Hawaiian culture, through most of our history, was transmitted through oral tradition. Much of our heritage was preserved in storytelling. When we lose the stories, we lose a lot of who we are as a people. Who knows the story of Hi`iakaikapua`ena`ena?
She was a critical figure in Pele’s journey to Hawai`i. She prepared the `awa for the protocols, she helped guide the family’s journey by reading the clouds, she brought the seeds and cuttings for plants we use today in lei making and medicine – which are far more interrelated than most people realize. She is a healer, the goddess of lei making, and a guide to travelers lost in the wilderness – As even modern lei makers know, getting lost in the forest is an ever-present danger to those who make their living going out and harvesting the wild plants for lei.
An elder sister of the volcano goddess, Pele, Hi`iakaikapua`ena`ena is known by many names. She is a goddess of lei making, and oversees the preparation of `awa for the Pele family. As Hi`iaka of the Burning Clouds, she also reveals herself in the rosy glow seen in clouds and on mountain slopes in the early morning.
Other names of this aspect are Hi`iakaikapua`ena`ena, or Hi`iakaipua`ena`ena, [Hi`iaka of the Burning Clouds, or some say Hi`iaka of the Burning Flower], and Hi`iakaipu`ena`ena, [Hi`iaka of the burning hills]. She also is known as Hi`iakaikapu`ena`ena, [Hi`iaka of the burning restrictions], and Hi`iakaikapua`ane`ane, [Hi`iaka in Extreme Old Age].
As Kūkū`enaikeahiho`omauhonua, [Beating Hot in the Perpetual Earth], she is appealed to as a guide of lost travelers. She assists travelers back to the path or familiar ground and disappears. A prayer to her, in various forms, is used by lei makers, hula practitioners and canoe carvers. It reminds the lei maker to put aside other concerns to focus on the task at hand, recognizes Kūkū`ena’s journey from the southern lands and its dangers, and appeals to her to be present in the foliage of the lei, the lei, itself, being her altar.
Ke amo lā ke kō i ke akua lā i uka;
Haki nu’a-nu’a mai ka nalu mai Kahiki,
Pō-po’i aku lā i ke alo o Kīlauea
Kā nā kāhea i ka lākou pua`a kanū;
He wahine kui lei lehua i uka o Ola`a,
Ku’u moku lehua i ke alo o He`eia
O Kūkū`ena wahine
Komo i ka lau-kī
`A`e`a`e a noho
Eia mākou, kou lau kāula lā
`Eli`eli kau mai!
The burden of responsibility is dragged upland to the deity
Piled upon each other and broken are the great southern waves
Mounding toward the face of Kīlauea
The supplications are hurled to them, sulky summit clouds
A woman stringing garlands in the uplands of Ola`a
My lehua grove at the face of He`eia
Oh, woman, Kūkū`ena
Enter into the ti leaf
Step up and dwell
Here are we, your numerous seers
May a profound reverence alight!
There are numerous Hiʻi deities, all sisters of Pele. The most famous, Hiʻiakaikapoliopele, is renowned in hula. Here, you can listen to a short HPR podcast about Hiʻiakaikapoliopele, as told by Kekuhi Keali‘ikanaka‘oleohaililani.
And, to learn a bit about how our islands were formed by Pele, goddess of the volcanoes, and sister to the Hiʻiaka deities, watch this video from The Travel Channel. Our sponsor, Hilo Coffee Mill is at 12 minutes!
Hilo Coffee Mill – at 12 minutes!