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PREFACE
PREFACE
T he story of Pele and her sister Hiiaka stands at the fountain-head of Hawaiian myth and is the matrix from which the unwritten literature of Hawaii drew its life-blood. The material for the elaboration of this story has, in part, been found in serial contributions to the Hawaiian newspapers during the last few decades; in part, gathered by interviews with the men and women of the older regime, in whose memory it has been stored and, again, in part, it has been supplied by papers solicited from
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Ku makou e hele me ku’u mau poki’i aloha, Ka aina a makou i ike ole ai malalo aku nei, A’e makou me ku’u poki’i, kau i ka wa’a; No’iau ka hoe a Ka-moho-alii; A’ea’e, kau i ka nalu— He nalu haki kakala, He nalu e imi ana i ka aina e hiki aku ai. O Nihoa ka aina a makou i pae mua aku ai: Lele a’e nei makou, kau i uka o Nihoa. O ka hana no a ko’u poki’i, a Kane-apua, O ka hooili i ka ihu o ka wa’a a nou i ke kai: Waiho anei o Ka-moho-alii ia Kane-apua i uka o Nihoa. No’iau ka hoe a Ka-moho-alii A p
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CHAPTER I PELE IN THE BOSOM OF HER FAMILY
CHAPTER I PELE IN THE BOSOM OF HER FAMILY
TRANSLATION Puna’s a-dance in the breeze, The hala groves of Keaau shaken: Haena and Hopoe are swaying; The thighs of the dancing nymph Quiver and sway, down at Nana-huki— A dance most sightly and pleasing, Down by the sea Nana-huki. Pele was delighted. “Is that all you have?” she asked. “I have something more,” said the girl. “Let us hear it then.” Hiiaka put even more spirit into the song as she complied: O Puna kai kuwá i ka hala; Pae ka leo o ke kai; Ke lu, la, i na pua lehua. Nana i kai o H
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CHAPTER II PELE MEETS AND FASCINATES LOHIAU
CHAPTER II PELE MEETS AND FASCINATES LOHIAU
TRANSLATION Tight-pressed is Hanalei’s throng, A tree bent down by heavy rain, Weighted with drops from the clouds, When rain columns sweep through Manu’a-kepa, This throng that has lured on the stranger, Nigh to downfall, to downfall, was I, Laid flat by your trick—aye yours! My quest was for comfort and life, Just for comfort and life! The silence became oppressive. In the stillness that followed the song expectant eyes were focused upon Prince Lohiau, awaiting his reply to the address of the
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CHAPTER III LOHIAU COMES TO HIMSELF—HIS DEATH—THE THREAT OF PAOA
CHAPTER III LOHIAU COMES TO HIMSELF—HIS DEATH—THE THREAT OF PAOA
While the scene we have described was being enacted on Kaua’i, the spirit of Pele, returning from its long flight, hovered over the sleeping body at Lau-pahoehoe. Above it waved the kahilis, about it were gathered the sisters and other relatives, quietly sobbing. Though it was many days since Pele had lain down to sleep, and though they feared the consequences if she continued thus, they dared not disturb her. When that was proposed, the sister in charge objected. “If it must be done, we shall h
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CHAPTER IV PELE AWAKES FROM HER SLEEP
CHAPTER IV PELE AWAKES FROM HER SLEEP
TRANSLATION From the forest-tongue at Papa-lau-ahi To the garlands heaped at Back-o’-the-sun, The beauteous lehuas are wilted, Scorched, burnt up, aye burnt, Consumed by the fire of the Woman— The fire that flows from the Pit. As the messenger, in the vibrating sunlight, thridded her way among the tree clumps and lava-knobs, which now concealed her and now brought her into full view, Hiiaka, with gaze intent to gain such snap-shots of her as these obstructions did not forbid, continued her song:
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CHAPTER V PELE MAKES A PROPOSITION TO HER SISTERS
