Flood Stories from Around the World
Nuu was of the thirteenth generation from the first man.
The gods commanded Nuu to build an ark and carry on it his wife, three sons, and males and females of all breathing things.
The gods entered the ark and told Nuu to go forth with all the life it carried.
In gratitude for his deliverance, Nuu offered a sacrifice of pig, coconuts, and awa to the moon, which he thought was the god Kane.
Kane descended on a rainbow to reproach Nuu for his mistake but left the rainbow as a perpetual sign of his forgiveness.
The Ark of Nuu
In ancient times, Nuu was the thirteenth generation from the first man.
One day, the gods commanded Nuu to build an ark.
The gods then entered the ark and told Nuu to go forth, releasing all the life it carried back into the world.
In deep gratitude for their deliverance, Nuu offered a sacrifice of a pig, coconuts, and awa to the moon, believing it to be the god Kane.
However, Kane noticed Nuu's mistake and descended to Earth on a rainbow to correct him.
The tale of Nuu is similar to the biblical story of Noah and the Ark but with distinct Hawaiian cultural elements.
Beckwith's work compiles a comprehensive collection of Hawaiian myths and legends, including the tale of Nuu.
The story of Nuu and the flood is a traditional Hawaiian myth detailed in Martha Warren Beckwith's "Hawaiian Mythology".
In this tale, Nuu, a descendant of the first man, is commanded by the gods to build an ark to survive a great flood.
Nuu, mistaking the moon for the god Kane, offers a sacrifice.
Kane descends on a rainbow to correct Nuu but leaves the rainbow as a sign of forgiveness.
In Hawaiian mythology, Nuu is considered the thirteenth generation from the first man.
The genealogical line leading to Nuu is detailed through various ancient Hawaiian genealogies.
According to these traditions, the first man, known as Kumuhonua, is followed by successive generations that ultimately include Nuu.
One detailed account lists thirteen generations from Kumuhonua to Nuu.
His descendants include notable figures such as Laka, who is among the ancestors leading to Nuu.
According to Hawaiian mythology and the genealogical records, here are the thirteen generations from the first man, Kumuhonua, to Nuu:
Ku-a-nuu
Nuu