The rainbow was the path of Tawhaki,
Tawhaki climbed, Tawhaki strove,
Girded with the mystic enchantment of Tāne.
Fascinated by the eyes of Karihi,[1]
Tawhaki mounted on the flashing rays of light,
Flashing on men, and on canoes.
Above was Hangaia-te-marama—[2]
That was the road by which he sought his father—
Pass over the dark blue sea,
Trembling, in Whare-tumu-te-rangi,
The multitude of the gods are asking,
Tane and Tangaroa enquire,
What is your great company seeking, O Tawhaki!
That you have come hither?
I come looking for Hema.
Over yonder in Tahiti, yonder in Uru-paupau,
Yonder by the 'A'aia, constantly fondled by Tane,
I have travelled to the "Pillars-of-Tahiti."
"Wahie-loa, son of Kaha'i, was born at Ka'u, and died at Koloa Puna-lu'u, and was buri ed at 'Alae in Kipa-hulu Maui.
"Laka (Maori Rătă), was born at Haili, Hawaii, and died at Kua-loa, Oahu. He was buried at Iao. A legend exists about the building of a canoe to search for his father," (as in Maori and Rarotongan story).
The Maori stories relating to Tawhaki, from whatever part of New Zealand they are collected, are extremely persistent in stating that his son was Wahie-roa, and his grandson Rătă. The first of these names does not appear in the Rarotongan Native History; indeed, no descendants of Tawhaki are given, and the incidents connected with Rătă's miraculous canoe are assigned to 250 years after the former flourished, when the name of Rătă is first