CHAPTER V PELE MAKES A PROPOSITION TO HER SISTERS
As the two jogged on their uphill way, an impulse seized Hiiaka, and she gave voice to a premonition , a shadow of coming trouble, as it were, and, standing in the road at Mokau-lele, she sang: He uä kui lehua ko Pana-ewa; He uä ma kai kui hala ko Puna, e! Aloha e, aloha wale Koloa, e-e! Na mau’u i moe o Malei. TRANSLATION Pana-ewa’s rain beats down the lehuas, A rain by the sea smites the halas of Puna. My love, my pity go out to Koloa;— Her fare, wilted herbs at Malei. Hiiaka—true poet that sh
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CHAPTER VI HIIAKA CONSENTS TO PELE’S PROPOSITION
CHAPTER VI HIIAKA CONSENTS TO PELE’S PROPOSITION
TRANSLATION Firm plant the pillar, seal of our love-pact; Here stand I, begirt for this love-quest; You shall abide, and with you my groves— Lehua and hala—heavy with bloom. The journey is long and toilsome the task To bring our fine lover to bed. Mark! a love-hail—from beloved Lohiau! Beloved Lohiau of Haena! (I am impelled by my admiration for this beautiful song to give another version of it:) Ku kila ke kaunu moe ipo; Ku au, hele, noho oe, a no-ho, A noho ana i na lehua o Lu-lu’u, O ka pae h
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CHAPTER VII HIIAKA STARTS ON HER JOURNEY
CHAPTER VII HIIAKA STARTS ON HER JOURNEY
TRANSLATION Here stand I begirt for travel; You must tarry at home, and these … These … women … who sit downcast. Oh, care for my parks of lehua— How they bloom in upland Ka-li’u! Long is the way and many the day Before you shall come to the bed of love, But, hark! the call of the lover, The voice of the lover, Lohiau! At the utterance of this name Pele brightened and called to Hiiaka, “Yes, that is the name of our man. I purposely kept it back until you should have reached the water-shed ( kaup
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CHAPTER VIII THE GIRL PA-PULEHU—THE FEAST
CHAPTER VIII THE GIRL PA-PULEHU—THE FEAST
At sight of Hiiaka’s party, the lively flower-girls made a rush, as if to capture and appropriate their friendly acquaintance for individual possession. The most vivacious and forward of the whole party was Pa-pulehu, their leader, a buxom young woman, of good family, who at once took possession of Hiiaka for herself, crowned and bedecked her with wreaths and garlands, with many expressions of enthusiastic admiration: “This is my friend!—What a beauty!—How the scarlet lehua becomes her!—Just loo
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CHAPTER IX HIIAKA CHOOSES THE ROUTE THROUGH PANA-EWA
CHAPTER IX HIIAKA CHOOSES THE ROUTE THROUGH PANA-EWA
TRANSLATION O honey-dew sipped by the bird, Distilled from the fragrant lehua; O yellow-barked awa that twines In the upper lands of Ka-li’u; O bird that brews from this leafage Puna’s bitter-sweet awa draught;— Puna’s potentest awa grows Aloft in the crotch of the trees. It wafts the seduction to sleep, That I lock my senses in sleep! It was a subtle temptation that suggested the awa cup as a relief for her troubles. Hiiaka had need that all her faculties should give her their best service. For
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CHAPTER X HIIAKA’S BATTLE WITH PANA-EWA
CHAPTER X HIIAKA’S BATTLE WITH PANA-EWA
O Ku-ke-ao-loa 10 o ka lani; O Ku-ke-ao-awihiwihi 11 ula o ka lani; Ua ka ua, kahi wai, a na hoalii; 12 O nei ka pali ma Ko-wawá; 13 O Kupina’e, 14 o Ku-wawá; O Ku-haili-moe; 15 O Ha’iha’i-lau-ahea; 16 O Mau-a-ke-alii-hea; 17 Kánaka 18 loloa o ka mauna— O Ku-pulupulu 19 i ka nahele, O na Akua mai ka wao kele; O Kuli-pe’e-nui 20 ai ahua; O Kiké-alana; 21 O Ka-uahi-noe-lehua; O ke Kahuna i ka puoko 22 o ke ahi; O I’imi, 23 o Lalama. 24 Ku’i ke ahi, ka hekili; Nei ke ola’i; Olapa ka uila. Lohe o Ka
