Gather 'round children, it's story time!

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

One of the most prominent figures of Hawaiian lore is Maui, the Superman. A mischievous and somewhat egotistical little prick, but no one can deny the greatness of his deeds; from fishing up the islands from the sea, to choking the secret of fire from the wretched mud hens.

Those, however, are stories for another time. Instead, I tell you of his most famous tale.



Ages ago, in the early years of people, the sun was mankind's greatest enemy. It was an old force even then, and powerful, but above all, it was lazy. It loved to sleep, and did very little else. From the moment it woke and climbed up past the tip of Hale-a-ka-la the day lasted only a few short hours, for the sun would race quickly across the sky and put itself right back to bed, leaving the nights very long, and very cold.

Without the sun's light and warmth, the people struggled. Kapa could not dry. Plants could not grow. Hunting and fishing could not be done. And Maui, knowing that something had to be done, gathered the rest of the people together one night to tell them his plan.

“I will capture the sun, and I will make it slow its flight.”

Everyone laughed and jeered at him. Capture the sun? Impossible! It couldn’t be done. Not even the gods could tame its power, and what would happen if you got too close it? Why, you would burn to a crisp! Do not mess with forces beyond your control!

But stubborn Maui would not listen. With the help of his mother and siblings, they worked to make strong ropes, which could easily bind the sun’s rays. His mother even made him a special axe, and once equipped, Maui hiked to the summit of Hale-a-ka-la. And he sat. And he waited.

It was hours before the sun woke once more, its rays rising past the mountain's peak as it crawled into the sky, ready to race through another day. It may have been quick, but Maui was quicker, and once the sun had fully emerged Maui threw his ropes, capturing several of the sun's rays and holding fast despite the searing heat. The sun struggled against the bonds, but it was in vain, and it roared at Maui, "Release me!"

"You go too fast across the sky. The people are suffering! We need more hours of light in the day to complete our daily work. I will release you, if you promise to slow your flight."

The sun only laughed at him. So, Maui attempted a different approach.

CRACK went the axe as it hit one of the sun's rays, shattering it, and the sun roared again, but this time in pain.

"Will you slow your flight?"

But the sun refused. "I will not!"

CRACK went the axe again. And again, and again, Maui breaking every ray he could reach, though his hands and arms blistered in the heat. The sun continued to roar, and then began to sob, and to beg.

"Stop, stop!" it cried. "I can no longer speed across the sky even if I wanted to!"

"Will you slow your flight?" Maui asked, one last time.

Beaten and crippled, the sun promised that he would no longer speed through the day, though it was barely able to crawl then, much less run. Satisfied, Maui released it and watched as it slowly and stiffly rose into the sky.

And true to its word, the sun still keeps its slow and steady pace above the world to this very day. 
 


(( ....I got bored. <.<; ))

Comments

[furyxguns.livejournal.com]

...That was... interesting.

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

The good sort, I hope.

[furyxguns.livejournal.com]

The sort that it was different than what I'm used to.

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

Different can be good, right? Think of it as a free Hawaiiana lesson.

[eboshimustdie.livejournal.com]

Ah. That reminds me of the tales Mother used to tell my brothers and I when we were still cubs.

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

Stories are an esential part of life. I have dozens of others, but this one has always been rather popular.

What sort of tales?

[eboshimustdie.livejournal.com]

They explain a lot of things.

Oh, about the animal gods before the era of humans. When all the beasts were giants and not just a few. Her favorite to tell us was that of a battle between a giant bird god and a giant fish.

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

And teach some important lessons, if you pay enough attention.

We don't have many animal tales here, sadly. Other cultures, but not ours. They sound interesting, though. We may have to swap stories sometime.

[eboshimustdie.livejournal.com]

Of course.

Mother was a great wolf god, she knew only the stories her parents told her. So I only know the animal tales. I don't know the human tales, though I could ask Ashitaka about them.

I think I might do a 'post' like this for one of the animal gods tales.

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

I've always found animal tales more fun than others, though those they're based on normally aren't. It does some good to see the world from both ends of the scope.

You should! I'd certainly enjoy it.

[eboshimustdie.livejournal.com]

I think I will. I'm not as a good storyteller as Mother but might as well get the practice.

[wannabesanta.livejournal.com]

That was enjoyable and made so much sense.

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

Does it, now?

[wannabesanta.livejournal.com]

That it does. That it does.

Do you have another?

And you're also tempting myself to tell one as... as well.

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

I have dozens. Of the gecko woman, the spring finding brothers, the huaka'i po, the menehune, not to mention all those of our pantheon. But I'll share those another time.

Oh? Such as~?

[wannabesanta.livejournal.com]

Oh, you know. A little bit of this and a little of that. They're mainly all co - worker stories and some of my own.
You know how things came to be and the such. One of many adventures I've had since I've joined this place as... as well.

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

Recent tales don't count, I'm afraid. There's always room for a good origin story or two though.

[wannabesanta.livejournal.com]

'Uppose I ought to put one up at one point or... Another.

[createdpower.livejournal.com]

I assume that what you call the sun is a deity of some sort.

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

Nope! The sun is exactly what it is. Although it was considered such at one point.

[createdpower.livejournal.com]

I see. Then your story is purely fictional.

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

Perhaps. But perhaps not. He never did tell us straight how he managed to slow the damn thing down, and he constantly changes the story anyway.

[createdpower.livejournal.com]

...What exactly did you mean when you called Maui a 'Superman?' Was he something other than a human?

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

He is, yes. He carries god blood in him. Not much, but it's there.

[u-no-mouji.livejournal.com]

That reminds me of a Chinese tale about there being ten suns.

And the hero was punished for shooting nine of them down.

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I'm absolutely awful with the tales of other cultures. Why did he shoot them down?

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

Our islands always did have the best~ Really though, I'm surprised more people don't do this. I thought your lot in particular loved sharing stories.

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

It's true. They've been too busy screwing with the mortals to bother with keeping a dying tradition alive. But I'm sure if one steps up the rest will follow!

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

I look forward to it. It'll be fun.

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

Trust me, I've still got plenty more where that one came from.

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

Would I do that? That's a bit cruel, even for me.

Granted, deciding on the next one may be difficult. Hm....

[cyber-shinobi.livejournal.com]

Earth mythology stories do intrigue me, although this Maui does sound slightly like one of my comrades.

[ai-honua.livejournal.com]

They're quite wonderful, aren't they~? Rarely very accurate, but I suppose that's just part of the charm.

Does he? Which comrade would this be?

[cyber-shinobi.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

He goes by the name Bumblebee.

[Voice]

[myown-story.livejournal.com]

[Has been leaning so close to the computer throughout the story that even her sighs can be heard. She laughs and gasps at all the right places, and claps when the story finishes.]

Ahhhhh, that was such a great story! It sounds just like a faerie tale. Please tell some more, um Miss...?