--- title: Paao From Samoa — Hawaiian Historical Legends · full text with trees description: Paao From Samoa, «Hawaiian Historical Legends» by W. D. Westervelt: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Ka-meha-meha is the chief name around which Hawaiian history gathers. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66357/8/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Hawaiian Historical Legends](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66357/) / Paao From Samoa # Paao From Samoa Paao From Samoa of «Hawaiian Historical Legends» by W. D. Westervelt: the whole text, 236 sentences and 3198 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66357/8/page/2/) Ka-meha-meha is the chief name around which Hawaiian history gathers.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") It is the nimbus of a cloud of stories, legends and chants.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Hawaiians never reckoned history by dates, but by genealogies—as did the Hebrews.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") They measured time not by the years but by the lives of men; not by the days passed, but by the deeds done.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") These genealogies formed the most essential part of Hawaiian literature.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") They proved the royal descent of the high chiefs.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") When Ka-meha-meha became king of “The Rainbow Islands,” his royal chant took the supreme place.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") Other genealogies lost their importance except as they blended in that of the great king.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") He traced his royal blood to Pili, “from a foreign land,” and through Pili back to Wa-kea, a Polynesian chief of perhaps the second century; and thence back through a series of hero-gods to Kumu-Honua, “the first created.”[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") It is a remarkable genealogy and worthy of study.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") In November, 1736, he was born in North Kohala, Hawaii.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Pili had settled in North Kohala about thirty generations preceding.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") A quarter of a century is accepted as the average life of a generation.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Pili, therefore, landed in Hawaii in the early part of the eleventh century.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") The story of Pili depends upon another story which must be told first.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") In fact the Hawaiian traditions tell a great deal more about Paao, the founder of the high-priest family of Hawaii, than about Pili, the ancestor of kings.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Not far from the year 1100 A.D., two priest brothers were living on Upolu, one of the Samoan Islands.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Lonopele, the elder, lived in one of the luxurious valleys opening upon the seacoast.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") Paao, the younger, was a seaman as well as a priest.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") He lived near the beach, where he kept a small fleet of canoes.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") In some way bitter feeling arose between the two households, making them jealous and suspicious of each other.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") One day Lonopele came to the temple where his brother was making ready to sacrifice a sacred black hog.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") “Where are you, O Paao,” he cried, “that you prepare a sacrifice for the favour of the gods, when you do not watch your oldest boy?”[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") “What is your thought?” asked Paao.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") “Some of my choice fruits, brought from Tahiti, are beginning to ripen; and each night Kaino, your son, creeps under the low branches, and gathers whatever is good.”[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is false!” angrily replied the father.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Theft was considered the greatest of crimes among the Polynesians.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") “No\![28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") It is true.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") He is coming even now from his feast.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") If he touches my fruit again he shall die.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") It is tabu” (sacred).[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") “E\![33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") Kaino!” called the father.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") The boy came near, evidently having just been eating.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") “Have you taken fruit from Lonopele in the night?”[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") “No. I have fruit at home, but better are the baked dog and fish.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") I would not eat his fruit.”[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Lonopele became angry, and cried out: “May the god, Kanaloa, curse you and break your body into fragments, for your falsehood.”[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") “Cut open my stomach, O my uncle, and I shall be proved innocent.”[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") The ancient days had little of the modern care for children.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Fathers and mothers readily gave away their babes, or slew them with their own hands.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") Paao determined to substitute his son for the sacrifice he was preparing, and thus prove his guilt or innocence.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") No trace of fruit was found in the body.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") Lonopele bowed his head in shame and hastened away.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") When the flush of indignant anger had passed, Paao grieved over the body which lay decomposing upon the altar.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") The Hawaiian traditions say that after this act he determined to leave Upolu.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") He called together a few of his trusted friends and told them his purpose.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") They agreed to prepare their large canoes, and go with him, seeking the “Burning-Java,” or Hawaii, somewhere toward the north.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") The sides of the boats were to be built two or three feet higher.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") This was done by hewing boards with stone axes, and sewing them to each other through holes, drilled by bones, using cords of cocoanut fibre for thread.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus canoes were prepared capable of carrying thirty to sixty persons.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") Dried bananas, pigs, fish, and pounded taro were made ready.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") One day Paao saw his brother’s son coming near the boats.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") In a fit of anger he rushed upon the boy and slew him.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") Lonopele soon discovered the murder, and made war upon Paao.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") Paao and his friends launched their canoes as fast as possible, placing in them their families and such provisions as were at hand.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") His warriors, defeated by Lonopele, hastened to the canoes, and shoved out into the deep waters.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") The battle was evidently fierce, for the legends say that some of the prophet friends who could not escape to their canoes, leaped from the precipitous cliffs to “fly” to the boats, and were dashed to pieces on the rocks below.