story by Curt Sanborn

Photo by Greg Vaughn

He Mele no Kane

A query, a question
I pose the question to you
Where is the water of Kane?
It is there at the rising of the sun
Emerging at Ha‘eha‘e
There is the water of Kane.

I pose the question to you
Where is the water of Kane?
It is there at the setting of the sun
Where the cloudbanks gather on the sea
Rising up at Nihoa
At the base of Lehua island
There is the water of Kane.

I pose the question to you
Where is the water of Kane?
There in the mountain, the high ridges
There in the valley, the flowing stream
There is the water of Kane.

I pose the question to you
Where is the water of Kane?
There in the sea, in the wide ocean
In the thunderhead, in the rainbow
In the red rising mist, the blood rain
In the drifting sea mists
There is the water of Kane.

I pose the question to you
Where is the water of Kane?
The water of Kane is there above
In the dark cloud, the black cloud
In the dense, velvet-dark cloud
In the midnight-purple cloud of Kane, ah!
There is the water of Kane.

I pose the question to you
Where is the water of Kane?
Below, in the earth, the gushing spring
In the water set by Kane and Kanaloa
Water springing forth, water to drink
Water to empower, water to bring life
Let it thrive, indeed!

— from The Kumulipo: A Hawaiian Creation Chant,
translated by Puakea Nogelmeier