Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 2013 — The Story of ʻAiākōlea [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Story of ʻAiākōlea

By Claire Ku'uleilani Hughes, Dr. PH„ R.D. Kumuhana loved to snare birds - kōlea (Pacific golden plover) and 'akekeke (ruddy turnstone) - in his nets, stained dark brown with kukui nut oil. At night, he would creep up on the sleeping birds and capture them in his net. Returning home he would broil them and hungrily devour them. Kumuhana often caught more birds than he could eat, so he would carelessly toss them in a pile to decompose. Greedkept himfrom sharing his catch.

Kumuhana's neighbor worshipped the great spirit Kumukahi, who watched over and protected kōlea. This neighbor heeame ill from inhaling the odor from the broiling birds. You see, according to tradition, it is an offense against his god if cooking smoke from an animal that is held sacred, blows over him ... even when it comes from a neighbor's cooking fire. Offerings and prayers of atonement are needed to prevent or alleviate the illness. One evening, the neighbor met Kumuhana, who was leaving to snare birds for his breakfast. As the two men chatted about events of the day, they heard a long and plaintive "Pi-i-i-o !" coming from the clouds overhead. His neighbor said, "If I were you, Kumuhana, I would go home. I think the spirit of the bird god, Kumukahi, goes out tonight to see

that all is well with his feathered and human children." "That's your eoneem," Kumuhana answered. "No kōlea was ever born into my family, so I don't care for them, except for eating!" Then, tossing his nets over his shoulder, Kumuhana continued on his errand of destruction. Hundreds of birds nestled in the rocks at night. And, Kumuhana caught enough to last a long time, piling themin heaps as he went from one rock to another. At dawn he started back, to gather his catch for cooking. His birds had disappeared during the night! Suspiciously, he marched straight to the neighbor's house, accusing himof theft. "Auē! I know nothing about your birds," his neighbor answered. "If I were certain you were the thief, I would kill you !" Kumuhana said. "Listen! Your birds are calling

from your house," his neighbor said. Sure enough, whistling and ealling of many, many birds was heard. Kumuhana hurried home. Upon opening his door, he saw the house was filled with hlaek pebbles but not a single bird. Furious, he went back to his neighbor's home. "How dare you fill my house with rocks !" he shouted. "I know nothing of rocks," the neighbor answered. "If I were you, I would ask forgiveness of Kumukahi, maybe he put the pebbles there. Listen ! I hear birds from your house again." Sounds of birds eame from Kumuhana's again. Hurrying home, Kumuhana looked inside. Hundreds of birds were inside. Quickly, he prepared his oven, making the stones red-hot. Then he went inside and reached for the nearest bird, it passed through his fingers like vapor. Eaeh time he grabbed for a bird, it went through his fingers. Then, Kumuhana heard, "Pi-i-i-o !" In an instant, hundreds of birds

flew at, and pecked and scratched Kumuhana. He ran outside ... more birds awaited him there. Blinded and in pain, he stumbled into his hot oven and died. To this day, the spot where his house stood is called 'Aiākōlea, meaning, "impiety to the plover." It is between Waikapuna and 'Akihinui in Ka'ū district. It's said, "If the plover calls "pi-o" over any dwelling, it is an omen of death." Migration season for the kōlea and the 'akekeke is now. They spend the winter months here eating and fattening up, preparing to return, in April or May, to their native land to breed. The long-legged kōlea returns to the same location year after year. Last year, I saw only one, instead of five or six, on the grassy knoll nearby. Among many gifts, Kawena Pukui shared this mo'olelo, learned from her mother, about the kōlea and 'akekeke. The kaona (hidden meaning) is about greed and respect for tradition. ■

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