VI

LONOPUHA; OR, ORIGIN OF THE ART OF HEALING IN HAWAII

_Translated by Thos. G. Thrum_


During the time that Milu was residing at Waipio, Hawaii, the year
of which is unknown, there came to these shores a number of people,
with their wives, from that vague foreign land, Kahiki. But they were
all of godly kind (_ano akua nae_), it is said, and drew attention
as they journeyed from place to place. They arrived first at Niihau,
and from there they travelled through all the islands. At Hawaii
they landed at the south side, thence to Puna, Hilo, and settled at
Kukuihaele, Hamakua, just above Waipio.

On every island they visited there appeared various diseases, and
many deaths resulted, so that it was said this was their doings,
among the chiefs and people. The diseases that followed in their
train were chills, fevers, headache, _pani_, and so on.

These are the names of some of these people: Kaalaenuiahina,
Kahuilaokalani, Kaneikaulanaula, besides others. They brought
death, but one Kamakanuiahailono followed after them with healing
powers. This was perhaps the origin of sickness and the art of healing