Rice — Haivaiian Legends 73 



Laamaomao's happiness was very great and she said to her son, "1 

 am rewarded for my care of you. You will bring life to my bones." 

 Mailou was no less happy and it was a very cheerful family which that 

 night enjoyed an evening meal of fish. Laamaomao did not forget her 

 neighbors in her good fortune and they all were given some of the boy's 

 first fish. 



At this time Paiea was king of Kauai. One day the desire to visit 

 all the islands came to him, so he sent for his kahuna and soothsayers to 

 learn from them the propitious time for starting on such a journey. 



These wise men informed him that the time for such an undertaking 

 was at hand, but they advised him first to travel around his own island, 

 Kauai. This advice the king accepted. 



Upon hearing of the king's intended journey, his retainers at Kapaa 

 prepared to accompany him to Oahu, Maui and Hawaii. Paakaa's interest 

 in these preparations was intense, and he begged to be allowed to go with 

 them. He won their consent and at last his mother's also, though she 

 feared that the king might abuse her son. 



When it became known that Paiea would visit his people, food and 

 fish in abundance were prepared for the entertainment not only of the king 

 but of his retainers and followers as well. 



Six months were spent in traveling around Kauai. Paakaa followed 

 the king and his retainers, doing errands cheerfully and humbly. When 

 the division of food was made he was never given any, but so much was 

 wasted by others that he always had enough to eat. He was determined 

 to be so useful that the retainers would take him to the other islands. 



As the time for leaving Kauai came near, Paakaa explained to his 

 mother how eager he was to reach Hawaii where his father lived. And 

 the mother wisely advised her son to go in meekness and not in pride, 

 willing to serve others. Thus would he come to the valley of Waipio, on 

 Hawaii, where his father dwelt with the king. 



There, she said, "You will see two aged, white-haired men, the king 

 wearing a feather cloak and lei, and your father, holding a kahili. Without 

 fear, sit on your father's lap, tell him that you are Paakaa, and then he 

 will receive you and grant you all the blessings of life, property, and honor. 

 At last, my child, you will come into your own as the son of the chief of 

 Hawaii and the backbone of the king." 



Having spoken these words Laamaomao gave Paakaa a very finely 

 polished calabash in a koko, or net, which she said contained the bones 

 of his grandmother, Loa, and also the winds which blow from Hawaii 

 and the winds which blow from Kaula, Bird Island. Paakaa took the cala- 

 bash, and in surprise heard his mother say, "In her life your grandmother 



