► Molokai's Iliili-Opae - 3: Construction

Note: Although No. 2 indicates this section as "The Predication," it was entitled as "Construction." The title exchange does not take away from the flow of the story. Enjoy.

Honolulu Star Bulletin. Wednesday, January 16, 1957 - Tales about Hawaii, Clarice B. Taylor 

     The construction of a great heiau (stone temple) in ancient Hawaii was a community undertaking.

     It required the co-operation of the Ke Alii (reigning king) who could commander every man, woman and child in his kingdom to work on the project.

     Construction work could not be started until the crops had been harvested and sufficient food stockpiled to feed the king and priests (in the manner to which they were accustomed) and the workers.

FORGOTTEN
     The Iliili-Opae heiau on Molokai is so many hundreds of years old that the people long ago forgot the name of the king who built it, so they began to believe that the menehunes had built it.

As a matter of fact, it is probably about 700 years old and was built in the 13th century about the time of Umi.

     This conjecture can be made because the heiau architecture follows the pattern believed to have been introduced by Umi of the Island of Hawaii.

     In all probability, the high priest who first obtained the beautiful site from the ruler said nothing about a heiau plan until after the king had accompanied a successful raid on Maui (as predicted by the priest).

     The priest waited until the following winter when the King again wanted a prophecy.

     At the oracle service, attended by the King, the priest prophesied success to the king, provided the king first built a temple at Mapulehu.

COMMON DEVICE
     This was a common device and justifiable, for the king was not allowed to go to war during the Makahiki (fall harvest festival).

Dedication of the first fruits to Lonoikamakahiki

 Photo Credit

     At the close of Makahiki, the dutiful king was supposed to go about the land rebuilding old temples and rededicating them or build a new temple according to the oracle.

     A king had to do what the priest said in the oracle or he was certain to be punished by the gods.
     Old Hawaii legends are full of stories of kings who were sassy to their high priests or who refused to obey the oracle.

     In every case, the king was severely punished. He generally ended life as a sacrifice on the temple altar to the gods.

     The Molokai king who built Iliile-Opae probably threatened his high priest with death, but he went ahead and ordered the constructed started.

NEXT: The Work

He mana'o

Kahuna (priests) held a lot of power to influence an Alii (king). Makes me question who was in charge of the land, people and procession of developments. What if a kahuna was corrupt? Who is in charge when an Alii is murdered by order of a Kahuna? Imagine the fear of the people - emotionally and spiritually? Another interesting part of the story is the indication of forgotten Alii and works were explained away as having Menehune involvement.

Did you catch the word, "sassy" in the text?  - "... kings who were sassy to their high priests..." I liked how the author used the word to describe uncooperative kings. I remember my grandparents using that context.