Quite often the dyes with which the designs were painted on the tapa
were not entirely dry when the tapa was taken in, and many fine pieces
were smeared and ruined. Days were short in the narrow walled-in river
gorge and the Sun shone directly on the tapa for only a few hours,
passing then beyond the high western wall, and gloom would settle
about the cave, growing deeper with oncoming night.
It grieved Maui to see his mother's tapa so often spoiled, so he
besought the Sun to go more slowly. For one or two days he did
moderate his pace and Hina rejoiced in the lovely tapas she was able
to make. But soon the heedless Sun hurried past again as fast as ever,
entirely forgetting his promise to Maui.
So Maui determined to exact a lasting agreement with the Sun, and set
out in his canoe for Maui, the Island which bears his name and on
which is situated Haleakala, today the greatest extinct crater in the
world and in olden time the Home of the Sun. Maui hoped to catch him
there.
As Maui reached the eastern rim of Haleakala the Sun was just
disappearing over the other side; but Maui knew he would return in the
morning, so he prepared to spend the night in waiting.
As the Sun returned to his home next morning Maui caught him by his
rays, which the Sun used as legs, and, wielding the magic club which
he always carried on his many expeditions, broke several of them. Thus
crippled, the Sun was forced to stay for parley, though crying out in
alarm that he must be let go, as there was no time to waste. Day must
be carried westward. But Maui hung on and reminded the Sun of his
promises.
After much argument they agreed to compromise; so the Sun promised to
go slowly six months in the year and then, for the remaining six
months, to hurry as fast as before.
Maui was content with this arrangement and sure also that the Sun
would not again forget, for he had crippled him considerably. It would
take some time, he thought, for the Sun's broken rays to mend.
So, very well pleased with his success, Maui permitted the Sun to
proceed on his journey, while himself he prepared to return with all
speed, bearing the good news to his mother.