“Wakea, Sky Father, and Papa, Earth Mother, had a beautiful daughter named Hoʻohōkūkalani. Hoʻohōkūkalani gave birth to a baby boy. Can you imagine her sadness when the child was stillborn? This child, a son, was named Hāloa which means long, eternal breath. The kūpuna (elders) whispered, “the child looks like a root.” The family wrapped Hāloa in kapa, placed him in a basket of woven lauhala, and buried him in the ʻāina.
Hoʻohōkūlani grieved the loss of her son, crying and mourning and watering the grave with her tears. Before long, a plant started growing from the same spot where the baby was buried. This plant with itʻs long stalk and heart-shaped leaf was named Hāloanakalaukapalili for its leaves that fluttered in the wind. It was the first kalo plant.
Hoʻohōkūkalani became pregnant again. This time, a healthy, thriving baby boy was born. He was given the name “Hāloa” in honor of his older brother, the kalo. Hāloa was the first Hawaiian person.
Hawaiians trace their roots back to Hāloa, thus stating that we are all “mamo na Hāloa,” or descendants of Hāloa. This creation story shows Hawaiian’s reverence to this primary food source and speaks to the sacred human relationship to the kalo plant, the ʻāina, and the rest of the natural world.”
(Hoʻokuaʻāina copyright)
Summary
In this moʻolelo, Wākea and Hoʻohōkūkalani have a child. When it comes time for that child to be born, they find that he, unfortunately, is without life, so they bury the baby outside of the hale. In their mourning, they are consoled when they find that out of the area that the child was buried, came forth the first kalo plant, which they name Hāloanakalaukapalili. Hoʻohōkūkalani becomes pregnant again, this time giving birth to a healthy baby boy, who they also name Hāloa, after his kuaʻana (elder brother). Hāloa the kaikaina (younger brother) becomes the first aliʻi and the progenitor of the Hawaiian people, establishing in the Hawaiian world the familial connection of all Hawaiians to kalo. In the moʻolelo, we are reminded of our kuleana (responsibility, privilege) as kānaka (people) to mālama (care for) kalo, who in turn will feed, care for, and nourish us.
Sources
- Moolelo Hawaii Kahiko, Mokuna III, Ka Naʻi Aupuni, Volume II, Number 18, 22 June 1906 (Original Text from Ka Naʻi Aupuni, accessed through Papakilo Database)
- Moolelo Kahiko No Hawaii, Mokuna III, Ka Moolelo o ko Wakea, Ka Hoku o Hawaii, Volume XXII, 9 April 1929 (Original Text from Ka Hoku o Hawaii, accessed through Papakilo Database)
Inquiry Questions
- What does this moʻolelo teach us about the connection between kalo and kanaka?
- Based on the moʻolelo, how are kalo and kānaka meant to care for one another? How does Hāloa the kalo care for Hāloa the kanaka and vice versa?
- What kuleana (responsibility and privilege) do kānaka have to care for ʻāina?
- What lessons can we learn from this moʻolelo? What does this teach us about aloha and respect? How might it connect with our ʻōlelo noʻeau?
Vocabulary
- Moʻolelo: History, story
- Kuleana: Responsibility, privilege
- Kuaʻana: Elder sibling of the same gender
- Kaikaina: Younger sibling of the same gender
- Mālama: To care for
Haʻawina (Life Lessons)
E mālama ʻāina (To care for ʻāina)
- In the moʻolelo, Hāloa the kanaka has a kuleana to care for Hāloa the kalo, his kuaʻana or elder sibling. In return, Hāloa the kalo cares for and feeds his kaikaina (younger sibling). This is a reminder to us as kānaka of our kuleana (responsibility and privilege) to care for ʻāina as we would care for a family member.
