► Molokai's Iliili-Opae - 4: Materials

Honolulu Star Bulletin. Thursday, January 17, 1957 - Tales about Hawaii, Clarice B. Taylor 

     Before the Molokai king started the construction work on the great heiau (stone temple) to be erected at Mapulehu, the high priest drew the outlines of the propose temple in the sand.

     The high priest was his own architect. He did not require a professional; neither did have to follow the plans of other heiau.

      He could improvise and follow the outlines of the site to make the most of his beauties.

ENORMOUS TASK
     The king at once saw the enormities of his task. The stone walls would require great boulders and the great platforms would need tons of small water polished pebbles for paving.

     You would think that the priest would be satisfied to have the king's men go onto Mapulehu ridge and quarry the big stones for the walls.

     Anything so simple would not do.

     The priest had been visited by a god, in a dream and had been told to bring the rock and pebbles for the heiau from across the mountains at Wailau on the north coast of Molokai.

Wailau

  Photo Credit

 3,150 FEET HIGH
     This required the carrying of great stones from Wailau at sea level, up to Wailau stream through forests to the mountain ridge 3,150 feet high, down the Mapulehu stream to the ridge site.
     To accomplish the feat, the king set everybody in his realm to work - even the chiefs and their women. He himself worked to set an example.

     The people were lined up across the mountain ridge in a single file to Wailau.

HAND TO HAND
     The great rocks were passed from hand to hand and the women carried baskets of waterworn pebbles.

     The job was so tremendous that the people grumbled, particularly when the food began to give out and the workers were issued one little opae (shrimp) each day.

      Modern Hawaiians say the temple received its name, Iliili-opae (single shrimp) from the starvation days when the workers were fed a single shrimp.


PRACTICAL MAN
      The Molokai king was a practical man and did not attempt to build the great heiau all in one year.
     He probably put the priests off by telling that they too would starve unless the people were allowed to go back to their farming and fishing.


NEXT: Great size

► Paradise Gained and Lost - 2: The Dream

Honolulu Star Bulletin. Wednesday, January 9, 1957 - Tales about Hawaii, Clarice B. Taylor   

     Kiinoho (the stay at home) dreamed the same dream for three nights in a row.

     After the third dream, Kiinoho told his brother Kiihele (the traveler) of the dream.

     Kiihele, busy thinking about his next trip around the Island, paid no attention to Kiinoho.

     The following night both brothers dreamed the same dream. That made Kiihele take notice and he spoke to Kiinoho about it.

A VISITATION 
     Kiinoho told Kiihele that they must do as the dream said, because the dream was obviously the visitation of an aumakua (family god). Kiinoho observed that it was their duty to obey the aumakua.
     
     The brothers had dreamed that they were to enter Paliuli and to live there.


     The aumakua had said "you will find all your needs supplied without fatigue."
     
     Kiihele loved to roam and he loved the pleasure of resting after tiring himself by running about the Island. He did not fancy the idea of living in one place all the time.

GIVES IN
     After Kiinoho had explained the awful things which might happen if they did not obey their aumakua, Kiihele gave in and set about acquiring the malo and kihei (shoulder cape) needed to live in Paliuli.

     That night the brothers retired at sunset and awakened at the second crowing of the cock before dawn.

     Without saying anything to their family, they set out for Paliuli while it was still dark.

     They climbed the hill back of Keaau which they knew led to Paliuli, fully expecting to meet the terrible dragon on the way.

NEVER SHOWED UP 
     The dragon appeared.

      The brothers kept walking until they entered the forest at dawn and saw a beautiful park before them which they realized was Paliuli.

     It was then they realized that their footsteps had been guided by their unseen aumakua.

     They were the first mortals to look upon Paliuli.

NEXT: Paradise