🧚 Pili and Noho

Hiiaka remembered that there were two dragons in the river Wailuku, a river of swift cascades and beautiful waterfalls near Hilo, so she turned back filled with the wish to destroy them and free the people from that danger.1

At the place where the people crossed the river were two things which looked like large, flat logs tossing in the water.2 Any person wishing to cross the river would lay fish, sweet potatoes, and other kinds of food on the logs.3 When these things disappeared the logs would act sometimes as a bridge and sometimes as a boat, taking those who had given presents across the river.4 These logs were the great tongues of the dragons Pili-a-moo and Noho-a-moo, i.e., the dragon Pili and the dragon Noho.5

Hiiaka and her two companions came to the river side.6 The travellers called for an open way across.7

One dragon said to the other, “Here comes one of our family.”8

The other said: “What of that?9 She can cross if she pays.10 If she does not give our price, she shall not go over in this place.”11

Hiiaka ordered the dragons to prepare her way, but they refused.12 Then she taunted them as slaves, ordering them to bring vegetable food and fish.13 The dragons became angry and thrashed the water into whirlpools, trying to catch the travellers and pull them into the river.14 The people from far and near gathered to the place of this strange conflict.15

A chief laughed at Hiiaka, saying, “These are dragon-gods, and yet you dispute with them!”16

Hiiaka said, “Yes, they are dragon-gods, but when I attack them they will die.”17

The chief offered to make any bet desired that she could not injure the dragons.18

Hiiaka said, “I have no property, but I wager my body, my life, against your property that the dragons die.”19

Then began a great conflict along the banks and in the swift waters.20 Hiiaka struck the dragons with her magic skirt in which was concealed the divine power of lightning.21 They tried to escape, but Hiiaka struck again and again and killed them, changing the bodies into blocks of stone.22 Then she called the chief, saying, “I have made the way safe for your people and you; I give back your property and the land of the dragons.”23

Hiiaka and her friends turned north again and hastened to Waipio Valley to catch Mahiki—the demon of the whirlwind.24 He ran down to meet her and threw dust all over them, then fled inland to the mountains.25 Hiiaka chanted:26

“I am above Waipio, My eyes look sharply down.27 I have gone along the path By the sea of Makaukiu, Full flowing like the surf.28 I have seen Mahiki, I have seen that he is evil, Evil, very evil indeed.”29

MOO-LAU30

Then Hiiaka thought of Moo-lau, who was the great dragon-god of the district Kohala.31 He had a great multitude of lesser gods as his servants.32

Hiiaka clearly and sweetly called for the dragon-gods to prepare a way for her and also to bring gifts for herself and her companions.33

Moo-lau answered, “You have no path through my lands unless you have great strength or can pay the price.”34

Then began one of the great legendary battles of ancient Hawaiian folk-lore.35 Hiiaka, throwing aside her flower-wreaths and common clothes, took her lightning pa-u (skirt) and attacked Moo-lau.36 He fought her in his dragon form.37 He breathed fierce winds against her.38 He struck her with his swift-moving tail.39 He tried to catch her between his powerful jaws.40 He coiled and twisted and swiftly whirled about, trying to knock her down, but she beat him with her powerful hands in which dwelt some of the divine power of volcanoes.41 She struck his great body with her magic skirt in which dwelt the power of the lightning.42 Each pitted supernatural powers against the other.43 Each struck with magic force and each threw out magic strength to ward off deadly blows.44 They became tired, very tired, and, turning away from each other, sought rest.45 Again they fought and again rested.46

Hiiaka chanted an incantation, or call for help:47

“Moo-lau has a dart Of the wood of the uhi-uhi; [17] A god is Moo-lau, Moo-lau is a god!”48

This was a spirit-call going out from Hiiaka.49 It broke through the clouds hanging on the sides of the mountains.50 It pierced the long, long way to the crater of Kilauea.51 It roused the followers of the fire-goddess.52 A host of destructive forces, swift as lightning, left the pit of fire to aid Hiiaka.53

Meanwhile Moo-lau had sent his people to spy out the condition of Hiiaka.54 Then he called for all the reptile gods of his district to help him.55 He rallied all the gnomes and evil powers he could order to come to his aid and make a mighty attack.56

When the battle seemed to be going against her, suddenly the Ho-ai-ku men and the Ho-ai-ka women, the destructive gnomes from the crater, broke in a storm upon Moo-lau and his demons.57 Oh, how the little people from the pit devoured and destroyed the dragon army!58 The slaughter of the reptile horde was quickly accomplished and Hiiaka soon saw the body of her enemy the dragon-god trampled underfoot.59

When the god Mahiki saw that Moo-lau was slain and his army defeated he raised a great cloud of dust and fled far off around the western side of the island.60 The whirlwind was one of the earth-monsters which even the sister of the goddess of volcanoes could not destroy.61

