Long ago canoes sailed back and forth from Hawai‘i to Kahiki, the land that lies beyond the place where sky rests on the sea. Mo‘ikeha was a voyager of that time who went to Far Kahiki and returned. He became ruling chief of Kaua‘i and father of many sons.
One day Mo‘ikeha said, “I long for aku and ‘ōpelu that swim in the sea-where-fish-do-run near my old home, Kahiki. Go, Kila my son, go to my father. Take to him my aloha and ask for fish.”
So Kila traveled across the many-colored sea and found his grandfather. “Aloha!” he said. “My father sends his greeting.”
“Who is your father?” the old man asked.
“Mo‘ikeha.”
The old eyes grew bright. “My son!” the old man cried. “He lives in that far land, Hawai‘i. Tell me of him. Is he well? Has he food in plenty? Is he happy in that land?”
Kila answered in a chant:
“Mo‘ikeha is chief of Kaua‘i.
He is happy in the sun that rises and sets,
Happy in clouds that rest on the mountains,
Happy in wind that sways the grasses,
The wind that bends the trees.
My father is happy with sticky poi,
With seaweed and shrimp from the ocean.
He is happy with breadfruit
Roasted in the imu,
In ‘awa root from the mountains.
My father swims in the surf.
He is happy in the love of my mother.
My father loves beautiful Kaua‘i.
Kaua‘i is home. He is chief.”
The old man’s eyes were shining. “That is a good chant,” he said. “My son has much to make him happy. Is there anything he does not have? Is there any gift that I can send him?”
“Yes,” Kila answered. “He longs for fish. He longs for aku, ‘ōpelu, and other fish that swim near his old home. Send him some.”
“It shall be so,” the old man answered. “When you go home take those fish. Lead them through the sea as my gift to Mo‘ikeha.”
As Kila returned to Kaua‘i, many fish followed his canoe and, ever since that day, they swim in the ocean about Hawai‘i.
Translated by Mary Kawena Pūku‘i from a Hawaiian newspaper