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CHAPTER XI HIIAKA HAS VARIOUS ADVENTURES—THE SHARK MAKAU-KIU
CHAPTER XI HIIAKA HAS VARIOUS ADVENTURES—THE SHARK MAKAU-KIU
TRANSLATION O Daughter of heaven, Awake, awake! Hiiaka, awake! Sender of winter rain, Guardian of womanly rites, Spouse of God Maka-li’i, Awake thee, awake! “The luau must be burnt to a crisp,” Hiiaka said as she sat up. As Hiiaka and her companions again wended their way through the forest, it was evident that its innocent creatures had unjustly suffered in company with their guilty invaders and time had not yet sufficed for the exercise of that miracle of tropic repair which quickly heals and
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CHAPTER XII THE ROUT OF THE MAHIKI
CHAPTER XII THE ROUT OF THE MAHIKI
TRANSLATION As I journeyed above Wai-pi’o Mine eyes drank in that valley— The whole long march as far as from The sea-fight at Maka’u-kiu Till the trail climbs Ka-pu-o’a. There soggy the road and glairy, And there do flaunt and flourish, On Plover Mount, the cursed Mahiki. For I am convinced that that crew Are bad, as bad as bad can be! Hiiaka’s march to encounter the Mahiki was interrupted for a short time by an incident that only served to clinch her resolution. An agonizing cry of distress as
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CHAPTER XIII HIIAKA LOOPS BACK IN HER JOURNEY
CHAPTER XIII HIIAKA LOOPS BACK IN HER JOURNEY
TRANSLATION O Puna-hoa and Kai-pala-oa , You with the clear-scanning eyes, Sitting at rest before me, Point me out now the road. “The road is plain enough; you are taking the right way.… We are looking at that young woman of your party—she has such a strong resemblance to our missing daughter, save her way of shuffling and holding her head.” On reaching the outskirts of the village of Hilo, Hiiaka found a rickety foot-bridge, consisting of a single narrow and wobbly plank, liable to turn at ever
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CHAPTER XIV HIIAKA MEETS MOTHER-GRUNDY
CHAPTER XIV HIIAKA MEETS MOTHER-GRUNDY
TRANSLATION The women bundle their garments And, naked, they swim the stream, The water of Hono-li’i— An action quite unseemly: ’Tis a slur on your noble rank, I too am a chief, my name Hina-hina-gem-of-the-cliff. “For shame!” said Hiiaka. “These ghost-gods have been spying on our nakedness, and now they make sport of us.” A great fear came upon the ghosts, that the dread goddess would seize them and pinch out their atomy spark of existence. In their terror, they flew home and, perched on the sh
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CHAPTER XV THE VOYAGE TO MAUI
CHAPTER XV THE VOYAGE TO MAUI
The wind, meanwhile, as it caromed aft from the triangular sail of mat, coquetted with her tropical apparel and made paú and kihei shake like summer leaves. The steersman, in whom that precious factor, a chivalrous regard for woman, was even of less value than is common to the savage breast, in the pursuit of a fixed purpose, began to direct amorous glances at the prostrate form before him and to the neglect of his own proper duties. Presently he left his steering and stole up to Hiiaka with pri
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CHAPTER XVI KAPO-ULA-KINA’U, A RELATIVE OF HIIAKA—THE MAIMED GIRL MANA-MANA-IA-KALU-EA
CHAPTER XVI KAPO-ULA-KINA’U, A RELATIVE OF HIIAKA—THE MAIMED GIRL MANA-MANA-IA-KALU-EA
The clustered hala is Kapo’s shield, An omen portending disaster. The traveler came in your absence; Both of you gone, no one at home— No lodge for the traveler within, No hospitality within! Here is another version of this mele by Hiiaka (furnished by Pelei-oholani). As the version previously given is confessedly imperfect, in part conjectural, there having been several hiatuses in the text, I think it well to give an authorized version, though very different: He ahui hala na ka makani: 3 Hala
