INTRODUCTION:
Kūanuʻuanu was the male, a high chief; Laʻamaomao was the female, related to kāhuna. The child they bore was Pākaʻa, a male.
Keawenuiaumi was chief of Hawaiʻi island. Kūanuʻuanu was his favorite servant who was skilled in many things and took great care of his chief. He trained his son, Pākaʻa to care for his chief in the same way; and Pākaʻa trained his son, Kūapākaʻa to do the same. "Kū i ka māna: reflected in the one that has raised you"; said of a person who carries the same traits as the one of whom he was raised by.
Though the legacy of Kūanuʻuanu seemed to carry on through generations, there was a time during Pākaʻa's term where because of jealousy and lies told to the chief, Pākaʻa was stripped of his kuleana (responsibilities) to his chief. He moves to Molokaʻi and lives a simple life. After some time, his son Kūapākaʻa is born and is trained by his father. Keawenuiaumi begins to miss Pākaʻa and sends messengers in search of Pākaʻa to bring him back. As the messengers approach Molokai by canoe, Kūapākaʻa riddles with them and the messengers do not realize who he is. He advises them not to go on. They disregard him. He uses his wind gourd, named after his grandmother, Laʻamaomao, and begins to call upon the winds causing canoes to capsize and the chief's party to stay on Molokai with him.
How does Kūapākaʻa gain back the kuleana that was passed down from his grandfather, Kūanuʻuanu, to his father Pākaʻa?
Keawenuiaumi was chief of Hawaiʻi island. Kūanuʻuanu was his favorite servant who was skilled in many things and took great care of his chief. He trained his son, Pākaʻa to care for his chief in the same way; and Pākaʻa trained his son, Kūapākaʻa to do the same. "Kū i ka māna: reflected in the one that has raised you"; said of a person who carries the same traits as the one of whom he was raised by.
Though the legacy of Kūanuʻuanu seemed to carry on through generations, there was a time during Pākaʻa's term where because of jealousy and lies told to the chief, Pākaʻa was stripped of his kuleana (responsibilities) to his chief. He moves to Molokaʻi and lives a simple life. After some time, his son Kūapākaʻa is born and is trained by his father. Keawenuiaumi begins to miss Pākaʻa and sends messengers in search of Pākaʻa to bring him back. As the messengers approach Molokai by canoe, Kūapākaʻa riddles with them and the messengers do not realize who he is. He advises them not to go on. They disregard him. He uses his wind gourd, named after his grandmother, Laʻamaomao, and begins to call upon the winds causing canoes to capsize and the chief's party to stay on Molokai with him.
How does Kūapākaʻa gain back the kuleana that was passed down from his grandfather, Kūanuʻuanu, to his father Pākaʻa?
MODULE 9: AT-A-GLANCE
Read the Wind Gourd of Laʻamaomao: Ka Ipu Makani o Laʻamaomao by Moses Nakuʻina and translated by Esther Moʻokini & Sarah Nakoa. It has been uploaded in parts (Introduction, Part I, Part II, Part III, Glossary).
Meiwi: This moʻolelo is still perhaps the greatest source that names most of the winds across the islands. In Hawaiian culture, our kūpuna named everything; each phase of the moon, each part of the land, every type of wind and every type of rain distinct to its place. Wind and rain names found in moʻolelo and mele are often included within other meiwi. For instance, it could be found within an ʻōlelo noʻeau or in a description of place or within a mele. By including these names into mele and moʻolelo, they live on.
Meiwi: This moʻolelo is still perhaps the greatest source that names most of the winds across the islands. In Hawaiian culture, our kūpuna named everything; each phase of the moon, each part of the land, every type of wind and every type of rain distinct to its place. Wind and rain names found in moʻolelo and mele are often included within other meiwi. For instance, it could be found within an ʻōlelo noʻeau or in a description of place or within a mele. By including these names into mele and moʻolelo, they live on.
MODULE ASSIGNMENTS CHECKLIST:
READING GUIDE:
1. Who is chief of Hawaiʻi island during the time of this moʻolelo?
2. What is the genealogy of Kūapākaʻa?
3. Who/What is Pākaʻa named for?
4. Who raises Pākaʻa?
5. Who is jealous of Pākaʻa? What do they do to him?
6. What were Pākaʻa's aumakua that kept the aliʻi from making their canoes?
7. Why did Pākaʻa and Kūapākaʻa need to build 6 hale and make 6 loʻi?
8. What does Kūapākaʻa do to get back at his father's enemies?
2. What is the genealogy of Kūapākaʻa?
3. Who/What is Pākaʻa named for?
4. Who raises Pākaʻa?
5. Who is jealous of Pākaʻa? What do they do to him?
6. What were Pākaʻa's aumakua that kept the aliʻi from making their canoes?
7. Why did Pākaʻa and Kūapākaʻa need to build 6 hale and make 6 loʻi?
8. What does Kūapākaʻa do to get back at his father's enemies?