--- title: Destruction of Kamehameha’s Fish-ponds — Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology) · full text with trees description: Destruction of Kamehameha’s Fish-ponds, «Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology)» by W. D. Westervelt: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Mount Hualalai is on the western side of the island Hawaii. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/22/) [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/) / Destruction of Kamehameha’s Fish-ponds # Destruction of Kamehameha’s Fish-ponds Destruction of Kamehameha’s Fish-ponds of «Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology)» by W. D. Westervelt: the whole text, 65 sentences and 1177 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. Mount Hualalai is on the western side of the island Hawaii.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") It has been announced as an extinct volcano because few signs of volcanic life appear at present; but in the year 1801 there was a very violent eruption from the foot of the mountain, and the expectation of future action is so strong that scientists classify Hualalai as “active.”[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Ellis, writing in 1824, says: “This eruption of 1801 poured over several villages, destroyed a number of plantations and extensive fish-ponds, filled up a deep bay twenty miles in length, and formed the present coast.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") An Englishman who saw the eruption has frequently told us that he was astonished at the irresistible impetuosity of the torrent.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Stone walls, trees, and houses all gave way before it.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Even large masses or rocks of ancient lava, when surrounded by the fiery stream, soon split into small fragments and falling into the burning mass appeared to melt again while borne by it down the mountain side.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Numerous offerings were presented and many hogs were thrown alive into the stream to appease the anger of the gods, by whom they supposed it was directed, and to stay its devastating course.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") All seemed unavailing until one day King Kamehameha went to the flowing lava, attended by a large retinue of chiefs and priests, and as the most valuable offering he could make, cut off part of his own hair which was always considered sacred and threw it into the torrent.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") In a day or two the lava ceased to flow.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") The gods, it was thought, were satisfied.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") The people attributed this escape to the influence of Kamehameha with the deities of the volcanoes.”[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") There are several very interesting “blowholes” in this lava.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") When the lava struck the waves, the surface and sides were hardened, but the red molten mass inside rolled on into the sea.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus many sea-caves were formed, into which waves beat violently with every incoming tide.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") If the shore end of a cave broke open, a fine outlet was made for the torrents which were hurled up through the opening in splendid fountains of spray.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") The account in the Kuokoa, a newspaper published in the native language, in 1867, adds to the story of the foreigner the element of superstition, and is practically as follows:[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele began to eat Hue-hue, a noted breadfruit \[19\] forest owned by Kamehameha.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") She was jealous of him and angry because he was stingy in his offerings of breadfruit from the tabu grove of Hue-hue.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") This was the place where the eruption broke out.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") After she had destroyed the breadfruit grove, she went in her river of fire down to the seashore to take Kamehameha’s fish-ponds.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") She greatly desired the awa fish with the mullet in the fish-pond at Kiholo, and she wanted the aku or bonita in the fish-pond at Ka-ele-hulu-hulu.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") She became a roaring flood, widely spread out, hungry for the fish.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") Kamehameha was very much ashamed for the evil which had come upon the land and the destruction of his fish-ponds.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") Villages had been overwhelmed.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") Several coconut \[20\] groves had been destroyed, and lava land was built out into the sea.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") There were no priests who could stop this a-a eruption by their priestly skill.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Their powers were dulled in the presence of Pele.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") They offered pigs and fruits of all kinds, throwing them into the fire.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") They uttered all their known incantations and prayers.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") They called to the au-makuas (ancestor ghost-gods), but without avail.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Kamehameha sent for Ka-maka-o-ke-akua (The-eye-of-the-god), one of the prophets of Pele, and said: “You are a prophet of Pele.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") I have sent for you because I am much distressed by the destruction of the land and the ponds by the sea.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") How can I quiet the anger of Pele?”[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") The prophet bowed his head for a time, then, looking up, said, “The anger of the god will cease when you offer sacrifice to her.”[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") The king said, “Perhaps you will take the sacrifice.”[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") The prophet said: “From the old time even until now there has been no prophet or priest of the mo-o or dragon clan who has done this thing.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") It would not please the goddess.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") The high chief of the troubled land, with a prophet or priest, is the only one who can make peace.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") He must take his own offering to the fire as to an altar in a temple.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the anger of the goddess will be satisfied and the trouble ended.”[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Kamehameha said: “I am afraid of Pele.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Perhaps I shall be killed.”[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") The prophet replied, “You shall not die.”[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") The king prepared offerings and sacrifices for Pele and, as a royal priest, went to the place where the lava was still pouring in floods out of its new-born crater.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") Kaahumanu, the queen, and many other high chiefs and chiefesses thought they would go and die with him if Pele should persist in punishing him.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") One of the high chiefesses, Ululani, had lost a child some time before.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") This child after death was given to Pele with sacrifices and ceremonies which would make it one of the ghost-gods connected with the Pele family.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") A prophet told Kaahumanu: “The Pele who is in the front of this outburst of fire is not strange to us.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") It is the child of Ululani.”[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") Kaahumanu took Ululani with her to the side of the lava flow.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") There they saw the lava like a river of fire flowing toward the west, going straight down to the sea with leaping flames and uplifting fountains of smoke.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") There was a very strong flashing light breaking out at the front of the descending lava.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") Ululani asked, “Who is that very strange fire in front of Pele?”[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") The fire was active as if it had life in itself.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") The prophet replied: “That is the child among the au-makuas.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") That is your first-born.”[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") Then came great winds and a mighty storm.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") Houses were overturned and trees blown down.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") Kamehameha and the prophet went up to the side of the lava and placed offerings and sacrifices in the flowing fire.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") They prayed to Pele, but the fire burned on.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") Kamehameha then cut some of the hair from his head and threw it in the fire as his last offering, thus giving himself to the god of fire.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they came away and soon the fire went out.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") It should be remembered that in recent years, when a lava flow came down on the city of Hilo, threatening its destruction, Princess Ruth, one of the last of the Kamehameha family, went from Honolulu to Hilo and up to the river of lava with the feeling that a Kamehameha who was under the especial protection of Pele could intercede for the welfare of the people.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") It is certain that she came at a very opportune time, for the eruption ceased in a day or so.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") XX[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [The Annihilation of Keoua’s Army](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/21/) - next →: [Kapiolani and Pele](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/23/) - ↑ back to [Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/)