Rice-Hazuaiian Legends 11 



your presents there. After you have reached Kilauea descend into Hale- 

 maumau where you will see many beautiful women bedecked with lehua 

 leis. Sacrifice your gifts to an old woman lying on a pillow made of 

 wiliwili wood and covered with Puna mats, for she is Pele." 



Wahine-omao, still believing that Pele stood before her, replied, "Do 

 not deal falsely with me. No doubt you are Pele. I shall give you my 

 gifts and so spare myself the long journey." 



Finally Hiiaka made it clear that she was not Pele, and the woman 

 departed with her gifts. With the aid of her supernatural powers Hiiaka 

 put such speed into her feet that she traveled as fast as the whirlwind, and 

 in no time came to Halemaumau and gave her gifts to the old woman. At 

 once old age left Pele and she became the most beautiful of all in the pit. 



Then Pele asked the stranger, "Did you meet a woman as you came? 

 Go back and meet her again. Become friendly with her and travel with 

 her." 



Wahine-omao did as she was told and soon overtook Hiiaka whom she 

 told what Pele had commanded. Looking back the lonely Hiiaka saw the 

 smoke rising from the home of Pele. She saw her sisters and friend going 

 to the sea. She saw her beloved grove of lehua trees being destroyed by 

 a lava flow. Bitterness filled her heart and she wept over her fate. 



Wahine-omao, who could not see what her companion saw, upbraided 

 her with these words, "How do you know these things? We are in the 

 forest and cannot see beyond its limits. Complain no more, for you 

 weary me." 



So in silence they walked on until they came to Hilo where the king 

 was having games. In the midst of the people two beautiful women 

 decorated with leis of seafoam were singing. As the eyes of the king fell 

 upon Hiiaka and her companion, he was startled to see how far their 

 beauty surpassed the beauty of the singers. 



When Hiiaka saw the beautiful women she said, "These are not 

 women. They are akiia." 



The king replied, "Akiia would not come at midday and eat and drink 

 with us. These women refused to sing until we had given them presents." 



Hiiaka still contended that they were not what they appeared to be and 

 asked the king, "Allow me to try them. If I look at them and they depart, 

 you will know that they are akua. If they stay you will know that they 

 are human." 



To this request the king replied, "What wager will you place that they 

 are not human?" 



Hiiaka answered, "My companion and I have no property, but we will 

 wager our bodies." 



