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Legends and Traditions of Easter Island

translated from Sebastian Englert's Leyendas
Hotu Matu'a's Native Land. A Cataclysm. Hau Maka's Vision. Hotu Matu'a's Native Land. A Cataclysm. Hau Maka's Vision.
Part I told by Arturo Teao
Te kaíga o Hotu Matu'a o Hiva te igoa Maori, igoa nuinui. Te kona noho o te Ariki Hotu Matu'a i Hiva Mara'e rega. Maori was the name of the country of Hotu Matu'a of Hiva, the general name. The land where King Hotu Matu'a lived in Hiva was Mara'e Renga.
Te matu'a o Hotu Matu'a Ko Taane Arai. Ko Hotu Matu'a te poki i-hakaariki. Te vî'e a Hotu Matu'a Vakai A'Heva. Taane Arai was Hotu Matu'a's father. Hotu Matu'a, his son, came to be king. Vakai A'Heva was Hotu Matu'a's wife.
Te taina tamahahine o Hotu Matu'a Ava Reipua. Te kona noho o te Ariki tamahahine O'Ava Reipua i Hiva Mara'e tohía. Ava Reipua was Hotu Matu'a's sister. The place where Queen Ava Reipua lived in Hiva was Mara'e Tohía.
He-û'i te Ariki, ku-garo-á te kaiga ki te vai kava. Tai u'a hegaro. He pae te mahigo, he-ma-mate te tagata, te vî'e, te poki, te korohua. The king saw that the land had sunk in the sea. As the sea rose, it sank. Families died, men died, women, children and old people.
He-oho-mai te tagata Ko Hau Maha, Ariki. He-moe i te pó Hau Maka, he-haúru, he-oho-mai te kuhane, he-tomo a te motu te kuhane o Hau Maka. A man came, Hau Maka, an Ariki8 . Hau Maka lay down in the night, slept, and his spirit came here, arriving on the islets9.
He-û'i Hau Maka ko te motu; he kî te kuhane o Hau Maka, he-nape te igoa o te motu: "Ko ga Kope tutu'u vai a Te Taana, a Hau Maka i Hiva". Hau Maka saw the islets; Hau Maka's spirit said, giving the islets a name: "The Boys with their Feet in the Water, Sons of Te Taanga, Grandsons of Hau Maka in Hiva10."
He-oho-mai te kuhane o Hau Maka, he-tomo kiuta ki te karikari, he-û'i ko te pú mahore A'Hau Maka, he-oho te kuhane o Hau Maka kiruga, hetike'a te rano. He-nape i te igoa o te rano: "Ko te Poko uri a Hau Maka i Hiva ". Passing here, Hau Maka's spirit climbed up to the opening (of the circumference of the volcano); he saw (below) holes (small lakes) with mahore fish; Hau Maka's spirit ascended and saw the volcano: "The Dark Hole of Hau Maka (who lives) in Hiva."

Note 8. First we are told in general terms that Hau Maka came to the island, later how he arrived and that it was only his spirit which travelled.

Note 9. The islets of Motu Nui, Motu Iti and Motu Kaokao opposite Orongo.

Note 10. The three islets (Motu Nui, Motu Iti and Motu Kaokao), which are only a short distance from the Rano Kau volcano, remind Hau Maka of his three grandchildren.


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