Lele kawa. Feet first into the sea with as little disturbance on entry as possible. The person who made the least splash was the winner. In lele pahū, the winner was the one who created the greatest splash.
Lele Kawa
Pukui defines lele kawa as "to leap feet first from a cliff into water without splashing."
Andrews describes lele kawa as a sport of leaping from a precipice into the sea and a favorite pastime. Fornander gives the objective as making a jump called 'iomo, a jump without splash. The player entered the water feet first. The person who made the least amount of splash was the winner. A leaf from the guava tree was placed in the mouth before the jump to prevent water from entering the nose.
Lele Pahū
Pukui defines lele pahū as "to leap into water with a splash; as this was considered poor diving, the expression may refer figuratively to any poor performance; to leap and land with a thud."
Fornander notes that the Tahitians also competed in a form of jump that attempted to create the greatest splash, by doubling their feet under them in jumping from a height so as to plump into the water with the greatest possible agitation.
Navalta documents lele pahū from his boyhood:
Throughout his boyhood, lele pahū was common to swimming and diving parties whenever he and his friends associated with one another. To accomplish the feat of attaining the highest splash, the players leaped, crossed their legs as if they were in a sitting position with their feet under them and folded their arms in front of their chest. Just as their feet touched the water, they leaned back with their heads. Another way to create a great splash was to keep their feet together, fold their arms on their chest, and lean back or push out with their hips as their feet touched the water.
The King-Shark Waited on the Beach
Kalei was an expert swimmer, a good diver, and noted for the neatness and grace with which she could lele kawa (jump from the rocks into deep water) without any splashing of water, a feat that other unskillful divers often failed to achieve.
Kamohoalii, the King-shark, had noticed Kalei and how she could swim and dive and became attracted to her. Knowing that a beautiful young woman would not be likely to return the affection of a shark, he assumed the form of a handsome man and waited along the shore for an opportunity to meet her.
One morning, the sea was unusually rough. While Kalei's usual companions stayed away because of the weather, she came alone to the shoreline. As she moved among the rocks, several powerful waves (raised by the god himself) threatened to sweep her into the ocean. Just as she appeared unable to escape the danger, the handsome stranger came to her aid and saved her.
Their meeting marked the beginning of an acquaintance that continued over time. Kalei and the stranger met often, and eventually she became his wife.
Lele Kawai and Lele Pahū are two of the ten events in the Hawaiian Decathlon Card Set.
Lele kawa and lele pahū. Two games. Two opposite standards. One measured by the smallest splash and the other by the largest.
This summer, when you see someone leap into the water feet first, arms tight, and committed to the jump, you will know there was a game for the one who made the least splash, and a game for the one who made the greatest splash.
Makahiki Games
Sources
Andrews, Lorrin. A Dictionary of the Hawaiian Language.
Fornander, Abraham. Hawaiian Antiquities and Folk-Lore.
Navalta, S. Wilfred. The Sports and Games of the Makahiki Festival: A History and a Unit of Instruction.
Pukui, Mary Kawena, and Samuel Elbert. Hawaiian Dictionary: Hawaiian-English, English-Hawaiian.
Thrum, Thomas George. Hawaiian Folk Tales: A Collection of Native Legends