Rice — Hawaiian Legends 127 



darkness was near. Then he went home, and falling exhausted by the 

 door, slept until late the following afternoon. At last, a voice awakened 

 him, calling, "Arise, sleeping boy, I can give you good news about your 

 father." 



Sitting up, he was very much astonished to see the handsome strangers 

 whom his father had recently entertained. One said, "Arise, fatherless 

 boy. We came to tell you not to grieve. Your father is not dead as the 

 people believe. He has been swallowed by the big fish and has been carried 

 to the beautiful island of deathless people, where he has been thrown up 

 on land, and where he has been received by the inhabitants and where he 

 will be happy." 



These words lightened the boy's sadness, but he asked, "When will my 

 father return ?" 



The stranger replied, "We do not know when, but we have lived in 

 that land and know how fortunate are those who live there. There men 

 never die. So you should rejoice over your father's fate. We cannot say 

 if he will always live there, for we departed before he had had his trials. 

 If lie remains steadfast, and does not fail in his trial, and does not 

 violate any of the laws of the land, he shall remain there until the end of 

 the world. But should he fail, you will see him again, for he will be 

 quickly sent away." 



The boy asked how far away that wonderful land was, how many days 

 distant from the shore. 



The strangers replied, "If the gods permit the land to be moved close 

 to the earth, it takes only an hour to reach it ; but if they do not. you 

 may sail the ocean until you are grey-haired, and you will never see it." 



When the strangers asked for azva and food, the boy prepared it for 

 them and before he placed it before them, he prayed as his father had 

 taught him. 



After having finished their meal, the strangers said to the boy, "We are 

 leaving you now, our young friend. Live with hope as you pray to the 

 powerful gods of your father, Kane and Kanaloa. We will care for you 

 so well that you shall not miss your father. No one shall harm you." 



Then their bodies began to grow taller and taller until their heads were 

 hidden in the blue sky and their feet slowly disappeared. People passing 

 saw this and thought that the ghosts were returning to frighten the boy, 

 but the boy realized that the strangers were indeed the gods of his 

 father, and he was filled with joy and no longer sorrowed for him. 



When Makua had been swallowed by the fish, he had become uncon- 

 scious. He knew nothing until he was thrown up on land where he was 

 met by two men. Then the gods Kane-huna-moku and Kane-huli-honua 



