Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 1, 1 January 1993 — "...And The Earth Shall Rise!" [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

"...And The Earth Shall Rise!"

Near the time of Captain Cook's arrival in Hawaii in 1778, the kahuna Kapihe searched the signs and had a vision of the future. He foresaw the unification of the islands, the abolition of the kapu, and he also prophesized that: "...he iho mai ana i ka lani a"e pi'i ana ka honua..." "... the heavens sfuillfall anel the earth shall rise... " Kamehameha conquered and joined the islands under one ruler in 1 8 10. Ten years later and within months of the old king's death, the sacred system and gods of tlte kapu were broken and heiau deliberately desecrated and destroyed. More than a century after his vision. the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai'i gave meaning to another part of the vision — the "ka lani" or rule of chiefs and monarchy had fallen. As the ali'i symbolized the heavens. the Hawaiian people were the eailh. We are now witnessing — and being a part of — fulfilling the last of the prophesy. i

The lowering ofthe Hawaiian flag at annexation symbolized a dramatic and tragic part ofthe renowned prophesy — the "ka lani" or rule of the chiefs and monarchy had fallen.