The Kumulipo: A Hawaiian Creation Chant – Eras 4 -8 of Creation, Part 2 of 2

Let us continue with “The Kumulipo, A Hawaiian Creation Chant,” translated by Martha Warren Beckwith. The fifth chant describes the fifth era of creation, characterized by a rise in population and the development of land-based food cultivation.

CHANT FIVE The Night-Digger

“[…] The children of Lo’iloa multiplied The virgin land sprang into bloom The gourd of desire was loosened With desire to extend the family line To carry on the fruit of Oma’s descendants, The generations from the Night-digger In that period of the past Still it is night”

Next, the sixth chant describes the sixth era of creation, where more children are born and more cultivation takes place.

CHANT SIX The Nibblers

“Many new fines of chiefs spring up Cultivation arises, full of taboos Food grown by the water courses Food grown by the sea Plentiful and heaped up The parent rats dwell in holes The little rats huddle together Those who mark the seasons Little tolls from the land […]”

Finally, the eighth chant depicts the eighth era of creation, when daylight has arrived.

CHANT EIGHT The Dawn of Day

“Well-formed is the child, well-formed now Child in the time when men multiplied Child in the time when men came from afar Born were men by the hundreds Born was man for the narrow stream Born was woman for the broad stream Born the night of the gods Men stood together Men slept together They two slept together in the time long ago Wave after wave of men moving in company Ruddy the forehead of the god Dark that of man White-[bearded] the chin Tranquil was the time when men multiplied Calm like the time when men came from afar It was called Calmness [La’ila’i] then Born was La’ila’i a woman Born was Ki’i a man Born was Kane a god Born was Kanaloa the hot-striking octopus It was day […]”