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CHAPTER XVII HIIAKA RESTORES TO LIFE MANA-MANA-IA-KALU-EA
CHAPTER XVII HIIAKA RESTORES TO LIFE MANA-MANA-IA-KALU-EA
“How is this, that you are a-hungered so soon after the feast of which you have partaken? This is a kaha,” said Hiiaka, “and you must know that food does not grow in this place. They have only fish from the sea. Nevertheless, I will venture the request.” This she did in the language of song: Ke kahulihuli a ka papa o Wailuku; He ole ke kaha kuai ai, e: Ho-mai he ai; Ho-mai ana ua ai, e! TRANSLATION As trembles the plank at Wailuku (So trembles the fate of the king): There’s no market where to bu
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CHAPTER XVIII HIIAKA EMPLOYS THE ART OF MAGIC AS A MEANS OF DISGUISING HERSELF—SHE VOYAGES TO MOLOKA’I—MEETS THE MO’O KIKI-PUA
CHAPTER XVIII HIIAKA EMPLOYS THE ART OF MAGIC AS A MEANS OF DISGUISING HERSELF—SHE VOYAGES TO MOLOKA’I—MEETS THE MO’O KIKI-PUA
Hiiaka was rejoiced to find a canoe on the point of sailing to Moloka’i and the sailors gladly consented to give her a passage. The people of Kapua were greatly taken with the beauty and charm of Hiiaka and proposed, in all seriousness, that she should remain and become one of them. When they found that she was insistent to continue her journey at once, they one and all warned her not to attempt the windward side of Moloka’i , declaring its coast to be precipitous and impassable, besides being i
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CHAPTER XIX HIIAKA FINDS A RELATIVE IN MAKA-PU’U—KO’OLAU WEATHER—MALEI
CHAPTER XIX HIIAKA FINDS A RELATIVE IN MAKA-PU’U—KO’OLAU WEATHER—MALEI
Ina’i pu me ka waimaka, e-e! A e u’wé kaua, e-e! TRANSLATION O fellow mine on the stair-like cliff, Where Maka-pu’u climbs to the sky, Companioned by Cape-of-the-woods, That fatherless bluff over yonder: Cold cheer the rain on Ulu-ma-wao; That lone steep faints away in the sky, While Ocean pounds and breaks at its base— The sea is the home of the gods. I lay in a swoon from hunger What time I awoke from love’s dream, Love, salt with the brine of our tears. Let us mingle our tears. Love, salt wit
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CHAPTER XX HIIAKA EXPERIENCES KOOLAU WEATHER
CHAPTER XX HIIAKA EXPERIENCES KOOLAU WEATHER
I ka puolo waimaka o ka onohi— Ke kulu iho nei, e. TRANSLATION Vile, vile is this Koolau weather: One soaks in the rain till he’s full. The rain, it pours at Ma-eli-eli; It gutters the land at He-eia; It lashes the sea with a whip. The rain, it dances in glee At Ahui-manu, moving And piling the coral in heaps, Shifting from side to side of the house, This whisking rain of Kaha-lu’u. Heavy and sad, alas, am I, Mine eyes, a bundle of tears, Are full to o’erflowing. This whisking rain of Kaha-lu’u.
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CHAPTER XXI1 HIIAKA DESCRIBES THE SCENE BEFORE HER
CHAPTER XXI1 HIIAKA DESCRIBES THE SCENE BEFORE HER
They passed through the lands of Laie, Malae-kahana and Keana and at Kahipa they saw the crouching figures of Punahe’e-lapa and Pahi-pahi-alua, who stole away into the shelter of the pandanus groves without deigning to give them any salutation. At this show of disrespect, Hiiaka called out: Komo i ka nahele ulu hinalo, Nahele hala o Po’o-kaha-lulu; Oia nahele hala makai o Kahuku. Heaha la ho’i ka hala 3 I kapu ai o ka leo, e? I Hookuli ai oe i ka uwalo, e? E uwalo aku ana au; Maloko mai oe, e! T
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CHAPTER XXII HIIAKA ADDRESSES POHAKU-O-KAUA’I—THE TWO WOMEN RIG UP A CANOE—SHE SALUTES KAENA—SALUTE TO HAUPU—SEES LOHIAU’S SPIRIT FORM
