moʻolelo is inaccurate or incorrect in parts, the one who is to finish this moʻolelo of ʻUmi shall announce it publicly.

Furthermore, from here forward, I am going to be telling the Moʻolelo of Kamehameha I's governance of these Islands of Hawaiʻi, from the year 1794 to the year 1811. I will also be telling of the time when the first missionaries arrive here in Hawaiʻi, Kaʻahumanu's regulation of the government, Kamehameha II., and so forth. Sincerely your's, with aloha to all who are reading, S. K.]

[Dear reading companions, this is the end of Simeon Keliikaapuni's re-telling of this moʻolelo, which was first published in the book entitled Mooolelo Hawaii. This book was produced by the students Lāhaināluna School in 1838. From this point forward, this moʻolelo was written by another keeper of stories, J. H. Z. Kalunaaina.]

(To be continued)

Written by Simeon Keliikaapuni, Feb. 8, 1862
Republished and translated by Kealaulili

** S. M. Kamakau excerpt from "Ka Moolelo Hawaii," Helu 49. Ke Au Okoa. Nov. 17, 1870.

Laupāhoehoe, Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Photo by N. Peralto, 2014.

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He Moʻolelo no ʻUmi: Kekahi Aliʻi Kaulana o Ko Hawaiʻi Nei Pae ʻĀina.

10/17/2014

A Moʻolelo for ʻUmi: A Famous Aliʻi of These Hawaiian Islands.

No ka heʻe malu ʻana ʻo Umi mā mai o Hakau aku. The Escape of ʻUmi & his Companions from Hakau. Illustration by Haley Kailiehu, 2014.

Helu 2 (Hoʻomau ʻia)

I ka make ana o Liloa, noho aku o Umi malalo o Hakau, a nui no hoi ko Hakau huhu mai ia Umi, a nui no ka hokae mai ia Umi. I ko Umi wa e heenalu ai i ko Hakau papa, i mai o Hakau ia Umi, "Mai hee oe i ko'u papa; no ka mea, he makuahine noa wale no kou ma Hamakua, he kapu ko'u papa, he alii au." I ko Umi hume ana i ko Hakau malo hokae mai o Hakau me ka i aku ia Umi, "Mai hume oe i kuu malo, he alii au; he makuahine kauwa kou no Hamakua." Pela no o Hakau i hoino ai ia Umi, ka hookuke maoli; alaila, hee malu o Umi mai o Hakau aku. Eia ko Umi mau hoa hele, o Omaokamau, o Piimaiwaa, o laua kona mau hoa hele mua mai Hamakua mai a Waipio.

I ko lakou hoi hou ana i Hamakua, mai Waipio aku, ma ko lakou ala i hele mua mai ai i ko lakou pii ana'ku ma Koaekea, hiki lakou ma Kukuihaele, alaila, loaa ia lakou o Koi, alaila, hele oia me Umi. I ko lakou hele ana'ku a hiki lakou i Kealakaha, oia ko Umi wahi i hanau ai, aole lakou i kipa i kona makuahine; no ka mea, ua manao lakou e hele kuewa wale aku.

E na hoa heluhelu, e oluolu e hoomaha kakou ma keia wahi o ke kuamoo o ke alii kaulana nona keia moolelo, a e huli kakou e nana aku i kekahi lala o keia kuamoo olelo. Wahi a kekahi mea kakau kaulana o Hawaii, o Samuel M. Kamakau, i Waikoekoe ma Hamakua i loaa ai o Koi ia Umi ma i ko lakou hele mua ana aku i Waipio mai Kealakaha aku. Ia Koi e koi ana ma kae alanui, loaa o Umi iaia a ua lilo ihola o Koi i keiki hookama na Umi. Eia ka Kamakau i kakau ai no ko Umi hee malu ana mai o Hakau aku. (Mea Kakau)**

