Kumulipo, Second Age
Translated by Queen Liliuokalani
in 1897

                   
  The first child born of Powehiwehi (dusky night)
Tossed up land for Pouliuli (darkest night),
For Mahiuma or Maapuia,
And lived in the land of Pohomiluamea (sloughy hill of Mea);
Suppressed the noise of the growth of unripe fruit,
For fear Uliuli would cause it to burst, and the stench
To disagree and turn sour,
For pits of darkness and pits of night.
Then the seven waters became calm.
Then was born a child (kama), ’twas a Hilu and swam.
The Hilu is a fish with standing fins,
On which Pouliuli sat.
So undecided seemed Powehiwehi,
For Pouliuli was husband
And Powehiwehi his wife.

Fish

And fish was born, the Naia (porpoise) was born in the sea and swam.
The Mano (shark) was born, the Moana was born in the sea and swam.
The Mau was born, the Maumau was born in the sea and swam.
The Nana was born, the Mana was born in the sea and swam.
The Nake was born, the Make was born in the sea and swam.
The Napa was born, the Nala was born in the sea and swam.
The Pala was born, the Kala was born in the sea and swam.
The Paka (an eel) was born, the Papa (crab) was born in the sea and swam.
The Kalakala was born, the Huluhulu was born in the sea and swam.
The Halahala was born, the Palapala was born in the sea and swam.
The Pea (starfish) was born, the Lupe was born in the sea and swam.
The Ao was born, the Awa was born in the sea and swam.
The Aku (bonito) was born, the Ahi (same kind) was born in the sea and swam.
The Opelu (same as above) was born, the Akule was born in the sea and swam.
The Amaama (mullet) was born, the Anae (large kind) was born in the sea and swam.
The Ehu was born, the Nehu was born in the sea and swam.
The Iao (used for bait) was born, the Aoao was born in the sea and swam.
The Ono (large fish) was born, the Omo was born in the sea and swam.
The Pahau (striped flatfish) was born, the Lauhau was born in the sea and swam.
The Moi was born, the Loiloi was born in the sea and swam.
The Mao was born, the Maomao was born in the sea and swam.
The Kaku was born, the A'ua'u was born in the sea and swam.
The Kupou was born, the Kupoupou was born in the sea and swam.
The Weke was born, the Lele was born in the sea and swam.
The Palani was born, the Nuku Moni was born in the sea and swam.
The Ulua was born, the Hahalua was born in the sea and swam.
The Aoaonui was born, the Pakukui was born in the sea and swam.
The Maiii was born, the Alaihi was born in the sea and swam.
The Oo was born, the Akilolo was born in the sea and swam.

Fish and Vine

The Nenue was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Lauhue that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.
Man by Waiololi, woman by Waiolola,
The Haha was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Puhala that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

Fish and Shrub

Man by Wai`ololī, woman by Wai`ololā,
The Pahau was born in the sea;
Guarded by the Lauhau that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.
Man by Waiololi, woman by Waiolola,
The Hee was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Walahee that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

Sea and Fresh Water Fish

Man by Wai`ololī, woman by Wai`ololā,
The Oopukai was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Oopuwai that lived in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

Eel and Tree

Man by Wai`ololī, woman by Wai`ololā,
The Puhi kauwila was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Uwila that lived in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

Fish and Breadfruit

Man by Wai`ololī, woman by Wai`ololā,
The Umaumalei was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Ulei that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

Eel and Tree

Man by Wai`ololī, woman by Wai`ololā,
The Pakukui was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by Laukukui that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.
Man by Waiololi, woman by Waiolola,
The Laumilo was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Milo that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

Fish and Large Tree

Man by Wai`ololī, woman by Wai`ololā,
The Kapoou was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by Kou that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

Fish and Yam or Uhi (Impomea batatas)

Man by Wai`ololī, woman by Wai`ololā,
The Hauliuli was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Uhi that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

Man by Wai`ololī, woman by Wai`ololā,
The Weke was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Wauke that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

Fish and Awa (Kawa).

Man by Wai`ololī, woman by Wai`ololā,
The Aawa was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Awa that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

Fish and Grass

Man by Wai`ololī, woman by Wai`ololā,
The Ulae was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Mokae that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

Man by Wai`ololī, woman by Wai`ololā,
The Palaoa (sea-elephant) was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Aoa that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

The train of Palaoa (walrus) that swim by
Embracing only the deep blue waters,
Also the Opule that move in schools,
The deep is as nothing to them.
And the Kumimi (a crab) and Lohelohe (a locust) cling together
To the rolling motion of their cradle
On their path so narrow, so slim, to move,
Till Pimoe (a mermaid) is found in the depth of her cave,
With Hikawainui, and Hikawaina
Amongst piles of heated coral
That were thrown in piles unevenly,
So thin and scraggy in the blue tide.
Surely it must be dismal, that unknown deep;
’Tis a sea of coral from the depth of Paliuli,
And when the land recedes from them
The east is still in darkness of night,
                ’Tis night.

 
               
               
  2nd Age 3rd Age 4th Age 5th Age 6th & 7th Ages 8th & 9th Ages  
                   
  10th Age 11th Age 12th Age 12th Age Branch 14th Age 15th Age 16th Age  
                   
             
   
  History  Atlas  Culture Language Links  

donch.com home     photos     baritone ukulele     lucky u live hawai'i