Mayor Fern’s Multiplying Grotto and the Story of Na Iliili Lanau o Koloa [Na Iliili Hanau o Koloa].
BORN.
STONE—In Honolulu, recently, to the wife of Na Iliili Stone, thirteen Little Stones, sex as yet undetermined.
The pebbles of Koloa, Kau are terribly famous for them giving birth, and their giving birth is attested to by a great number of Hawaiian. This however is something mysterious and difficult for the haole to believe, until they witness it for themselves like Thomas. Continue reading
Keu a ka ono, o ka alo piko la,
Kahi momona o ka hiu ia la,
Ha’ale ke kai ke pepenu iho la,
O ka luau keu ka maneo la,
O ka nioi keu ka wewela la,
O ka ina mona keu a ka ono la,
A he ono i ka puu ke mo—ni.
[This mele excerpt is included in an article on a Labor Day celebration which took place in Keauhou, Kona, Hawaii. The writer of the article, Harry Haanio, says that it is a famous song composed by his older brother, who lives in Koloa, Hawaii Island, famous for the iliili hanau, the rocks that give birth.
Would this be what inspired Bina Mossman to compose her famous mele, “He Ono”? There are many, many old oli and mele which get altered and added to in later years. There are countless beautiful poetic pieces in the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers. Composers of today might consider looking within its pages for their own inspiration!]
(Kuokoa, 9/13/1912, p. 5)
Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLVIII, Helu 37, Aoao 5. Sepatemaba 13, 1912.
nupepa 