CHAPTER XXII HIIAKA ADDRESSES POHAKU-O-KAUA’I—THE TWO WOMEN RIG UP A CANOE—SHE SALUTES KAENA—SALUTE TO HAUPU—SEES LOHIAU’S SPIRIT FORM
“I have no canoe,” said Pohaku-o-Kaua’i . “The one I had was wrecked in a storm while on a fishing trip. One huge wave came aboard and split her from end to end. We had to swim for it. But surely, such a beautiful woman as you will have no trouble in finding a canoe. There must be no lack of canoes making the trip to Kaua’i.” “In the lack of a canoe, let us have a plank, such as I see you are there using for a shelf.” “If that will serve you, you are welcome,” said the old man. “We shall also ne
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CHAPTER XXIII THE LAME FISHERMAN—HIS EPIC RECITAL CELEBRATING PELE
CHAPTER XXIII THE LAME FISHERMAN—HIS EPIC RECITAL CELEBRATING PELE
TRANSLATION The mountain turns the cold shoulder, Facing away from Wai-lua, Albeit in time of fair weather. Wai-kini flaunts, toplofty, its rain-cap; And the view is cut off by Nounou, Thus Humility Hill is not seen, Nor Ka-pa’a’s broad upland plain. You seal your lips and are voiceless: Best to open your mouth and speak. The woman Wai-lua-nui-a-hoano received in silence this sharp reproof of her haughty and inhospitable conduct, couched, though it was, in the veiled language of symbol. Her eyes
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CHAPTER XXIV HIIAKA LEARNS OF THE DEATH OF LOHIAU
CHAPTER XXIV HIIAKA LEARNS OF THE DEATH OF LOHIAU
TRANSLATION At last, my dear man, at last, On this rugged cliff of Haena! I have searched the whole mountain side, From Ho’o-lulu’s booming fall To Poli-hale’s buttressed flank. I have found thee at last, my man! Again she scanned the lineaments of the shadowy form if she might find there the picture her mind had imaged. At second view, the ghostly unreality of the tenuous image so greatly shocked her imagination by its contrast to her ideal of a true flesh-and-blood lover, that she amended her
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CHAPTER XXV HIIAKA UTTERS MANY PRAYERS TO RESTORE LOHIAU TO LIFE
CHAPTER XXV HIIAKA UTTERS MANY PRAYERS TO RESTORE LOHIAU TO LIFE
A pa ia’u, pa ia oe; 13 Halulu i ka manawa, he upe, He waimaka—he waimaka aloha, e-e! I e-e, holo ho’i, e-e! TRANSLATION Stand to the fore, O Priest; shrink not Tho thunder’s growl and lightning’s flash Fill heaven’s vault above, below. Come Mistress of tabus; come ye who string leis, And the Goddess who mixes the dyes. Kanaloa, alert, soars aloft, With hairy Ku,—the offspring of Kane— And the Women who cheer with a touch, On the back, the chest, or knock at the door; Lest the charm depart, the
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CHAPTER XXVI HIIAKA CONTINUES HER PRAYERS
CHAPTER XXVI HIIAKA CONTINUES HER PRAYERS
O ke Kanáka 10 o ka mauna; O na hoa o ka ulu 11 laau; E ku ai, e hina 12 ka omaka 13 e pule. Ua kana: 14 kahe ka wai, 15 e Ka-hoalii; 16 Moku i ka piko, 17 e. O imi, imi, o nalowale, i loa’a e— Loa’a kau hala, uku i ka oiwi. No ke aloha i kono, haele maua; I ike aku au i ka uwé ana iho, e. Eli-eli kapu, eli-eli noa. Ua noa-a! THE CLIFFS OF KALALAU TRANSLATION Attend, o Uli: a prayer this for life, Poured forth in the house of the priest. Let it touch the hearts of the shining band, The princes w
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CHAPTER XXVII THEY DESCEND FROM THE CLIFF BY RAINBOW BRIDGES—LOHIAU, RESTORED, GOES A-SURFING
CHAPTER XXVII THEY DESCEND FROM THE CLIFF BY RAINBOW BRIDGES—LOHIAU, RESTORED, GOES A-SURFING
