Art by Solomon Enos
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One story of how pipi came to be in Hawai‘i can be found in the tale of Keaomelemele, written by Moses Manu and translated by Mary Kawena Pukui.
The mo‘o Kānekua‘ana, who the caretaker of the pearl oysters was in ‘Ewa. The story of Keaomelemele describes this mo‘o as follows: Kānekuaʻana was a royal lizard whose home was the lochs of Ewa. This was the lizard who was said to have brought the pearl oysters to the sea of ʻEwa and this was the oyster that was referred to as “the silent ‘fish’ of Ewa; do not speak lest a wind arise.” Many chants have been made with reference to the pearl oyster. In residing there, this lizard was cared for and worshipped by the people for bringing the pearl oyster… From that time it was much found in Ewa up to recent years, about 1850-1853, the time when this race of people (Hawaiians) were being destroyed by smallpox. The oysters began to vanish from that time to the present. The people of the place believe that the lizard was angry because the konohikis imposed kapus, were cross with the women and seized their catch of oysters. So this “fish” was taken back to Kuaihelani. (Manu 2002:161) |