HA'AKOA

High Chief Mō‘īkeha:  According to Abraham Fornander, High Chief Mō‘īkeha sailed to Hawai‘i from Moa‘ulanuiakea, Tahiti in the 12 century BC.  Upon arriving in Hilo Bay, the Chief’s hanai son and navigator, Kamahualele, stood on the pola of the royal canoe and began to mele, to celebrate  their arrival in Hawai‘i and convince High Chief Mō‘īkeha that this was a good place to make their new home.  This mele is known today as Eia Hawai‘i.