Rice — Hawaiian Legends 19 



ULUKAA, THE ROLLING ISLAND 



Kaeweaoho, the king of Waipio, Hawaii, was greatly beloved by his 

 people because he give them a beneficent government. After he had reigned a 

 short time he chose two men from his people as his personal fishermen. 

 Fishing was one of his favorite sports. He often asked his fishermen to 

 allow him to go fishing with them, but they always refused to take him 

 because they feared some accident might befall them at sea, and their king 

 would be in danger. 



The king showed such favoritism to his fishermen that his head steward 

 became very jealous and in his heart plotted injury to them. One day 

 when the men were away fishing the head steward left no food at their 

 homes. When the fishermen returned from the king's fishing with baskets 

 full of fish they found no food at their homes. Being very hungry they 

 kept a few of the smaller fish from the king's basket. 



The next morning they went fishing as usual. They returned at night 

 and again found no food at their homes. This time they believed that 

 the king had given his order that no food be left for them. They could 

 not understand the king's neglect, for they had always served him faith- 

 fully and had brought to him their entire catch of fish. Anger against 

 their lord grew in their hearts and they decided to get revenge in this 

 manner : The next time the king asked to go fishing with them, they would 

 take him and would leave him in the deep sea. They prepared their canoe. 

 They placed in it four paddles and two gourd bailers. Lender their fishing 

 tackle they concealed two paddles and one gourd. 



Early the next morning the young king, Kaeweaoho, came to his 

 fishermen and begged them to take him with them as the sea was very 

 smooth. They answered, "Yes, O King, today you shall go with us for the 

 sea is smooth and we have too often refused your request." 



They got into the canoe and paddled out until the sea hid the land. 

 The king often asked, "Where are your fishing grounds?" 



To this question the fishermen replied, "See the white caps yonder. 

 There we shall find the best fishing. Where the sea drinks in the point 

 of Hanakaki, there lies Hina's canoe. There we shall drop anchor." 



The king thought that fish were to be found nearer land, but they 

 told him that only poopaa, the easiest fish to catch, were in the shallow 

 water. In the deep sea all the best fish lived. 



When land could no longer be seen, the two fishermen began to carry 

 out their cruel plan. One man dropped his paddle, saying that a wave had 

 Icnocked it from his hand. Then the gourd and the other paddle were 

 dropped into the sea and were carried away by the waves. 