“There comes a woman,” said Wahine-oma’o. “His sister, Kahua-nui,” Hiiaka remarked quietly. Wahine-oma’o called to her by name and went forward to meet her. “Ah, it is you two women,” Kahua-nui exclaimed. “Where’s your husband?” Wahine-oma’o asked. “Asleep in the house.” “Go and call him; tell him to take his canoe and go over to Niihau and bring Paoa,” said Wahine-oma’o. “Lohiau is alive and well. Look, there he comes on the surf-board.” In a tumult of joy the woman ran to the house and shouted
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CHAPTER XXVIII THE GODS COME TO LOHIAU’S FEAST
CHAPTER XXVIII THE GODS COME TO LOHIAU’S FEAST
The mountains were still in shadow, but the star of morning was on high and rosy fingers in the east heralded the approach of day, taming the flare of the torches and making them almost a superfluity as the canoe—with Hiiaka occupying the pola, Lohiau in the stern holding the steersman’s paddle and Wahine-oma’o ensconced in the bow—curvetted to the waves and shot out into the blue sea. One paddle-stroke and the craft had cleared the land, another and it had traversed the heaving channel of Ië-ië
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CHAPTER XXIX HIIAKA’S ADDRESS TO CAPE KAENA
CHAPTER XXIX HIIAKA’S ADDRESS TO CAPE KAENA
Oï ka niho o ka La i Ku-manomano; Ola Ka-maile i ka huna na niho; Mo’a wela ke kula o Walió; Ola Kua-iwa i ka malama po; Ola Waianae i ka makani Kai-a-ulu, 1 Ke hoá aku la i ka lau o ka niu. Uwé o Kane-pu-niu 2 i ka wela o ka La; Alaila ku’u ka luhi, ka malo’elo’e, Auau aku i ka wai i Lua-lua-lei. Aheahe Kona, 3 Aheahe Koolau-wahine, 4 Ahe no i ka lau o ka ilima. Wela, wela i ka La ka pili i ka umauma, I Pu’u-li’ili’i, i Kalawalawa, i Pahe-lona, A ka pi’i’na i Wai-ko-ne-né-ne; Hoomaha aku i Ka-m
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CHAPTER XXX WHAT HIIAKA SAW FROM THE HEIGHT OF POHA-KEA
CHAPTER XXX WHAT HIIAKA SAW FROM THE HEIGHT OF POHA-KEA
TRANSLATION On the heights of Poha-kea I stand and look forth on Puna : Puna, pelted with bitter rain, Veiled with a downpour black as night! Gone, gone are my forests, lehuas Whose bloom once gave the birds nectar! Yet they were insured with a promise! Look, how the fire-fiends flit to and fro! A merry dance for them to the sea, Down to the sea at Nana-huki! Down to the sea at Nana-huki! Hiiaka now pays attention to the doings of the people on the canoe in the offing. It is necessary to explain
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CHAPTER XXXI HIIAKA VISITS PELE-ULA AT KOU—THE HULA KILU
CHAPTER XXXI HIIAKA VISITS PELE-ULA AT KOU—THE HULA KILU
Down rushes the wind and sweeps along The blossoms of Nu’uanu: Afloat in the sea are the flowers— A scene that takes one to Hilo, Whose tide lines them up as a lei; For bloom of lehua to drift Far at sea is a Hilo mark. When, after this battery of compliment, they came close up to the princess Pele-ula—who, as will be seen, was a power in the land—having exchanged still further compliments, Hiiaka invited her to come aboard. Pele-ula, very naturally, declined this kind offer, but with a fine sho
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CHAPTER XXXII HIIAKA EXTRICATES HER CHARGE FROM THE DANGEROUS FASCINATIONS OF THE KILU1
CHAPTER XXXII HIIAKA EXTRICATES HER CHARGE FROM THE DANGEROUS FASCINATIONS OF THE KILU1
TRANSLATION The fire-split rocks bombard the sun; The fires roll on to the Puna sea; There’s brightness like day at Kuki’i; Ghosts of night at the eastern gate, And gaunt the forms that jag the sky— The skeleton woods that loom on high. The meaning of this wild vision? The meaning is desolation. At Kuliouou, which they reached after passing through Wai-alae, Wai-lupe and Niu, they came upon some women who were catching small fish and crabs in the pools and shallow water along the shore and, to s
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CHAPTER XXXIII HIIAKA ALONE WITH LOHIAU
CHAPTER XXXIII HIIAKA ALONE WITH LOHIAU
