Maui and his mother Hina lived near Rainbow Falls in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii. The goddess and her women would often make kapa from the bark of the wauke and mamaki tree. After they soaked the bark and scraped of the green outside skin, they would pound the white insides with wooden beaters. Their busy tapping could be heard all day and the bark grew thin and wide to form a narrow strip of cloth. The strips would be dyed with beautiful designs to form cloth.
Often, the kapa was still damp at nightfall. Then it had to be brought inside and sometimes the fine, delicate pieces would smear. In despair, the women wished the day would last longer. Seeing this, Maui, the demigod, decided to make the sun go across the sky more slowly. He went to the island of Maui and Haleakala (means House of the Sun), the world's largest dormant volcano. He twisted a long, fine cord of coconut fiber and hid from the sun, changing into a rooster. The rooster flew over the Big Island and Alenuihaha Channel, reaching Makena by evening.
The hurrying sun spied the rooster but didn't detect danger. He sank to sleep in his mountain house while Maui changed back into the Fleet One. He hastened through Maui's upcountry until he reached the 10,000 foot summit of Haleakala. The sun was asleep in the great crater. Maui hid until morning and watched the sun start on his morning journey across the sky. The sun had one leg longer than the others. This first ray of sunrise appeared and Maui caught it with his twisted lasso of coconut fiber.
Angry, the sun demanded an explanation. Maui said," First you must agree to go more slowly every day so my mother's kapa will dry." The sun would not promise so Maui struck off the long leg with his magic club. Left, with only short legs, the sun would now have to travel more slowly.
Pleased, Maui demanded more. He told the sun not to shine too hot during the long days as young plants die in the burning rays. The sun agreed to a compromise. He would go slowly six months of the year and for the other six, hurry as fast as before. Happy with the arrangement, Maui hurried home to tell his mother the good news. The women made him a new cape and it dried in one afternoon.
Courtesy: This Week Publications 808-526-1702
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