Read this article in ʻOlelo Hawaiʻi
When people meet each other in Hawaiʻi, the usual question that is asked is “Who is your ʻohana/your parents?” or “What school did you go to?” This exposes the desire of the people of Hawaiʻi to find connections with new people. Isn’t that so?
Those questions were not asked in olden times. In stories such as ‘Aukelenuia’ikū and Māui, what was “heard” was, “Whose offspring are you?” In the story of Māui at Haleakalā by Puaʻaloa, he was sent by his mother, Hina, to get a sennit rope to bind the sun to slow down its transit. He was already given 15 ropes by Hina and his grandmother would give him an additional power rope.
Māui lived in Kīpahulu with his family. Therefore, in order to climb to Haleakalā he had to ascend through Kaupō above Nuʻu. Hina directed him to a wiliwili tree. That is where he would find his ancestor. This grandmother, Wiliwilipūhā by name, was blind so as she cooked her banana bunches made for the sun, Māui would secret them away. The grandmother fetched another batch of bananas but that was nimbly snatched away too. Therefore, the old woman smelled about, there and here, and asked the rascal, “Whose offspring are you?”
Māui answered, “Yours!” The elder asked with surprise, “Mine? Whose are you?” Māui replied, “Yours, from Hina.” Thereafter, he leaped into the lap of the elder as instructed by Hina. Wiliwilipūhā then asked, “What is this trip that brings you here?” This is a traditional question when a native meets a newcomer. Māui said, “I have come to get and kill the sun.”
Here is another example of a familiarization question. When Kahaʻi went to search for his father, Hema, the gods Kāne and Kanaloa asked, “What is this important journey that brings you in search of?” To which Kahaʻi answered, “I have come for Kahaʻi.” I think it would be nice for us to use these customary sayings of “Whose offspring are you?” and “What is this important journey that brings you in search of?”
Within stories such as Puaʻaloa’s are precious words left by our ancestors to us who are learning and teaching Hawaiian. Within, too, are native Hawaiian values such as appreciating our elders. There are also examples of Hawaiian heroes, those who champion the causes of the people. Whose offspring are you?”
Additional thought: Hey, the sun didn’t die by Māui. The two decided that the sun would go quickly for six months and slowly for six months.
