PELE AND HI’IAKA: EPIC OF HAWAII PART FIVE

Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of the grand and exciting Hawaiian epic about the goddesses Pele and Hi’iaka.

PART FIVE

The morning after their battle with Pana-Ea and its legion of monsters Hi’iaka, Pa’u’o’pala’e and Wahine resumed their journey. Around mid-day the path they were following suddenly ended at a precipice. Wahine suggested they all descend the cliffside to reach the base, where the waves pounded the jagged stones and from there swim across to the other side.

Hi’iaka realized that she and her companions were at the mouth of the Waipi’o Valley and stated they should take a detour around the inland. Hi’iaka’s comrades insisted on descending and swimming across. The argument continued, with Hi’iaka telling her two friends that they were behaving as stubbornly and unreasonably as men. (That line was part of the oral tradition at least as long ago as 1915. I included it because it dates from back then and wasn’t a modern-day revision.)    

With grinding patience Hi’iaka sought to demonstrate to her sister travelers why she did not want to swim across the waters below. She peeled off the bark from a ti plant so that the white interior shone. She then tossed it into the sea below. Maka’ukui the gigantic shark monster chomped the plant the moment it hit the water. 

Dismissing the plant’s disappearance Pa’u’o’pala’e and Wahine dove into the sea at the base of the cliff. The massive fin of Maka’ukui broke the surface as the shark-creature attempted to devour Pa’u’o’pala’e and Wahine.

Hi’iaka dove down to their rescue and, after a mammoth struggle, the goddess destroyed Maka’ukui forever. His name was thenceforth used for the cliff. 

Hi’iaka and her two companions set out again for Kaua’i. +++

I’LL CONTINUE THE STORY SOON. CHECK BACK ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK FOR UPDATES.

FOR MY LOOK AT THE TOP ELEVEN GODS IN HAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGY CLICK HERE

FOR ANOTHER EPIC MYTH CLICK HERE:   https://glitternight.com/2013/03/17/iroquois-epic-myth-hodadeion/

FOR SIMILAR ARTICLES AND MORE OF THE TOP LISTS FROM  BALLADEER’S BLOG CLICK HERE:  https://glitternight.com/top-lists/

FOR SIMILAR ARTICLES AND MORE OF THE TOP LISTS FROM  BALLADEER’S BLOG CLICK HERE:  https://glitternight.com/top-lists/

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