they descend from the cliff by rainbow bridges—lohiau, restored, goes a-surfing

hiiaka’s work of healing was now accomplished. she had seen the cold and withered form gain fullness, warmth and color; been cheered by the o?-a-moa, the crowing sigh that came with the inrush of air to the lungs—and now he stood before her in physical perfection.

the question—asked by wahine-oma’o—how they were to climb down from their inaccessible position was answered by the sudden appearance of three rainbows that arched themselves conveniently at their feet, and on these, as on ladders, they climbed from the dizzy height to the sleeping village below. under the priestly guidance of hiiaka, they all now resorted to the ocean and with the aid of its waters performed the rite of cleansing from the ceremonial defilement that came from the touch of a corpse. with this cleansing each one of them seemed to have a new birth of physical perfection. as they came up out of the water their bodies seemed actually to glow with a fresh and radiant beauty.

the touch of salt water woke in lohiau a longing he could not resist. he took his surf-board and, with face to the incoming rollers, made for the open sea. the place was one where he had often sported before, prescriptive custom having in fact set it apart for the exclusive use of the chiefs.

the “fish”—as the hawaiians called the milky way—was already declining in the west and beginning to pale at the approach of a new day, and lohiau still rode the waves.

that same night kahua-nui, lohiau’s sister, woke from her sleep with a start. she went out of doors and, lifting her eyes to the mountain wall, saw a light gleaming in the cave where lay her brother’s body. she rubbed her eyes to remove the cobwebs of sleep—yes, there it was, a quivering light, set like an eye in the socket of the mountain wall, and figures moving about. she rushed back into the house where slept her husband and stirred him with her foot.

“what are you about!” demanded the man. “do you want to kill me?” [153]

“get up; there’s a fire burning in the cave, up the mountain. come!”

“what crazy fit possesses you,” muttered the man as he went out. “to knock my wind out with such a kick!—and there’s no fire up there, merely a star sinking in the west. that’s all there was to it. go to bed!”

the woman was silenced but not convinced. her sleep continued to be broken. she fancied that she heard a human voice calling to her; yet, on listening, she could distinguish only the moaning of the surf. in her restlessness she wandered forth again and stood in the cool vault of night. the endless monotone of the ocean filled her ears, but it told her nothing new. she sought her bed again and turned her face to the mat in a resolute effort to sleep. she dozed, but the subtle goddess evaded her. thoughts of her brother floated through her mind, and the booming of the surf now seemed to assume a more intimate tone and by some witchery of the imagination led her out under the winking stars, closer to old ocean’s moan, and made her think: how lohiau did delight in the surf; what pleasure he took in riding the billows! thus she murmured to herself. at that moment her straining vision detected an object moving with the waves. “some man surfing in our tabu waters—yet how can that be? have not all the men of the village gone over to niihau? paoa urged them to go.” she moved along the beach. by this time it was dawn.

“there comes a woman,” said wahine-oma’o.

“his sister, kahua-nui,” hiiaka remarked quietly.

wahine-oma’o called to her by name and went forward to meet her.

“ah, it is you two women,” kahua-nui exclaimed.

“where’s your husband?” wahine-oma’o asked.

“asleep in the house.”

“go and call him; tell him to take his canoe and go over to niihau and bring paoa,” said wahine-oma’o. “lohiau is alive and well. look, there he comes on the surf-board.”

in a tumult of joy the woman ran to the house and shouted the tidings to her husband. nakoa-ola, girding his malo about him as he came out of the door, made all speed for the halau; shoved the canoe down the slope of the beach; looked to the lashings of the outrigger; saw that the paddles, bailer and what not were in place; stepped the mast; arranged the sail and the [154]sheet; then, with a final push, he leaped in astern and set his course for niihau.

the story of lohiau’s miraculous return to life spread like wild fire until the whole population of the little island of niihau was buzzing with the wonder. paoa, in his haste and excitement, neglected the ordinary civilities and failed to invite his visitor to “come in and eat.” they took canoe on the instant and were the first to arrive at haena.

at sight of lohiau, whom they found quiet and thoughtful, surrounded by a houseful of people, in conversation with his sister and two women who were strangers, they set up a wailing cry of joy that was chorused by the whole company.

the great raft of attendants, men and women, round-eyed with wonder, reached haena in successive arrivals later in the day. first came those who eagerly credited the report of lohiau’s resurrection; scattering along after them, strangers and those who were in any degree skeptical of this great mystery. each hour saw a bunch of new arrivals, not from niihau alone but from all parts of kauai.

when kahua-nui and her husband had first wept over lohiau, embracing and kissing him, uttering their welcome in joyous cries of wailing, they turned to the two women, the strangers, for lohiau bade them extend their welcome to “these two women who have brought me to life again.”

“where are they from?” kahua-nui asked.

“i know not; i only know they have given me life.”

“it was worth while for my brother to have died to secure two such beautiful women as you,” said kahua-nui as she faced hiiaka.

“the other one is more beautiful than we are,” hiiaka answered.

“where is she?”

“toward the sunrise,” hiiaka answered.

“what is the name of the country?” queried kahua-nui.

“hawaii.”

“who is the woman?” persisted kahua-nui.

“her name is pele.”

“i know her.” kahua-nui spoke with lower tone.

“she it was who sent us to fetch lohiau. we found him dead. i worked according to my ability—you see, our man is alive again.” [155]