Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 1 September 1982 — As told by George Pooloa in 1926 [ARTICLE]

As told by George Pooloa in 1926

Kaihuokapalai, his grandfather and his sister Malaekahana, lived at Waipio in Ewa on the island of Oahu. Malaekahana was a beautiful chiefess. Her beauty was like that of the open rose buds. The grandchildren were raised by their grandfather as was done in those days. One day there was a shortage of fish. The grandchildren went to their grandfather and said, "We are having some trouble getting fish. We don't have any fish today. Do you know how we ean get some?" After listening to them. the grandfather sked Kaihuokapalai to fetch some things and to bring them as an offering to a god. Kaihuokapalai fulfilled his grandfather's wish for it was not too long until he brought them to his grandfather. His grandfather turned to the side so Kaihuokapalai would not see what he was doing. That night everyone slept soundly until it was dawn. The grandfather called Kaihuokapalai and gave him a stone image that looked like a man with a chiefs helmet on the head. "Listen carefully, Kaihuokapalai," the grandfather said," you must take good care of this stone image if you want to always have some fish. Kaihuokapalai took the stone image. Lo and behold what his grandfather had said eame true! The very day that Kaihuokapalai had received the stone image from his grandfather mullet fish appeared at Waipio in Ewa. This took plaee during the month of March. All the people of the area gathered at the shore when the mullet were sighted. They went out in their canoes to encircle the fish with nets and pulled them in. Kaihuokapalai took some of the best fish for his family and told the paddlers and those who pulled the nets to take some home. The rest of the fish were to be given away to the people of Waipio. "Take the fish and eat well, or give them away. But do not sell them because onee we were in trouble, but now our troubles are over." The kapu restrictions not to fish were lifted for the next few days as the mullet continued to appear. The people Continued on page 6