Laka's Canoe
retold by Shannon
Adapted from "Laka's Canoe" by Mary Kawena Pukui

This is the story of Laka’s Canoe. Laka was searching for a canoe. So he set off into the forest to find a canoe. He finds a sturdy tree and cuts it down. Then he leaves and waits for the next day, so he can trim the tree. When he returns the tree is gone. So he finds a new tree and cuts it down, this time he marked the spot and left so he could rest.

He returned to find his marking but no tree. How is this, he thought. This time he dug a ditch under the tree, and then he cut the tree down and hid in the ditch. Later that night he heard menehune lifting the tree, so he lunged out and grabbed two menehune, a chief and a commoner. The chief and Laka made a deal. Laka will get a fully shaped canoe and the chief shall be released. It seemed unfair for the menehune so Laka also suggested that he build a shed and prepare a feast for the menehune too, and it was settled.

He hurries down the mountain and builds a shed. He then made his feast and he heard the menehune coming down the mountain. He then made his feast and he heard the menehune bringing his canoe and then eating their feast. In the morning everyone asked who shaped the beautiful canoe, and Laka answered every time saying that the menehune did.