Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 10, 1 October 2011 — lnherited mana, innate abilities [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

lnherited mana, innate abilities

By Claire Ku'uleilani Hughes, Dr. PH„ R.D. Lauhaka and his unele, Kane'alohi, a bird catcher, worked in the Kōke'e forest, mauka of Waimea. Kane'alohi kept the memory of Lauhaka's parents alive, as he poured love and knowledge into the boy. Kane'alohi told Lauhaka how a stranger had descended the steep mountain trail from Kōke'e into Wainiha and eame upon Lauhaka's mother bathing in a mountain pool. Immediately, he made the young beauty his wife and soon, the eouple became expectant parents. One day, Lauhaka's father climbed back up that mountain path to Kōke'e and never returned. Before leaving, he gave Lauhaka's mother his mahiole (chief's featherhelmet). Lauhaka's mother carefully wrapped it in tapa and stored the mahiole in a covered gourd. Tragically, Lauhaka's mother died after his birth. Kane'alohi taught Lauhaka all the bird-catching skills and techniques he knew. Lauhaka leamed the appropriate offerings for Kūhuluhulumanu, god of bird catchers. He learned patience and the ability to remain motionless for many hours waiting for birds. Lauhaka became skilled at imitating many bird calls used to lure birds to tree limbs painted with sticky glue. Gently, Lauhaka would pluek only the few chosen colorful feathers and carefully remove the gummy substance from the bird's feet before releasing it. He learned to hold a flower between his index flnger and thumb, until the honeycreeper eame to dip its beak into the flower for nectar. Closing his flngers, the bird was caught and its ehoiee feathers plucked. The 'uwa'u nested in holes between rocks and tree roots in the cliffs near the mountaintop. These large birds

were trapped with nets. The young 'uwa'u were delicious roasted over a fire. Lauhaka developed into a highly skilled bird catcher. Lauhaka and his unele built a home beside a pool, high upon the Kōke'e cliffs, near the narrow, rocky trail down into Wainiha on the other side. The pool provided a waming system, as it would ripple whenever anyone approached. The two men could disappear into the swampy forest where no one dared to follow. Unbeknownst to the men, Hakau, the harsh ruling chief of Waimea leamed about their feather gathering on his land and was angered that they avoided paying the annual makahiki tax. One day ripples on the pond clearly indicateda group was fast approaching. Quickly, Lauhaka hid Kane'alohi in a rocky crevice. He donned his feathered mahiole, took up a long stick and stood at the cliff's edge. Parrying with the single-flle of soldiers, Lauhaka pulled them off-balance and shoved them over the cliff, one by one. Chief Hakau stood there defeated, empty handed and stunned. Hakau challenged Lauhaka's right to wear the mahiole. Upon hearing Lauhaka's story, Hakau acknowledged and embraced him, still harboring disbelief. Hakau invited Lauhaka to his court. Hakau beckoned and called the bird catchers to enter from across a large lauhala mat. Unarmed soldiers sat surrounding the mat along the walls. The seating arrangement and greeting seemed odd. Lauhaka cast his spear at the center of the mat, exposing a pit of sharpened spears designed to impale anyone who fell upon them. Hakau stood to face Lauhaka, who approached mnning along the wall. In surprise, Hakau stumbled backward and fell into the trap intended for his son. Upon hearing Lauhaka's story, the people acknowledged Lauhaka as their chief. Before long, Lauhaka realized his innate abilities, his inherited mana. He retumed to Kōke'e and to the bonds of love and tmst with his unele. Their special craft suited Lauhaka's temperament and skills. Achievement and satisfaction are assured when we use our inherited mana. ■

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