INTRODUCTION:
The moʻolelo of Lāʻieikawai by S.N. Haleʻole, was first printed in the Hawaiian newspaper, the Kūʻokoʻa, in the early 1860s.
“Pua ka wiliwili, nanahu ka manō.” When the wiliwili tree blooms, the shark bites. A beautiful woman attracts young men - sharks - who become fierce rivals over her. (Pukuʻi) This ʻōlelo noʻeau gives us a good sense of this moʻolelo.
Lāʻieikawai and her twin sister Lāʻielohelohe are born into a chiefly family. At birth they are hidden from their father who wanted desperately a first born son. Lāʻieikawai is raised by their grandmother, Waka, while Lāʻielohelohe is raised by their grandfather, Kapukaihaoa, both under strict kapu (taboo) as to keep their identity hidden from their father. Lāʻieikawai is one day sought out by a stranger who is aware of the chiefly signs that appear in her presence. Word gets out and ʻAiwohikupua vows to marry her. He begs his sisters to win her over for him and when they aren’t able to at first attempt he disowns them. The sisters finally spark a relationship with Lāʻieikawai through the youngest sister’s playing of the lāʻī flute. They become her guardians and try to protect her from their brother ʻAiwohikupua.
Does ʻAiwohikupua finally catch the attention of Lāʻieikawai? Or, does Lāʻieikawai end up with another? Find out what happens in another of my favorite love stories.
“Pua ka wiliwili, nanahu ka manō.” When the wiliwili tree blooms, the shark bites. A beautiful woman attracts young men - sharks - who become fierce rivals over her. (Pukuʻi) This ʻōlelo noʻeau gives us a good sense of this moʻolelo.
Lāʻieikawai and her twin sister Lāʻielohelohe are born into a chiefly family. At birth they are hidden from their father who wanted desperately a first born son. Lāʻieikawai is raised by their grandmother, Waka, while Lāʻielohelohe is raised by their grandfather, Kapukaihaoa, both under strict kapu (taboo) as to keep their identity hidden from their father. Lāʻieikawai is one day sought out by a stranger who is aware of the chiefly signs that appear in her presence. Word gets out and ʻAiwohikupua vows to marry her. He begs his sisters to win her over for him and when they aren’t able to at first attempt he disowns them. The sisters finally spark a relationship with Lāʻieikawai through the youngest sister’s playing of the lāʻī flute. They become her guardians and try to protect her from their brother ʻAiwohikupua.
Does ʻAiwohikupua finally catch the attention of Lāʻieikawai? Or, does Lāʻieikawai end up with another? Find out what happens in another of my favorite love stories.
MODULE 8: AT-A-GLANCE
Read the moʻolelo of twin sisters, Lāʻieikawai and Lāʻielohelohe, in the moʻolelo Lāʻieikawai. Due to the large size of the file, the moʻolelo was scanned into three parts. You must download all three parts to read the entire moʻolelo. ( Part I, Part II, Part III).
Watch the hana keaka (hula drama) below.
Meiwi: ʻŌlelo Noʻeau is a Hawaiian proverb, wise sayings common to our kūpuna of the past. Some of our ʻōlelo noʻeau speak on characteristics or values, some on plants or animals, some on places or even specific historical people in our culture. Many of our ʻōlelo noʻeau are lessons. For instance, if you love to eat wana or hāʻukeʻuke, there is an ʻōlelo noʻeau that teaches us, "pala ka hala, momona ka hāʻukeʻuke," when the hala is ripe, the hāʻukeʻuke is fat. Or, as is said in the intro of this moʻolelo, "pua ka wiliwili, nanahu ka manō." Itʻs literal translation teaches us that when the wiliwili is flowering, that is when the sharks are in attack mode. However, the kaona in this ʻōlelo noeʻau suits this moʻolelo of Lāʻieikawai, "a beautiful woman attracts young men -sharks- who become fierce rivals over her."