TRANSLATION ’Twas maid Hiiaka plucked the bloom; This wreath her very hands did weave; Her needle ’twas that pierced each flower; Her’s the fillet that bound them in one. Four strands of lehua make the lei— The wreath bound on by this maid— Maid who once basked in the calm down there: Her heart harks back to Hilo-one; Wreath and heart are for Hilo-one. The wreath is placed, the song is sung, yet Hiiaka’s arm still clasps Lohiau’s neck. Her lithesome form inclines to him. With a sudden motion, Hi
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CHAPTER XXXIV PELE’S BRIGADE IS SENT TO THE ATTACK OF LOHIAU
CHAPTER XXXIV PELE’S BRIGADE IS SENT TO THE ATTACK OF LOHIAU
Kanaka like Kau-huhu ke oko o ke ahi; Ho’onu’u Puna 2 i ka mahu o ka Wahine. Kahá ka lehua i ka uka o Ka-li’u; Makua ke ahi i ka nahelehele— Ke á li’u-la o Apua. E ha’a mai ana i ku’u maka Ka ponaha lehua mauka o Ka-ho’i-kú; Puni’a i ke awa ka uka o Nahunahu: Kiná Puna, e poá i ke Akua. Ua kaulu-wela ka uka o Olueä; Ua haohia e ke ahi, ku ka halelo. 2 Moku kahawai, niho’a ka pali; Ua umu pa-enaena ke alo o ka pohaku. O Ihi-lani, 3 o Ihi-awaawa, 4 Hekili ke’eke’e, ka uila pohaku; Puoho, lele i-lu
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CHAPTER XXXV THE DEATH OF LOHIAU
CHAPTER XXXV THE DEATH OF LOHIAU
At the last flicker of life, when the rocky encasement had well nigh completed the envelopment of his body, Hiiaka, daring the barrier of fire that had come between them, sprang to his side and, with the last kiss, whispered into his ear, “Go not on the side whence the wind blows; pass to leeward, on the day of our meeting.” ( Mai hele i ka makani; hele i ka pohu, ma ka la a kaua e halawai ai. ) By this cryptic expression, Hiiaka meant to put Lohiau on his guard against enemies that lay in wait
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CHAPTER XXXVI PAOA SEEKS OUT THE BODY OF HIS DEAD FRIEND LOHIAU
CHAPTER XXXVI PAOA SEEKS OUT THE BODY OF HIS DEAD FRIEND LOHIAU
Hu’ihu’i, ko’eko’e, kaoü: He ahi ke kapa o kaua e mehana ai, E lala ai kaua i Oma’o-lala; I pili wale, i ha’alele la, e. Ha’alele i Wailua na hoa aloha— O Puna, aina aloha, O Puna, i Kaua’i. TRANSLATION Thou bundle of scars from a fiery day, ’Twas at Puna our journey began, With a dash of rain in the summer; Rain again when we entered the woods, Rain, too, in Kaú, in the jungle, In the forest-haunts of the gods, Rain at each crossing of road and path:— Here stand I, with fire in my eye: Our days
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CHAPTER XXXVII PAOA COMES BEFORE PELE
CHAPTER XXXVII PAOA COMES BEFORE PELE
I ka pali o Keé, i Haena, e! TRANSLATION Destruction and turmoil in the Pit: The fires of the Woman have done it— Consuming the forests of Ku-lili— Fires that boil from the depths of the Pit, Shaking the stone-plates till they rattle. It’s furnace-hot in that House-of-fern, But there’s shelter at Ka-au-eä. Oh Hiiaka of Pele’s heart, Life to thee, and life to dear Lohiau— Soul plucked by thee from death at Keé, Death in the cliff Keé, at Haena. Death in the cliff Keé, at Haena. Pele, in the retir
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CHAPTER XXXVIII HIIAKA AND LOHIAU … A REUNION
CHAPTER XXXVIII HIIAKA AND LOHIAU … A REUNION
When the magician La’a, who lived in Kahiki, contemplated the degraded condition of Lohiau, alienated from all the springs of human affection, living as a wild thing in the desert, he determined on his rescue and despatched Kolea (plover), one of his ancestral kupuas, to fetch him. The mission of Kolea was not a success. The voice, the manner, the arguments of the bird made no appeal to Lohiau; they were, in fact, distasteful to him and rather increased his devotion to his other bird-friends. “W
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