The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai Chapter 58

The spirits have potatoes, yam, and taro at Kalae Point, Kau, but the Kohala people have none. Pupuhuluena goes fishing from Kohala off Makaukiu, and the fishes collect under his canoe. As he sails he leaves certain kinds of fish as he goes until he comes just below Kalae. Here Ieiea and Poopulu, the fishermen of Makalii, have a dragnet. By oiling the water with chewed kukui nut, he calms it enough to see the fishes entering their net, and this art pleases the fishermen. By giving them the nut he wins their friendship, hence when he goes ashore, one prompts him with the names of the food plants which are new to him. Then he stands the spirits on their heads, so shaming them that they give him the plants to take to Kohala.

HIKU AND KAWELU[1]

The son of Keaauolu and Lanihau, who live in Kaumalumalu, Kona, once sends his arrow, called Puane, into the hut of Kawelu, a chiefess of Kona. She falls violently in love with the stranger who follows to seek it, and will not let him depart. He escapes, and she dies of grief for him, her spirit descending to Milu. Hiku, hearing of her death, determines to fetch her thence. He goes out into mid-ocean, lets down a koali vine, smears himself with rancid kukui oil to cover the smell of a live person, and lowers himself on another vine. Arrived in the lower world, he tempts the spirits to swing on his vines. At last he catches Kawelu, signals to his friends above, and brings her back with him to the upper world. Arrived at the house where the body lies, he crowds the spirit in from the feet up. After some days the spirit gets clear in. Kawelu crows like a rooster and is taken up, warmed, and restored.

[Footnote 1: See Thrum, p. 43.]

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