A Legend from Hawaiian Ancient Folklore
A Legend from Hawaii Ancient Folklore
All the world’s people have traditions and history. So do the Hawaiians.
Many years ago, the King and his people lived on the island of Maui.
His rule was absolute.
Among his subjects were Ooma and Oopa. Ooma was a beautiful girl and Oopa was a handsome young man.
Ooma and Oopa lived on the seashore in a grass dwelling. During the day, Ooma made poi out of taro and cooked fish. Oopa went fishing and hung around the other men, as all men do all over the world.
Once in a while, the King would start a war with other kings and Oopa would have to go.
It was on the third day after the half moon when the moon was directly overhead. That was the holiest of days because the King said so.
Ooma gave birth to a beautiful boy. Everyone came to admire this man-child.
The King was overjoyed. His sons had been killed in battle. He had no heirs. This man-child would be a great heir. After all, he was born at a holy time.
But first, the child had to pass the test: a very important one.
The King, Ooma and Oopa and the entire village entourage had a procession to the top of the royal mountain named Hia’mo.
The child was held up to the sun and the high priest made the offering to the Gods that this child was indeed of royal blood, since the child was born at the holy time.
The priest reported to the King that additional proof was needed before the child could be pronounced as royalty to follow in the footsteps of the King.
The royal test was called out. The child was placed on the holy rock. The child’s umbilical cord was placed in a hollow bowl made of rare coral.
The child had to stay there for one full day and moon.
Everyone examined the umbilical cord through that period. If the ants did not eat the umbilical cord, the child would be ordained a young king by the high priest.
If the ants ate the cord, the child was obviously an imposter. The high priest picked up the child and threw it off the mountain.
Ooma and Oopa’s man child failed the test. Ooma and Oopa went home to try, try again.
And that’s how it was in the old days in Hawaii.
This religious practice was stopped later on when the King realized too many of his subjects were being thrown off the mountain.
Maui Blackie - Bllackie Gadarian