Kuulei Higashi
Laehala, Keaukaha, Hawai'i
14/IX/00

Wā ‘Akahi

Weliweli
Ke Keiki

Hānau ka Weli,
he Weliweli kāna keiki, puka

First Epic

Weliweli
The Child

The Weli gives birth,
the Weliweli emerges

Ka Pō‘aiapuni Ola

1. Ma nā mahina ‘o Iune a i ‘Aukake, ho‘omaka ka weliweli e ho‘oku‘u i ka hua a me ke keakea. Ho‘omākaukau ke kāne a me ka wahine i nā pono a lāua, a ho‘oku‘u i ia mau mea i loko o ke kai. Ma nā au kai, hui pū nā hua a me nā keakea, a lana a‘e e like ho‘i me ka limu a me nā ‘ōulaula.
2. Komo iho ke keakea i loko o ka hua, a penei i hānau ‘ia ai ka weliweli keiki. Lana a‘e kēia mau hua i ho‘olūmaua ‘ia ma ke kai no 7 a 13 paha pule.
3. Ke hānau mai a puka aku nā weliweli li‘ili‘i, pe‘e aku lākou i loko o ka limu, a me nā pōhaku. Ke nui a‘e, ho‘omaka hou ka pō‘aiapuni ola o ka weliweli. Hiki i kēia mau weli ke ola no 8 a
   ‘oi makahiki.

The Life Cycle

1. In the months from June to August, the sea cucumber starts to release eggs and sperm. They create and store their gametes and release them into the water. In the sea currents the eggs and sperm mix together and float along like the phytoplankton and algae.
2. The sperm enter the eggs and this is how the weliweli is born. The fertilized eggs float around in the sea for 7 to 13 weeks.
3. Once the small weliweli are born and break out, they immediately hide in the seaweed and rocks. Once they are grown to adult size, the life cycle of the weliweli begins once again. It can live for up to 8 years or more.