Some go forth, some return from the sea as the south wind (lau eka); 200.
A gentle breeze, a fish ripple within;
It is broken up into waves, broken into steps,
It is doubled along Kona (Hawaii) itself,—i—e.
[1] Kaleikuahulu was a person of ingenuity. He was a chief, a priest, a diviner, a counselor, the king’s genealogist, and a renowned poet who composed many songs. He was a grandson of Keawe, King of Hawaii, and the son of Kumukoa, King of Molokai. He was born at Kainalu on Molokai in the year 1725, when Kalanikuihonoikamoku was King of Maui, and Kanealii his grandmother was chiefess of Molokai. He lived for some time on Oahu and on Kauai, when Kaiana and Namakeha lived with Kamehameha on Hawaii. Kaleikuahulu also lived on Hawaii with Kamehameha, who appointed certain of his chiefs to learn from Kaleikuahulu the genealogy of kings.
Unfortunately the original Hawaiian of the chant was not among the papers of Judge L. Andrews which enrich this collection, nor has a copy been found. The version in Vol. IV of these Memoirs, pp. 13–17, credited to Pakui, resembles it in part. [↑]
| Born Was the Island Born was the island— It budded, it leafed, it grew, it was green, The island blossomed on tip, ’twas Hawaii This Hawaii was an island. Unstable was the land, tremulous was Hawaii, Waving freely in the air: Waved the earth. From Akea ’twas fastened together Quiet by the roots was the island and the land, It was fast in the air by the right hand of Akea Fast was Hawaii, by itself— Hawaii appeared an island. | Ua Hanau ka Moku Ua hanau ka moku A kupu, a lau, a loa, a ao, a muo Ka moku iluna o Hawaii. O Hawaii nei no ka moku He pulewa ka aina, he naka Hawaii E lewa wale ana no i ka lani, Lewa honua Mai i Akea ua pahono ia Malie i ke aa o ka moku me ka honua Paa ia i ka lawaealani i ka lima akau o Akea Paa Hawaii la a laa Hawaii la i ikea he moku. |