In ancient times, Nuu was the thirteenth generation from the first man. One day, the gods commanded Nuu to build an ark.
He was instructed to bring along his wife, three sons, and a pair of every breathing creature. Soon after, a great flood came and covered the entire earth.
After many days, the waters began to recede, and the ark came to rest on a mountain overlooking a beautiful valley. 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. Despite his reproach, Kane left the rainbow as a perpetual sign of his forgiveness.
This story is part of Hawaiian mythology. The tale of Nuu is similar to the biblical story of Noah and the Ark but with distinct Hawaiian cultural elements.
The story can be found in various accounts of Hawaiian oral traditions and mythology.
One reference for this story is “Hawaiian Mythology” by Martha Warren Beckwith, which was published in 1940.
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. He brings his family and pairs of all breathing creatures. After the floodwaters recede, the ark rests on a mountain. 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.
For further details to “Hawaiian Mythology” by Martha Warren Beckwith, available on the Internet Archive here (Internet Archive). Additionally, James Jackson Jarves’ “History of the Hawaiian Islands” also discusses Hawaiian myths and legends, which can be accessed here (Internet Archive).
| Aspect | Hawaiian Mythology | Old Testament Mythology |
|---|---|---|
| Creation of First Man | Kumuhonua created by gods Kane, Ku, Lono | Adam created by God from dust |
| First Woman | Lalohonua, created from part of Kumuhonua | Eve, created from Adam’s rib |
| Garden | Fertile garden, expelled for disobedience | Garden of Eden, expelled for eating forbidden fruit |
| Flood Narrative | Nuu commanded by gods to build an ark | Noah commanded by God to build an ark |
| Deities | Multiple gods (Kane, Ku, Lono) | Monotheistic (Yahweh) |
| Ark’s resting place | Mountain in Hawaii | Mountains of Ararat |
| Sacrifice Post-Flood | Nuu offers sacrifice to moon, thinking it was Kane | Noah offers sacrifice to God |
| Rainbow Significance | Symbol of Kane’s forgiveness | Covenant between God and humanity |
13 Generations
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.
Kumuhonua, created by the gods Kane, Ku, and Lono, is the progenitor.
His descendants include notable figures such as Laka, who is among the ancestors leading to Nuu.
This genealogy is preserved in oral traditions and documented by various sources, including works by Fornander and other historians who studied ancient Hawaiian genealogies (Images of Old Hawaiʻi) (Access Genealogy).
According to Hawaiian mythology and the genealogical records, here are the thirteen generations from the first man, Kumuhonua, to Nuu:
- Kumuhonua: The first man, created by the gods Kane, Ku, and Lono.
- Laka
- Ha‘inakolo
- Hulihonua
- Ke-alohi
- Ka-ili-ku
- Ka-ili-kai
- Kumuhonua (different from the first)
- Ke-alii-waha-nui
- Ku-amu
- Ku-a-nuu
- Ka-lii-hoi
- Nuu
These genealogies are detailed in the works of early Hawaiian historians and in genealogical chants such as the Kumulipo. For further reading and more detailed accounts, refer to Martha Warren Beckwith’s Hawaiian Mythology and David Malo’s Hawaiian Antiquities.
Kumuhonua
The first man created by the gods Kane, Ku, and Lono. He and his wife Lalohonua were placed in a fertile garden but were driven out due to disobedience.
Generations compared to the Hebrew version
| Generation | Hawaiian Mythology | Old Testament Mythology |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kumuhonua | Adam |
| 2 | Laka | Seth |
| 3 | Ha‘inakolo | Enosh |
| 4 | Hulihonua | Kenan |
| 5 | Ke-alohi | Mahalalel |
| 6 | Ka-ili-ku | Jared |
| 7 | Ka-ili-kai | Enoch |
| 8 | Kumuhonua (different from the first) | Methuselah |
| 9 | Ke-alii-waha-nui | Lamech |
| 10 | Ku-amu | |
| 11 | Ku-a-nuu | |
| 12 | Ka-lii-hoi | |
| 13 | Nuu | Noah |
