H is for Hero Tale from Hawaii

"Every Hero Has A Story." My Blogging From A to Z theme bridges the summer library reading programs throughout the U.S. with storytelling opportunities, ideas, and activities.

Aloha from the beautiful islands of Hawaii. Turn on your Pandora radio station and select some tropical music to listen to; slip your flip flops on, and imagine pristine blue ocean water, luscious green valleys and mountains, waterfalls with rainbows hanging above, the smell of plumaria trees, and palm trees swaying. These islands are filled with myths and legends. Maui is our hero for this tale called "Hina and the Wailuku River." I've included a pronunciation chart below to help you out a bit with the beautiful Hawaiian language.

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Stressed vowels
a - ah, as in car: aloha
e - a, as in may: nene
i - ee, as in bee: honi
o - oh, as in so: mahalo
u - oo, as in spoon: kapuUnstressed vowels
a - a, as in about: ali`i
e - eh, as in met: kane
Source: Popular Hawaiian Words and Phrases

Hina, the moon goddess of the Polynesians, lived in a large cave, hidden by a wondrous waterfall with a rainbow veil near Hilo, Hawaii.  The Wailuku River flows through this basin of Rainbow Falls. Hina's son, the mighty demigod Maui, owned this land and also had his home situated here. But, far above the cave dwelt the evil dragon, Kuna. Kuna would annoy Hina to no ends! He would dam up the river and fill it with dirt. He would throw logs and huge rolling stones into the stream in hopes they would be carried over the waterfall and push Hina from her home in the cave. Hina feared nothing that Kuna could do and would use her chants to ward off his misdoings. Kuna, the dragon, became quite impatient and hatred swelled in him this last time. He uttered great curses causing dark, dangerous clouds and storms to appear and then called on all the magical forces he could muster and hurled a great stone into the gorge of the river below Hina's home, flooding the river from bank to bank. Hina quickly became aware of this dire situation she was in as the unrelenting water poured into her cave. Her powers didn't include flying so she called on her son, Maui to come to her aid. Her voice projected out from the cave, piercing through the storms and the clouds, sweeping beside the great mountain of Haleakala. It was this mountain that Maui heard his mother's cry for help while he was trying to lasso the sun's rays to slow it down. Courageous Maui ran down the mountain, into his magical canoe and with 2 powerful strokes of his paddle, he found himself across the sea to the mouth of the Wailuki River. Maui jumped out of his canoe, grabbed his magic club and swung it once around his head and then striking the dam that Kuna had maliciously created, causing the water to flow freely now back into a new channel. Maui's mother was safe. Maui, being the brave demigod, continued to search out Kuna, knowing that Kuna hid himself in deep waters. Maui readied his magical spear and thrust it through the dirt and lava rocks beside the river, creating a long hole through which the waters ran - revealing Kuna's hiding place. This long hole is called Ka-puka-a-Maui (The Door Made by Maui) a.k.a. "the natural bridge of the Wailuku River." Maui persevered and followed Kuna along several deep pools and riverbeds which the Hawaiians accounted for several earthquakes. While Kuna thought he was safe, Maui poured red hot lava and burning stones into the water which boiled . The dragons tough skin wasn't tough enough. Maui pounded him with his weapons until Kuna battle was up - his body hurled over the falls and was swept through the new channel made by Maui's club. A mighty hero was Maui this day.

Pau (The End)
Story Source is below: Myths and Legends of Hawaii

Resources

Myths and Legends of Hawaii by W.D. Westervelt

Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes by W.D. Westervelt

Hawaiian Myths and Legends website - appropriate tales for kids
The Owl's Gift - A Hawaiian Legend
The King of Sharks - Hawaiian Legend