Unwritten Literature of Hawaii | Page 8

A ke kua-hiwi, i ke kua-lono,
Ku ana o Laka i ka mauna;
Noho ana o Laka i ke po'o o ka ohu.
O Laka kumu hula,
5 Nana i a'e ka tvao-kele,[3]
Kahi, kahi i moli'a i ka pua'a,
I ke po'o pua'a,
He pua'a hiwa na Kane.[4]
[Page 17] He kane na Laka,
10 Na ka wahine i oni a kelakela i ka lani:
I kupu ke a'a i ke kumu,
I lau a puka ka mu'o,
Ka liko, ka ao i-luna.
Kupu ka lala, hua ma ka Hikina;
15 Kupu ka laau ona a Maka-li'i,[5]
O Maka-lei,[6] laau kaulana mai ka Po mai.[7]
Mai ka Po mai ka oiaio--
I ho-i'o i-luna, i o'o i-luna.
He luna au e ki'i mai nei ia oe, e Laka,
20 E ho'i ke ko-kua[8] pa-��;
He la uniki[9] e no kaua;
Ha-ike-ike[10] o ke Akua;
Hoike ka mana o ka Wahine,
O Laka, kaikuahine,
25 Wahine a Lono i ka ou-alii.[11]
E Lono, e hu'[12] ia mai ka lani me ka honua.
Nou okoa Kukulu o Kaniki.[13]
Me ke ano-ai[14] i aloha, e!
E ola, e!

[Footnote 3: _Wao-kele_. That portion of the mountain forest where grew the monarch trees was called _wao-kele_ or _wao-maukele_.]
[Footnote 4: _Na Kane_. Why was the offering, the black roast porkling, said to be for Kane, who was not a special patron, _au-mak��a_, of the hula? The only answer the author has been able to obtain from any Hawaiian is that, though Kane was not a god of the hula, he was a near relative. On reflection, the author can see a propriety in devoting the reeking flesh of the swine to god Kane, while to the sylvan deity, Laka, goddess of the peaceful hula, were devoted the rustic offerings that were the embodiment of her charms. Her image, or token--an uncarved block of wood--was set up in a prominent part of the _kuahu_, and at the close of a performance the wreaths that had been worn by the actors were draped about the image. Thus viewed, there is a delicate propriety and significance in such disposal of the pig.]
[Footnote 5: _Maka-li'i_ (Small eyes). The Pleiades; also the period of six months, including