io6 I'oniaiidcr Cnllcction of Hawaiian folk-lore. 



A^ain: About A. D. 1840, a great tidal wave occurred, at which the death of 

 Keaweikekahialiiokamoku took i)lace. 1'hat tidal wave was felt in severity at Hilo. 

 Such are similar incidents of the signs. 



40. SWARMING FISH. 



These also were signs of the order of priesthood relating to chiefs. Tf a swann 

 of fish was seen sometime, a swarm greater than was ever seen before, or if the lish had 

 stranded on drv land, or simply died in the sea. the chief priest of the order of priest- 

 hood would declare: "A [new] ruling chief is the meaning of this swarm of fish." 

 (lust as happened at [the death of] Nahienacna and also Kaahumanu). 



OF AN ECLIPSE OF THE MOON AND SUN AND STARS. 



These were signs of the priesthood relating to great chiefs and their relatives. 

 If any of these signs were seen sometimes, the death of a chief was the result. An 

 eclipse of the moon was sometimes alluded to as "The moon is consumed by the gods." 

 In like manner reference was made to sun, and star. 



OF AN AUREOLA. 



The halo which sometimes surrounds the sun and the moon was called by the 

 people a liiakalai'"' (aureola). If an aureola was seen encircling the sun or the moon, 

 then a dead chief would be the sequel. So the priests of the order of i:)riesthood de- 

 clared. 



OF THUNDER. 



This was one of the signs which predicted the death of a chief. It did not, how- 

 ever, apply to the thunderbolt at its proper time. When a clap of thunder occurred out 

 of its proper time, or a dry thunder'', then cMily would the priest declare: "A dead 

 chief will be the sequel of this dry thunder." 



OF THE PRIEST. 



If the priest knew of these signs he could not declare these things before the 

 chiefs if they referred to them. Only when the king in(|uired the interpretations of 

 these signs, and the meaning thereof, would it be safe to declare them; for, if the priest 

 spoke of his translation regarding these signs, the king's own attendant would com- 

 mand'* a priest for so doing. 



41. REGULAR SIGNS OF GUKAT CHIEFS. 



There were many regular signs of the order of iiriesthood relating lo the great 

 chiefs in ancient times through the knowledge of the omen readers, or the counselors. 



"LiiaL-alai. a halo around the sun, or moon ; an omen '"Since the sign referred to royalty, and its meaning 



of serious moment should not he spoken of unless inquired for hy the king, 



-Thun.ler out of a clear sky. 'l'>^ interested party would naturally vvish to confer with 



the omen uUerpretcr, so sen<ls his /.•ii//» lo telch him. 