Nolaila, ua mahuka o Umi a Liloa me kana mau keiki hookama, a no ka makau no hoi kekahi o Umi o make i ka pepehiia e Hakau, nolaila, ua mahuka malu o Umi ma, ma ka nahelehele mauka o Hamakua, a o loaa hoi kekahi ke hele ma ke alanui, a ma Puuaahuku [Puaahuku] ko lakou mahuka ana, a komo i ka lae laau, a o ke akamai o Piimaiwaa i ka uhai manu o ka nahelehele, a ua loaa no hoi ka ia a me ka lakou ai, a hiki o Umi ma i uka o Laumaia Kemilia, o Laumaia Kenahae, a noho lakou nei ilaila, alaila, hoouna mai la o Umi ia Piimaiwaa e hele mai e hai ia Akahiakuleana, aia ko lakou wahi i noho ai i uka o Humuula, aohe e hiki ia lakou ke hoi mai e noho pu lakou me na makua o Umi a Liloa, aka, ua olelo o Akahiakuleana, aole pono e hoi mai e noho pu, ua hiki aku ka imi a na Luna o Hakau ilaila. Olelo aku o Akahiakuleana, aole he pono ka noho ana ma na palena o Hamakua, e pono ke hele ma na palena o Hilo, no ka mea, ua kukaawale ka moku o Hilo ia Kulukulua, aole he mana o Hakau ma Hilo. A lohe o Umi ma i keia mau olelo a Piimaiwaa mai ka makuahine, ua hele aku lakou a noho ma na palena o Hilo e kokoke mai ana i ka palena o Hamakua, o na Waipunalei ka inoa oia mau wahi ahupuaa, a noho iho la o Umi a Liloa ma ua wahila, he nui na kanaka, a he nui no hoi ka wahine maka hanoahano, a mau kaikamahine makua oia wahi, a he poe kanaka ui wale no, a o Umi a Liloa aku no ka oi o lakou i ka oi o ka ui a me ke kanaka maikai, a nolaila ua loaa papalua, a papaha ka wahine ia Umi, a i na keiki hookama, ua loaa ia lakou na wahine.

I ko lakou noho ana ilaila, ua olelo aku na keiki hookama ia Umi a Liloa, "E noho malie no oe o makou no ke mahiai, a ke kahu imu nana wahine a me na makuahonowai o kakou, e noho malie no oe."

Nolaila, e na makamaka heluhelu, e noho pu kakou no ka manawa a e pupu ai kakou i keia hunahuna moolelo a he inai ono io no ia o na kupuna o kakou. E hoomau aku kakou i ke kuamoo o ke alii kaulana nona keia moolelo i keia pule ae, a e ike ana no kakou i na hana pono a Umi e hooko aku ai i ke kauoha kaulana a kona makuakane a Liloa, "E noho me ka haahaa." (Mea Kakau)

(Aole i pau)

Kākau ʻia e Simeon Keliikaapuni, Pep. 8, 1862
Hoʻopuka hou ʻia a ʻunuhi ʻia e Kealaulili

Chapter 2. (Cont'd)

Upon the death of Līloa, ʻUmi lived under Hakau. Great was Hakau's anger towards ʻUmi, as were his attempts to completely erase ʻUmi from existence. When ʻUmi went surfing on Hakau's board, Hakau said to ʻUmi, "Do not surf on my board, because you have a commoner mother in Hāmākua, and my board is kapu. I am an aliʻi." When ʻUmi girded Hakau's malo, Hakau seized ʻUmi and told him, "Do not gird my malo. I am an aliʻi. You have a lowly servant mother from Hāmākua." That is how Hakau mistreated ʻUmi, with the true intention of driving him away. Therefore, ʻUmi sought protection in escaping Hakau. ʻUmi's traveling companions were ʻŌmaʻokāmau and Piʻimaiwaʻa, those who had first traveled with him from Hāmākua to Waipiʻo.

In their return to Hāmākua from Waipiʻo, along the path they traveled in their ascent of Koaʻekea, they arrived at Kukuihaele. It is there that they found Kōī, and he went along with ʻUmi. As they traveled back towards Kealakaha, the place where ʻUmi was born, they did not stop to visit his mother, for it was their thought to simply wander for a while.

