--- title: How Hiiaka Found Wahine-omao — Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology) · full text with trees description: How Hiiaka Found Wahine-omao, «Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology)» by W. D. Westervelt: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: The story of the journey of the youngest sister of Pele, the goddess of volcanic fires, when seeking a husband for her --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/17/) [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 Legends of Volcanoes (mytholo…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/) / How Hiiaka Found Wahine-omao # How Hiiaka Found Wahine-omao How Hiiaka Found Wahine-omao of «Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology)» by W. D. Westervelt: the whole text, 103 sentences and 1486 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. The story of the journey of the youngest sister of Pele, the goddess of volcanic fires, when seeking a husband for her oldest sister, has a simple and yet exceedingly human element in the incidents which cluster around the finding of a faithful follower and friend.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") It is a story of two girls attracted to each other by lovable qualities.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Hiiaka was a goddess with an attendant from the old Hawaiian fairyland—the Guardian of Ferns.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") Then there was added the human helper, Wahine-omao, or “the light-colored woman.”[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") While Hiiaka was journeying through the lower part of the forest which she had freed from demons, the Guardian of Ferns said: “I hear the grunting of a pig, but cannot tell whether it is before us or on one side.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Where is it—from the sea or inland?”[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Hiiaka said: “This is a pig from the sea.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") It is the Humuhumu-nukunuku-a-puaa.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") It is the grunting, angular pigfish.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") There is also a pig from the land.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") There are two pigs.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") They are before us.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") They belong to a woman and are for a gift—a sacrifice to the sister goddess who is over us two.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") This is Wahine-omao.”[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") They walked on through the restful shadows of the forest and soon met a beautiful woman carrying a little black pig and a striped, angular fish.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") Humuhumu means “grunting.”[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Nuku-nuku means “cornered.”[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Puaa means “pig.”[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") The Humuhumu-nukunuku-a-puaa was a fish with a sharp-pointed back, grunting like a pig.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") It was the fish into which the fabled demi-god Kamapuaa changed himself when fleeing from the destructive fires of Pele.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") Hiiaka greeted the stranger, “Love to you, O Wahine-omao.”[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") The woman replied: “It is strange that you two have my name while your eyes are unknown to me.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") What are your names and where do you go?”[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") The sister of Pele concealed their names.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") “I am Ku and Ka is the name of my friend.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") A troublesome journey is before us beyond the waters of Hilo and the kupuas \[demons\] dwelling there and along the hard paths over the cliffs of the seacoast even to the steady blowing winds of Kohala.”[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") The newcomer looked longingly into the eyes of the young chiefess and said: “I have a great desire for that troublesome journey, but this pig is a sacrifice for the goddess of the crater.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Shall I throw away the pig and go with you?”[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Hiiaka told her to hurry on, saying: “If your purpose is strong to go with us, take your sacrifice pig to the woman of the pit.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") Then come quickly after us.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") You will find us.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") While you go say continually, ‘O Ku\![32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") O Ka\![33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") O Ku\![34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") O Ka!’[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") When you arrive at the pit throw the pig down into the fire and return quickly, saying, ‘O Ku\![36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") O Ka!’ until you find us.”[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") The woman said: “I will surely remember your words, but you are so beautiful and have such power that I think you are Pele.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Take my pig now and end my trouble.”[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she started to throw herself and her offerings on the ground before Hiiaka.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Hiiaka forbade this and explained that the offering must be taken as had been vowed.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the woman took her sacred gifts and went up through the woods to the crater, saying over and over, “O Ku\![42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") O Ka!” all the time realizing that new activity and life were coming to her and that she was moving as swiftly as the wind.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") In a little while she stood on the high point above the crater called Kolea—the place where birds rested.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") Before her lay a great circular plain, black-walled, full of burning lava leaping up in wonderful fire-dances and boiling violently around a group of beautiful women.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") She called to Pele:[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") “E Pele e\![47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") Here is my sacrifice—a pig.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") E Pele e\![49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") Here is my gift—a pig.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") Here is a pig for you, O goddess of the burning stones.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") Life for me.