ʻŌlelo noʻeau found in moʻolelo or even mele are another meiwi (Hawaiian literary feature/device). Mary Kawena Pukuʻi compiled over a thousand ʻōlelo noʻeau in ʻŌlelo Noʻeau: Hawaiian Proverbs & Wise Sayings. Find an ʻōlelo noʻeau that describes your character, or a place in your moʻolelo that you might use in your Digital Storybook. Explain its relevance. Only one ʻōlelo noʻeau required for this assignment.
Discussion: Some people will go through great lengths and do unusual things for love. This ʻōlelo noʻeau, "Pua ka wiliwili, nanahu ka manō," is so evident in this moʻolelo with numerous aliʻi trying to win over Lāʻieikawai's attention. Each of the aliʻi tried so hard to get her attention and yet Lāʻieikawai remains steadfast to her promise for some time. In your own perspective, what would you say the lesson of this moʻolelo is as it has to do with love? What examples of the moʻolelo lead you to this?
Watch the hana keaka (hula drama) below.
Meiwi: ʻŌlelo Noʻeau is a Hawaiian proverb, wise sayings common to our kūpuna of the past. Some of our ʻōlelo noʻeau speak on characteristics or values, some on plants or animals, some on places or even specific historical people in our culture. Many of our ʻōlelo noʻeau are lessons. For instance, if you love to eat wana or hāʻukeʻuke, there is an ʻōlelo noʻeau that teaches us, "pala ka hala, momona ka hāʻukeʻuke," when the hala is ripe, the hāʻukeʻuke is fat. Or, as is said in the intro of this moʻolelo, "pua ka wiliwili, nanahu ka manō." Itʻs literal translation teaches us that when the wiliwili is flowering, that is when the sharks are in attack mode. However, the kaona in this ʻōlelo noeʻau suits this moʻolelo of Lāʻieikawai, "a beautiful woman attracts young men -sharks- who become fierce rivals over her."
ʻŌlelo noʻeau found in moʻolelo or even mele are another meiwi (Hawaiian literary feature/device). Mary Kawena Pukuʻi compiled over a thousand ʻōlelo noʻeau in ʻŌlelo Noʻeau: Hawaiian Proverbs & Wise Sayings. Find an ʻōlelo noʻeau that describes your character, or a place in your moʻolelo that you might use in your Digital Storybook. Explain its relevance. Only one ʻōlelo noʻeau required for this assignment.
Discussion: Some people will go through great lengths and do unusual things for love. This ʻōlelo noʻeau, "Pua ka wiliwili, nanahu ka manō," is so evident in this moʻolelo with numerous aliʻi trying to win over Lāʻieikawai's attention. Each of the aliʻi tried so hard to get her attention and yet Lāʻieikawai remains steadfast to her promise for some time. In your own perspective, what would you say the lesson of this moʻolelo is as it has to do with love? What examples of the moʻolelo lead you to this?
READING GUIDE
1. What were the hōʻailona (signs) signifying the birth of Lāʻieikawai and Lāʻielohelohe? What were the signs when Lāʻieikawai appeared?
2. Who were the parents of Lāʻieikawai and Lāʻielohelohe?
3. Who were their mākua hānai (adopted parent, one that raised the child)?
4. Where were they each raised?
5. Who was ʻAiwohikupua and who were his sisters?
6. What made Lāʻieikawai befriend the sisters of ʻAiwohikupua?
7. What was something unique about Lāʻieikawai's home?
8. What was something unusual about Lāʻieikawai?
9. What are the relationships within this moʻolelo? How did these relationships come to be?
2. Who were the parents of Lāʻieikawai and Lāʻielohelohe?
3. Who were their mākua hānai (adopted parent, one that raised the child)?
4. Where were they each raised?
5. Who was ʻAiwohikupua and who were his sisters?
6. What made Lāʻieikawai befriend the sisters of ʻAiwohikupua?
7. What was something unique about Lāʻieikawai's home?
8. What was something unusual about Lāʻieikawai?
9. What are the relationships within this moʻolelo? How did these relationships come to be?