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Let us continue with the description of the second and third eras from “The Kumulipo, A Hawaiian Creation Chant,” translated by Martha Warren Beckwith. The second chant describes the second era of creation, being the world in its infancy. The third chant describes the third era of creation with the introduction of winged life. CHANT TWO The World of Infancy “Man for the narrow stream, woman for the broad stream Born is the Pahaha [young mullet] living in the sea Guarded by the Puhala [pandanus] living on land. […] Man for the narrow stream, woman for the broad stream Born is the Weke [mackerel] living in the sea Guarded by the Wauke plant living on land. […] Man for the narrow stream, woman for the broad stream Born is the Ulae [lizard fish] living in the sea Guarded by the Mokae rush living on land. Man for the narrow stream, woman for the broad stream Born is the Palaoa [walrus] living in the sea Guarded by the Aoa [sandalwood] living on land. The train of walruses passing by Milling about in the depths of the sea The long lines of opule fish The sea is thick with them. Crabs and hard-shelled creatures [They] go swallowing on the way Rising and diving under swiftly and silently Pimoe lurks behind the horizon. On the long waves, the crested waves Innumerable the coral ridges Low, heaped-up, jagged The little ones seek the dark places. Very dark is the ocean and obscure A sea of coral, like the green heights of Paliuli The land disappears into them Covered by the darkness of night Still, it is night.” CHANT THREE Winged Life “A male this, the female that A male born in the time of black darkness The female born in the time of groping in the darkness Overshadowed was the sea, overshadowed the land Overshadowed the streams, overshadowed the mountains Overshadowed the dimly brightening night. The rootstalk grew, forming nine leaves Upright it grew with dark leaves The sprout that shot forth leaves of high chiefs. Born was Po’ele’ele [Dark-night], the male Lived with Pohaha [night-just-breaking-into-dawn], a female The rootstalk sprouted The taro stalk grew. Born was the Wood borer, a parent Out came its child, a flying thing, and flew. Born was the Caterpillar, the parent Out came its child, a Moth, and flew. […] Man born for the narrow stream, woman for the broad stream Born was the Stingray, living in the sea Guarded by the Stormy-petrel living on land […]”