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") Life for you.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") The flowers of fire wave gently.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") Here is your pig.”—Amama.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") The woman threw the pig and the fish over the edge into the mystic fires beneath and leaned over, looking down into the deadliness of the fire and smoke which received the sacrifice.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") Flaming hands leaped up, caught the gifts and drew them down under the red surface.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") But in a moment there was a rush upward of a fountain of lava and hurled up with it she saw the body of the little black pig tossing in the changing jets of fire.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") Down it went again into the whirling, groaning fires of the underworld.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she knew that the sacrifice had been accepted and that she was free from her vow of service to Pele.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") Every tabu upon her free action had been removed and she was free—free to do according to her own wish.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she saw one of the women of the pit slowly changing into an old woman lying on a mat of fire apart from the others.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") It was Pele who was always growing more and more jealous and angry with Hiiaka.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele called from the pit of fire, “O woman! have you seen two travellers?”[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") When she learned that they had been seen going on their journey she charged her new worshipper to go with Hiiaka and always spy upon her movements.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") Wahine-omao became angry and cried out: “When I came here I thought you were beautiful with the glory of fire resting on you.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Your sisters are beautiful, but you are a harsh old woman.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") Your eyes are red.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") Your eyebrows and hair are burned.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") You are the woman with scorched eyelids.”[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she ran from the crater, saying, “O Ku\![71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") O Ka!”[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") Her feet seemed to be placed on a swift-moving cloud and in a few moments she was dropped by the side of Hiiaka.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") The three women, Hiiaka, the powerful, Pau-o-palae, the fairy of the ferns, and Wahine-omao, the brave and beautiful young woman of the forest, went on toward Hilo.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") They came to a grove of ohia, or native apple, trees, and the new friend begged them to rest for a little while in this place, for it was her father’s home.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") Hiiaka hesitated, saying: “I am afraid that you would entangle me, O friend\![76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") Some one is waiting below whom I must see.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") Our journey cannot end.”[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh,” said the woman, “I intend not to stay.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") Stepping sideways was my thought to see my family dwelling in this house—then journey on.”[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") They turned aside through the red-fruited tall ohia trees to a resting-place called Papa-lau-ahi, or the fireleaf of lava spread out flat like a board.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") This has always been a resting-place for travellers coming across the island to Hilo Bay.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") There they greeted friends and rested, but Hiiaka thought lovingly of another friend, Hopoe, far dearer to her than any one else.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") Tears rolled down her cheeks.[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") Wahine-omao said, “Why do you weep, O friend?”[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") The reply came: “Because of my friend who lives over by that sea far below us.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") The smoke of the fire-anger of our sister-lord is falling over toward my friend Hopoe.”[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") Wahine-omao said: “One of our people truly lives over there.[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") We know and love her well, but her name is Nana-huki.[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") The name is given because when looking at you her eyes are like a cord pulling you to her.”[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes,” said Hiiaka, “that is her name, but for me she had the sweet-scented hala wreaths and the beautiful wreaths of the red blossoms of the lehua and baskets of the most delicious treasures of the sea.[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") So my name for her is Hopoe.”[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") The name Hopoe may mean “one encircled,” as with leis, or wreaths, or as with loving arms, or possibly it might convey the idea of one set apart in a special class or company.[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") Both thoughts might well be included in the deep love of the young goddess for a human friend.[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") The time came for the three women to hasten on their way.[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") The final alohas were said.[96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") The friends rubbed noses in the old Hawaiian way and went down to Hilo.[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") Hiiaka looked again from the upland over to the distant seacoast and wailed:[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") “My journey opens to Kauai.[99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") Loving is my thought for my aikane, My bosom friend— Hopoe—my sweet-scented hala.[100](100/ "tree and pragmatics") Far will we go; Broad is the land; Perhaps Kauai is the end.”[101](101/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus Hiiaka sent her loving thoughts over forest and rugged lava plains to her dearest friend even while she opened her heart to another friend who served her with the utmost faithfulness and love all the rest of her eventful journey.[102](102/ "tree and pragmatics") XV[103](103/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [Hiiaka’s Battle With Demons](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/16/) - next →: [Hiiaka Catching a Ghost](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/18/) - ↑ back to [Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/)