Volcano—Where Gods Walk – 5
by author Marie Alohalani Brown, Ph.D.
“Did you really think that I would not know that you came to spy on me, to see me at my worst? I should cave your eyes from your face and eat them,” Kalamainuʻu said, her voice low.
Kalamainuʻu’s rage grew as she described all the ways that she could kill him. Then she changed into her terrible moʻo form, snapping her huge jaws open and shut just inches from his face. During this time, Punaʻaikoaʻe sat very still, expressionless, and never uttered a word. After a while, her rage spent, Kalamainuʻu realized that he had showed no fear. Could it be that a human lover might actually accept her for what she was, and that he could love her inspite of it? When Kalamainuʻu changed back into a woman, and as she stood in silence staring at him, Punaʻaikoaʻe stood up and put his arms around her, whispering endearments in her ears.
After that, Kalamainuʻu knew a happiness that she had never experienced. Things were even better than before, and her love for Punaʻaikoaʻe grew, and seemingly, so did his love for her. They even made their relationship official through a solemn ceremony. The days passed, and she began to truly trust him. When Punaʻaikoaʻe realized this, he enacted his plan. One day, he drilled a few tiny holes in her water gourds as she was out gathering food for them. That night, he let out a deep sigh. After a few minutes, let sighed again. Concerned, Kalamainuʻu asked him why he was sighing.
“I was just recalling my youth. I never told you, but I grew up on Hawaiʻi. My grandparents would bring me iced water from the top of Maunakea. Now, I am craving it, but there is nothing to be done about it.”
Kalamainuʻu spoke, “I can get it for you.”
Smiling at her, Punaʻaikoaʻe, said, “No, my wife, I would not ask you to go on such an arduous trip to satisfy my craving.”
“Nonsense, such a trip is nothing to someone with my powers. I will leave tomorrow morning at sunrise and be back before nightfall,” she replied.
Kalamainuʻu left the next morning just as daybreak began. Punaʻaikoaʻe waited until the sun had risen a bit higher, and made his way to the shore. He found someone to take him to Maui, and from Maui, he found someone to take him to Hawaiʻi. When he landed, he made his way to Kīlauea. He reached the edge of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater and called out to the Pele clan. Upon hearing their cries of welcome, he climbed down to meet them.
Meanwhile, Kalamainuʻu was unable to fill the water gourds, and so she inspected them and realized that their bottoms had tiny holes. She realized that Punaʻaikoaʻe had tricked her.
With her godly powers, she saw Punaʻaikoaʻe standing on the edge of Pele’s pit, and then descend into it. Furious, she dropped the gourds and began the trip to retrieve him.
By this time, Punaʻaikoaʻe had finished telling the Pele clan about Kalamainuʻu and how she had kept him prisoner.
Pele said, “She will come here for you, but we will not give you up. You are our sister’s husband. But Kalamainuʻu will not leave without you, and she will fight us for you.”
Where Gods Walk – 4 | Where Gods Walk – 6
Marie Alohalani Brown, Ph.D. is the Author of Facing the Spears of Change: The Life and Legacy of John Papa Ii (University of Hawaii Press); winner of the Palapala Poʻokela Award 2017 for the Best Book on Hawaiian Language, Culture, and History.