Hi'iaka

In Hawaiian mythology, Hiokinaiaka is a daughter of Haumea and Kāne. She was the patron goddess of Hawaiokinai and the hula dancers, and lived in a sacred grove where she spent her days dancing with the forest spirits. She is also called Hiokinaiaka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele literally meaning "Cradled in the bosom of Pele". Hiokinaiaka was conceived in Tahiti, but carried in the form of an egg to Hawaiokinai by Pele, who kept the egg with her at all times to incubate it. Hiokinaiaka is Pele's favorite and most loyal sister, although they have also had their differences.

At one point in time, Pele left her body by astral projection to appear at a festival on Kauaokinai (in most versions of the legend; another variation has her visit Kauaokinai physically while first seeking a home [http://www.sacred-texts.com/pac/hm/hm13.htm] ) where she fell in love with a young chief named Lohiau. Upon her return, she longed for him and decided to send a messenger to bring him to her. Hiokinaiaka volunteered to go on the dangerous journey, as long as Pele would protect her sacred grove and her friend, Hopoe (meaning "one encircled, as with a lei or with loving arms").

Pele agreed to Hiokinaiaka's request, but insisted that she return with Lohiau within 40 days. She also instructed Hiokinaiaka not to fall in love with Lohiau, or even embrace him.

Palauopalae, the Guardian of the Ferns, was sent to be Hi`iaka's companion. Along the way, a woman by the name of Wahineokinaomaokinao (or literally, "light-skinned woman") joined them. Hiokinaiaka's journey was filled with many adventures, such as dueling with the kupuas (demons) of the island forests, but when at last she reached Kauaokinai she found that the young chief had died from longing for Pele. She was able to revive him with chanting and prayer, but she was not able to return to Pele within 40 days. Pele, fearing that Hiokinaiaka had betrayed her and was keeping the handsome chief for herself, became enraged and not only destroyed Hiokinaiaka's sacred lehua forest, but also killed Hopoe, turning her into stone.

When Hiokinaiaka returned, seeing her friend dead and her forest ravaged, she took revenge on Pele and embraced Lohiau. In retaliation, Pele sent waves of lava at the couple. Hiokinaiaka was unharmed, but Lohiau was killed by the lava. Again, Hiokinaiaka revived him, thus bringing him back to life twice. [Glen Grant 1999.]

Pele, regretting her actions toward Hiokinaiaka's forest and friend, decided to let Lohiau choose who he wanted to be with. Some versions of the legend say that Lohiau chose Hiokinaiaka over Pele and returned with her to Kauaokinai. Others say he decided to remain with the both of them. Still others say that he retreated to Kauaokinai alone.

Hiokinai-aka sisters

There were "twelve" or "forty sisters" [William D. Westervelt : "Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes". 1916. p. 69] , all daughters of Hau-mea. [The word /hiokinai-aka/ has the meaning of 'embryo' [Mary Kawena Pukui & Samuel H. Elbert : "Hawaiian Dictionary". U Pr of HI, Honolulu, 1971. p. 64a, s.v. "Hiokinai-aka"] , and is a compound of /hiokinai/ 'to hold or carry in the arms (scil., a child)' and /aka/ 'embryo at the moment of conception; carefully'.]

Hiokinaiaka-i-ka-pua-okinaenaokinaena

These included Hiokinaiaka-i-ka-pua-okinaenaokinaena : "The skin of any person she possessed reddened. She was also known as Kuku-okinaena-i-ke-ahi-hookinaomau-honua (beating hot in the perpetual earth fire), and in this guise she was ... guide to travelers lost in the wilderness, and vanished when they found their way. She was also known as Hiokinaiaka-i-ka-puaaneane (Hiokinaiaka in extreme old age). "Lit"., Hiokinaiaka in the smoking heat." [Mary Kawena Pukui & Samuel H. Elbert : "Hawaiian Dictionary". U Pr of HI, Honolulu, 1971. p. 383b]

Hiokinaiaka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele

They also included Hiokinaiaka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele : "One of her forms was the "palaokinaā" lace fern ... one of the first plants to grow on new lava. ... She instituted the eating of fish from head to tail. ... "Lit"., Hiokinaiaka in the bosom of Pele." [Mary Kawena Pukui & Samuel H. Elbert : "Hawaiian Dictionary". U Pr of HI, Honolulu, 1971. p. 383a]

Defeating monsters

Soul-journey in "a deep sleep during which the spirit leaves her body" [Martha Beckwith : "Hawaiian Mythology". Yale U Pr, 1940. p. 173] :- "Hiokinaiaka fights and overcomes a number of ... monsters.
*The mookinao woman Panaewa, who impedes her way first in the form of fog (kino-ohu), then of sharp rain (kino-au-awa), then of a candlenut (kukui) tree, she entangles ... in a growth of vine ... .
*Two mookinao, Kiha and Puaokinaa-loa (Long hog), are caught in a flow of lava ... .
*The shark at the mouth of Waipio valley who seizes swimmers crossing the bay is met and slain.
*Mookinaolau, chief of the jumping mo'o (mahiki) in the land of Mahiki-waena, is defied ... .
*Two mookinao, Pili and Noho, who make travelers pay toll at the bridge across the Wailuku river, are rent jaw to jaw and the way opened for free traffic."

Shamanic soul-catching

*"Refused hospitality at the home of the chief Olepau [or Kaulahea] in Iao valley, Hiokinaiaka avenges the insult by catching his second soul, as it goes fluttering about as he lies sleeping, and dashing it against the rock Palahele near Waiheokinae." [Martha Beckwith : "Hawaiian Mythology". Yale U Pr, 1940. p. 174 [http://www.sacred-texts.com/pac/hm/hm13.htm] ]
*"Peleula is a famous makaula or seer, but Hiokinaiaka prevails over her. Waihinano, the pert sorceress who defies her on Maui, has been brought up by Kapo and Pua, but Hiokinaiaka catches and crushes to death the soul of the Maui chief for which they both contend. ... Pele gives Hiokinaiaka to Paoa as his wife and he returns with her to Kauai". [Martha Beckwith : "Hawaiian Mythology". Yale U Pr, 1940. p. 184 [http://www.sacred-texts.com/pac/hm/hm14.htm] ]

Notes

See also

* Lilo & Stitch 2 — Based in part on the story of Hiokinaiaka
* Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes by William D. Westervelt

External links

* [http://ansuz.sooke.bc.ca/bonobo-conspiracy/?i=466 Webcomic adaptation of the Hiokinaiaka legend]

References

* cite book
author = William Westervelt
year = 1999
title = Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes
publisher = Mutual Publishing