Māui Goes Fishing 9780824844462

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by Julie Stewart Williams illustrated by Robin Yoko Burningham

X A Kolowalu Book University of Hawaii Press • Honolulu

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Maui, the demigod, is distinguished from Maui, the island, by the macron, or kahakö. They are pronounced similarly. Text © 1991 Julie Stewart Williams Illustrations © 1991 Robin Yoko Burningham All rights reserved Printed in Singapore 91 92 93 94 95 96

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Williams, Julie Stewart, 1928— Mäui goes fishing / by Julie Stewart Williams ; illustrated by Robin Yoko Burningham. p. cm. " A Kolowalu b o o k . " Summary: Mäui makes a fishing hook of great power and out of the sea he pulls land that becomes the islands of Hawaii. ISBN 0 - 8 2 4 8 - 1 3 9 0 - 1 [1. Folklore—Hawaii.] I. Burningham, Robin Yoko, ill. II Title. PZ8.1. W654Mau 1991 398.2—dc20 [E] 90-27176 CIP AC Mäui Goes Fishing was inspired by the Hawaiian legend "Maui the Fisherman" in W. D. Westervelt's Legends ofMaui a Demi-God and "Maui's Fishing" in Tales of the Menehune by Mary Kawena Pukui and Caroline Curtis. Mahalo to Roger G. Rose, associate anthropologist at the Bishop Museum, for checking the illustrations for historical accuracy.

To our children Stewart Nani Williams Kaleialoha Williams Vierra John Hoku Williams Lois Makana Williams Eunice Pono Williams Peterson J.S.W.

Cecily Ipo Noelle KY.B.

O upon a time there was a boy who loved t o play tricks on people. His name was Maui, but he was also called Maui-of-a-thousand-tricks. He lived with his family on an island in the Pacific Ocean. Maui had three older brothers: Maui Hiapo, Maui Waena, and Maui Ki'iki'i. Every day the four brothers went fishing.

Some days the brothers fished in the coral reefs near the shore. Sometimes Maui Hiapo caught kumu.

Sometimes Maui Waena manini.

Sometimes Maui Ki'iki'i caught humuhumu-nukunuku-a-pua'a.

But always Maui, the youngest of them all, caught nothing. For Maui was not a good fisherman, and his brothers laughed at him and teased him.

Some days the brothers fished in the deep sea far beyond the reefs. Sometimes Maui Hiapo caught 'ahi. Sometimes Maui Waena caught ulua. Sometimes Maui Ki'iki'i caught mahimahi. But always Maui, the youngest of them all, caught nothing, and his brothers laughed at him and teased him. Maui did not like to be laughed at and teased. His brothers I were good at catching fish, but he was best at playing tricks, f ''I'll show t h e m , " he thought to himself.

The next day the brothers once again paddled out to the deep sea. When they reached their fishing grounds they put bait on their fishhooks and threw their lines into the sea. They waited patiently for the fish to nibble. Before long Maui Hiapo felt a tug on his line. Eagerly he began to pull it in. At the very same time, Maui-of-athousand-tricks also started to pull in his line shouting proudly, " I ' v e got one, too! Both of us have caught fish! Be careful, Brother! Watch your line! D o n ' t let it get tangled with mine! Look out!' 1

When Maui Hiapo's fish rcachcd the side of the canoe, Maui-of-a-thousand-tricks leaned over and, in a flash, removed his brother's hook from the fish and slipped his own hook into the fish's mouth. Then he flipped the fish into the canoe, removed his hook, and held the fish up high. "See what I've caught? Too bad your fish got away!" he said, glancing at his brother's empty fishhook.

Time and time again the same thing happened. Whenever one of the brothers felt a tug and pulled in his line, his fishhook would have nothing. Yet Maui, the youngest of them all, the one who had never caught any fish before, now always caught fish.

Maui Hiapo, Maui Waena, and Maui Ki'iki'i wondered. "Something strange is going o n , " they whispered to each other. "We do all the work but our youngest brother always gets the fish. How does he do it? He must be up to his tricks again. Let's not take him with us any more."

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The next day the three brothers pushed their canoe into the water to go fishing in the deep sea. Unaware of his brothers' anger, Maui-of-a-thousand-tricks climbed on board as he had always done. J

" M y brothers know I've been tricking them," thought Maui, as he watched their canoe grow smaller and smaller. He wished he were with them. He did not like being left alone. What was he to do? can't fool my brothers anymore. From now on I'll have to catch my own fish." Maui decided to make a fishhook—a magic fishhook. He chose a bone and began to shape it into a hook. As he caned, he prayed: " O Kanaloa, god of the sea, Fill this fishhook with power for m e . " After he finished carving, Maui lashed his new hook with the strong fibers of the olona plant.

When the brothers returned that evening, Maui asked them about their fishing. " T h e sea has no fish," they answered sadly. "All we caught was a shark, but it's not the kind we can eat." " I should have gone with y o u , " said Maui. "Are you telling us you can catch fish where there are no fish?" asked his brothers.

Glancing at each other, the brothers wondered what Maui was up to now. Would he really catch fish on his own? How could they be sure he would not trick them again? "All right, Maui, you can join us tomorrow. We'll give you one more chance. But remember, no more tricks." Early the next morning the four brothers paddled out to their deep-sea fishing grounds. The three older brothers fished but caught nothing. Maui-of-a-thousand-tricks did not fish at all.

"Why aren't you fishing?" asked the brothers. "It's not deep enough here," answered Maui. "Paddle farther o u t . " And the brothers did. They kept paddling until Maui commanded them to stop. " N o w listen to me, my brothers. You must do exactly as I say. First, turn the canoe around and face it toward home. Then 111 throw out my line. When you feel a pull on my line, paddle with all your might. But don't, don't look back. Don't ever turn to look back. Head straight for home."

With the canoe facing home, Maui cast his line and magic hook into the deep sea. The brothers waited, ready to paddle the moment they felt a pull. All of a sudden the sea began to rumble and roar. Higher and higher rose the waves.

"Maui's caught a great big fish!" thev shouted as they pushed their paddles hard against the rough water. With all their might, they paddled the canoe homeward. " P a d d l e ! " yelled Maui as he held on to his line. " I ' v e got a big one. D o n ' t look back or I'll lose it. Just keep on paddling!"

Although they were very curious, the brothers kept paddling with their eyes straight ahead. At last, Maui Ki'iki'i could not wait any longer. He had to see what was on Maui's line. He looked back. " I t ' s land! It's not a fish! Maui's caught land!" "Land?" Maui Hiapo and Maui Waena turned to look, too. And when they did, Maui's line broke, leaving a trail of small pieces of land behind the canoe.

" O h , n o ! " cricd Màui, shaking his head. " W h y didn't vou listen to me? I told you not to turn back. I was pulling up a great big piece of land until you looked and spoiled everything. Now all I have are the peaks of that land. The rest of it is still under the sea."

Maui never caught any fish. But, with his powerful, magic hook, he pulled up land that became the islands of Hawaii.