Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 2015 — The moʻolelo of Makaihuwaʻa (the canoe's prow) [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The moʻolelo of Makaihuwaʻa (the canoe's prow)

By Claire Ku'uleilani Hughes, Dr. PH„ R.D. Editor's note: This is the second of two parts. Last montli, the story told ofthefishing prowess ofHanalei Menehune on the open sea. Their catch woidd he bountifid, exceptfor cloudy and stormy nights, when they could not venture far and would return without enough fresh fish for evervone. They could notfish during the dav, hecause sunshine could turn Menehune to stone instantly. Their cliief promised to think ofa solution. "Perhaps the gods will help me find an answer," he said.

The fishermen cheered their chief and finished their chores with lighter spirits. The rain goddess, again, emptied her water bowls, extinguishing the chief's remaining torches. Everyone would return home in the dark. The chief and torchbearers stumbled over roots and stones, and banged into branches as the chief led them home safely. The chief thought hard about his fishermen's problems. The next night was equally stormy. As more lamakū (torches) were lit, suddenly the chief laughed, a deep, booming laugh. The chief realized that, even in the darkness, he could see. Many lamakū could provide a guiding light for the fishermen. The chief ordered all the village people to make lamakū to put along the heaeh, to guide the fishermen back to shore. When the canoes returned before

dawn, the chief was waiting beside the cluster of torches. Eagerly the chief questioned them, "Did this light help you?" The fishermen nodded without enthusiasm and, one by one, they dropped their heads. The lead fisherman spoke up, "Chief," he said, "the light does help, a little. We paddled farther out, but we still cannot go where the deep-sea fish swim in great schools. "The idea of lights is good, but they need to be higher. Higher than the coconut trees." He looked far beyond the heaeh where the tall ridges melted into the great mountains Maunahihi and Nāmolokama, most of the view was behind clouds and mist and fog. Only the lowest ridge could be seen where it started up from the edge of Wai'oli Stream. Delighted, the chief nodded,

■ ' "We shall plaee lamakū there on that ridge. Just helow the clouds, far above the trees," he said. All the Menehune embraced their chores with their usual good sense, sound engineering and the knowledge that many hands, working together, make any chore easier and quicker. It was another dark night, with clouds low over Hanalei as the fishermen pushed out to sea, hearts lighter than usual. The chief ordered lamakū to be made and set up on the ridge. The chief watched over the work, and his voice sang as they worked. The chief yelled into the stormy night. "Build a roof over the platform, it must be higher in front than in back. It must protect the torches from the rain and be high enough so it won't catch on fire." The lamakū were set in plaee and lit. The flames sputtered, danced and poured a heaeon of light into

the stormy night. The canoes eame swooping into shore on the backs of waves that threatened to swamp the small canoes, deeply filled with fish. As the lead fisherman lifted his paddle, everyone cheered. "We have enough fish for two nights," he said. Cheering and laughing, the Menehune lifted their chief upon their shoulders, carrying him to their eating house. The chief ordered the next night to be spent in games and enjoyment. The Menehune lighthouse, Makaihuwa'a (the canoe's prow), was built high upon the mountain ridge above Hanalei Beach and Wai'oli Stream. The lighthouse platform is gone, but the ridge, named Makaihuwa'a remains. Long ago, stories about Menehune were told to children, in part, to encourage them to work together, diligently, to accomplish difficult tasks, as Menehune did. This lighthouse mo'olelo is an especially good example. ■

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