Many were the evil demi-gods who tried to hinder Hiiaka in her journey along the east coast of the island Hawaii.62 Sharks fought her from the seas.63 The gnomes and dragons of valley and forest tried to destroy her.64 Even birds of evil omen came into the fight against her, but she conquered and killed until the land was freed from its enemies and the people of the districts along the sea could journey in comparative safety.65

Pau-o-palae, the goddess of ferns, met the chief of this land which had been freed from the power of the dragon.66 She saw him swimming in the sea and, forgetting her companions, leaped in to sport with him.67 They at once decided to be married.68 Then she turned aside to his new home, leaving Hiiaka and Wahine-omao to go on after Lohiau.69

XVII70

LOHIAU71

The story of Hiiaka’s journey over the seas which surround the Hawaiian Islands, and through dangers and perplexities, cannot be fully told in the limits of these short stories.72 There are several versions, so only the substance of all can be given.73

On each island she slew dragons which had come from the ancient traditional home of the Polynesians, India.74 She destroyed many evil-minded gnomes and elves; fought the au-makuas and the demi-gods of land and sea; found the body of Lohiau put away in a cave and watched over by the dragon-women who had been defeated by Pele when in her long sleep she chanted the songs of the Winds of Kauai.75 She slew the guardians of the cave, carried the body to a house where she used powerful chants for restoration.76 She captured the wandering ghost of Lohiau and compelled it again to take up its home in the body, and then with Lohiau and Wahine-omao made the long journey to her home in the volcano.77 From the island of Hawaii to the island Kauai, and along the return journey Hiiaka’s path was marked with experiences beneficial to the people whom she passed.78 This must all be left untold except the story of Lohiau’s restoration to life and the conflict with Pele.79

As Hiiaka and her friend came near the island Kauai, Hiiaka told Wahine-omao that Lohiau was dead and that she saw the spirit standing by the opening of a cave out on the pali of Haena.80

Then she chanted to Lohiau:81

“The lehua is being covered by the sand, A little red flower remains on the plain, The body is hidden in the stones, The flower is lying in the path.82 Very useful is the water of Kaunu.”83

Thus she told the ghost that she would give new life even as dew on a thirsty flower.84 They landed and met Lohiau’s sisters and friends.85

Hiiaka asked about the death of Lohiau, and one sister said, “His breath left him and the body became yellow.”86 Hiiaka said: “There was no real reason for death, but the two women dragons took his spirit and held it captive.87 I will try to bring him back.88 Great is the magic power and strength of the two dragons and I am not a man, and may not win the victory.89 I will have something to eat, and then will go.90 You must establish a tabu for twenty days, and there must be quiet.91 No one can go to the mountains, nor into the sea.92 You must have a house made of ti [18] leaves for the dead body and make it very tight on all sides.”93

The next day they made the house.94 Hiiaka commanded that a door be made toward the east.95 Then Hiiaka said, “Let us open the door of the house.”96 When this was done, Hiiaka said: “To-morrow let the tabu be established on land and sea.97 To-morrow we commence our work.”98

She made arrangements to go to the cave in the precipice at dawn.99 Rain came down in floods and a strong wind swept the face of the precipice.100 A fog clung fast to the hills.101 The water rushed in torrents to the sea.102 It was an evil journey to Lohiau.103

At sunrise they went on through the storm.104 Hiiaka uttered this incantation:105

“Our halas greet the inland precipice, In the front of the calling hill.106 Let it call, You are calling to me.107 Here is the great hill outside.108 It is cold, Cold for us.”109

The dragons shouted for them to stay down, or they would destroy them on the rocks.110 But the small spirit voice of Lohiau called for Hiiaka to come and get him.111

Hiiaka chanted to Lohiau, telling him they would save him.112 As they went up, stones in showers fell around and upon them.113 One large stone struck Hiiaka in the breast, and she fell off the pali.114 Then they began to get up and sticks of all kinds fell upon them again, forcing Hiiaka over the precipice.115

The dragons leaped down on Hiiaka, trying to catch her in their mouths and strike her with their tails.116 Hiiaka struck them with her magic skirt, and their bodies were broken.117

The spirits of the dragons went into other bodies and leaped upon Hiiaka roaring, and biting and tearing her body.118 She swung her skirt up against the dragons, and burned their bodies to ashes.119 The dragons again took new bodies for the last and most bitter battle.120

Hiiaka told Wahine-omao to cover her body with leaves and sticks near the pali and in event of her death to return with the tidings to Hawaii.121

One dragon caught Hiiaka and bent her over.122 The other leaped upon Hiiaka, catching her around the neck and arm.123 One tried to pull off the pa-u and tear it to pieces.124