Oh reading companions, if you will, let us now rest at this place along the path of the famous aliʻi for whom this moʻolelo is written, and let us turn now towards another branch of this path of tradition. According to another famous writer of Hawaiʻi, Samuel M. Kamakau, it was at Waikoʻekoʻe in Hāmākua that ʻUmi and the others found Kōī, while they were first traveling to Waipiʻo from Kealakaha. While Kōī was playing kōī (a children's sliding game) alongside the trail, ʻUmi found him, and Kōī became a keiki hoʻokama of ʻUmi. Here is what Kamakau wrote about ʻUmi's escape from Hakau. (Author's Note)**

Therefore, ʻUmi-a-līloa fled with his adopted sons, because of ʻUmi's fear of being killed by Hakau. That is why ʻUmi them sought protection, fleeing to the forest in the uplands of Hāmākua, else they be captured while traveling along the trail. Puaʻahuku is where they fled to first and entered into the forest point. It was Piʻimaiwaʻa's skill in catching birds of the forest that allowed them to obtain their "fish" and food until they arrived in the uplands of Laumaiʻa Kemilia, Laumaiʻa Kenahae. They stayed there and ʻUmi sent Piʻimaiwaʻa to go to tell Akahiakuleana that the place they were staying was in the uplands of Humuʻula, and that they could not return to live with the parents of ʻUmi-a-līloa. Akahiakuleana told him that it was not good for them to return to stay with them because the scouts of Hakau had arrived there. Akahiakuleana further said, "It is not good to stay within the boundaries of Hāmākua. You must go within the boundaries of Hilo, because the district of Hilo remains independent under Kulukuluʻā. Hakau has no mana, no power, in Hilo." When ʻUmi and the others had heard these words of Piʻimaiwaʻa from his mother, they went to live within the boundaries of Hilo, nearby the boundary of Hāmākua. Nā Waipunalei was the name of these ahupuaʻa, and this is where ʻUmi and the others stayed. There were many people there. There were many women of magnificent appearance, and many well-developed women of that place. They indeed were a beautiful group of people, and ʻUmi-a-līloa was the most handsome of them all in appearance and physique. Therefore, the women of ʻUmi were twice, and four times as many in numbers as others. And so too for his adopted sons. They were taken by women as well.

While they stayed there, his adopted sons said to ʻUmi-a-līloa, "You stay and rest here. We are the ones who will farm, and our wahine and their parents will tend to the imu. You stay and rest."

Therefore, oh reading companions, let us stay here for the time being, and let us pūpū on this bit of our moʻolelo, a delicious relish of the ancestors of ours. We will continue along the traditional pathways of the famous aliʻi for whom this moʻolelo is written next week, and then we will come to know of the pono deeds of ʻUmi as he sought to fulfill the famous command of his father, Līloa, "Live with humility." (Author's Note)

(To be continued)

Written by Simeon Keliikaapuni, Feb. 8, 1862
Republished and translated by Kealaulili

** S. M. Kamakau excerpt from "Ka Moolelo Hawaii," Helu 49. Ke Au Okoa. Nov. 17, 1870.

ʻUmi-a-līloa's journey from Waipiʻo to Laumaiʻa and Waipunalei, Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Map by N. Peralto, 2014.

He Moʻolelo no ʻUmi: Kekahi Aliʻi Kaulana o Ko Hawaiʻi Nei Pae ʻĀina.

A Moʻolelo for ʻUmi: A Famous Aliʻi of These Hawaiian Islands.

Helu 3.

Chapter 3.

No Nunu me Kakohe

Regarding Nunu and Kakohe

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He Moʻolelo no ʻUmi: Kekahi Aliʻi Kaulana o Ko Hawaiʻi Nei Pae ʻĀina.

A Moʻolelo for ʻUmi: A Famous Aliʻi of These Hawaiian Islands.

Helu 2. (Hoʻomau ʻia)

Chapter 2. (Cont'd)

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He Moʻolelo no ʻUmi: Kekahi Aliʻi Kaulana o Ko Hawaiʻi Nei Pae ʻĀina.

A Moʻolelo for ʻUmi: A Famous Aliʻi of These Hawaiian Islands.

Helu 2 (Hoʻomau ʻia)

Chapter 2. (Cont'd)

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About the story...

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Kealaulili, Mea Kākau

Haley Kailiehu, Artist

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