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") Lonopele probably drove them over the brink of a precipice.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") One of the priest-friends leaped into the water, calling for Paao to return and rescue him.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") “Not so,” answered Paao, “we have left the shore.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") It would be an evil omen to turn back.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") We will wait for you where we are.”[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") The legends say, “The priest flew like a bird to the canoes” and was warmly received by Paao.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") Lonopele sent a storm to destroy the canoes.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Probably he launched his own fleet and made pursuit.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") Two great fish aided the fugitives.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") The Aku pushed the boats.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") The Opelea hindered the storm waves by opposing his great body and breaking their force.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") Lonopele ordered his magic bird to take up great waves of water and pour them from the sky, overwhelming the fugitives.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") The canoe-men hurriedly arranged mats covering the boats, and the water was turned into the sea.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus they escaped.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") The days passed.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") Sometimes showers fell upon the mats arranged like funnels, filling the water calabashes afresh.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") Sometimes they passed through a school of fish, and caught all they could, drying them for future use.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") Some died and descended to the “bountiful islands in the world under the waters.”[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") Some of the canoes were abandoned.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") And they sailed on almost hopelessly, still moving northward.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") One day Paao said: “I was watching the stars last night and my thought is that some water-god has put his hands under out boats and moved us away from Hawaii.”[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") An astrologer said: “I have heard the pilots from the burning islands talk about the water-gods and one of them claimed that sometimes a strange god had turned their boats from a straight path.”[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") The action of the ocean currents was supposed to be the malicious work of some strange deity.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") That night Paao could not sleep.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") He studied the stars.[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") He felt a breeze that seemed to him in some way different from the ordinary sea-breezes.[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") “Do you feel the new wind from the eastern star?” he said softly to his steersmen.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") “Aye!” they replied.[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") “We have to hold the steering paddles more firmly.”[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") Paao awakened his prophet and whispered: “Does the new wind have a voice for you?”[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") The prophet sniffed the air, then stepped upon the high prow and breathed again.[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") “Aye, the wind has the voice of smoke, perhaps the smoke of the burning-mountain.”[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") “Say nothing about the voice.[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") We will change our course and sail toward the bright star.”[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") During the day the men said, “this is a new wind and it has the storm voice.”[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") The next day came, and then the next.[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") Paao and his prophet alternated between hope and fear.[96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") The awful suffering of hunger and thirst was among them.[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") If a mistake had been made there was no possible escape from starvation.[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") In the very early morning of the third day, as Paao was restlessly looking eastward, his wife crept to his side.[99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") “O my Paao,” she said, “I am about to die.[100](100/ "tree and pragmatics") I have just dreamed of the green-walled paradise.[101](101/ "tree and pragmatics") I smelled the sweet Maile blossoms and the leaves of our marriage wreath.[102](102/ "tree and pragmatics") I saw the spirits of my sons stand by the cocoanut tree.[103](103/ "tree and pragmatics") The vision is from the gods, I must surely die.”[104](104/ "tree and pragmatics") “Hush,” said Paao quickly, “I too have heard the voice of the Maile born on the winds but I was awake.[105](105/ "tree and pragmatics") You shall not die.[106](106/ "tree and pragmatics") Call the astrologer, and then listen to his words.”[107](107/ "tree and pragmatics") The astrologer came quickly.[108](108/ "tree and pragmatics") “Take breath strong and deep and tell me what the winds say.”[109](109/ "tree and pragmatics") “I hear no voice,” was the reply.[110](110/ "tree and pragmatics") Paao handed his friend a calabash with a little precious water, bidding him bathe his parched mouth and nostrils.[111](111/ "tree and pragmatics") “Now what do the winds say?”[112](112/ "tree and pragmatics") “Hawaii\![113](113/ "tree and pragmatics") Hawaii!! and the strong voice of the Maile blossoms, and the gentle voice of the sugar-cane.[114](114/ "tree and pragmatics") I can hear the bread-fruit call ‘Come and eat.’[115](115/ "tree and pragmatics") The Lau-hala’s voice comes over the sea.[116](116/ "tree and pragmatics") Awake, awake, oh canoe-men\![117](117/ "tree and pragmatics") The fingers of the morning touch the mountains of Hawaii.[118](118/ "tree and pragmatics") The morning is raising its hand to beckon us on.[119](119/ "tree and pragmatics") O friends of the canoes, awake\![120](120/ "tree and pragmatics") Hear the land voices.[121](121/ "tree and pragmatics") Hear the wind that has no salt in it.[122](122/ "tree and pragmatics") Awake and hear Hawaii.”[123](123/ "tree and pragmatics") In a moment shouts and songs of gladness were heard from all the canoes.[124](124/ "tree and pragmatics") When hope begins to grow, it ripens rapidly.[125](125/ "tree and pragmatics") New life, new strength, pervaded the weakened wanderers.[126](126/ "tree and pragmatics") The steersmen unconsciously changed the course of the boats toward the blue haze of land outlined by the dawn.[127](127/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus the day passed.[128](128/ "tree and pragmatics") There was no longer any need to husband food.[129](129/ "tree and pragmatics") They ate the last morsels.[130](130/ "tree and pragmatics") They drained the water from their calabashes.[131](131/ "tree and pragmatics") They cheered each other from boat to boat.[132](132/ "tree and pragmatics") They toiled hard in rowing, and as the night dropped its shadows around them, they made preparations for landing in this new home.[133](133/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66357/8/page/2/) - ← previous: [The Sons of Kii](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66357/7/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66357/8/page/2/) - ↑ back to [Hawaiian Historical Legends](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66357/)