PELE AWAKES FROM HER SLEEP
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Emerson, Nathaniel Bright
Arrived at Lau-pahoehoe,1 Hiiaka found her sisters in great consternation, fearing for the life of Pele if she were allowed to continue her long sleep. Her spirit, it is true, had come back to her body; but it was merely hovering about and had not entered and taken possession, so that there were no signs of animation or life. It seemed to be waiting for the voice of Hiiaka, the belovéd, to summon it back and to make it resume consciousness.
Hiiaka demanded to know the cause of the wailing.
“We are lamenting our sister, the head of the family. You can see for yourself; she is dead.”
After carefully examining the body of Pele, Hiiaka stoutly declared, “She is not dead. That is evident from the absence of corruption.” Then, sitting close to Pele’s feet, she sang:
O hookó ia aku oe
O ka hana ana a ke akua:
I kai o Maka-wai
Ke kiké la ka pohaku:
Wáhi kai a ke ’kua—
He akua, he kanáka;
He kanáka no, e-e!
TRANSLATION
Content you now with your god-work:
Down by the sea at Maka-wai
The rocks have smitten together;
The sea has opened a channel.
Goddess you were, now human,
Return to your human clay!
Pele slept on and gave no sign of waking. Hiiaka then chanted this serenade:
E ala, e ala, e ala!
E ala, e Hi-ka-po-kuakini!
E ala, e Hi-ka-po-kuamáno!
E ala, e ke Akua, e ke Alo!
E ala, e ka Uwila nui,
Maka ehá i ka lani, la!
E ala, e, e ala!
TRANSLATION
Awake now, awake, awake!
Wake, Goddess of multiple god-power!
Wake, Goddess of essence most godlike!
Wake, Queen of the lightning shaft,
The piercing fourth eye of heaven!
Awake; I pray thee awake!
The effect was magical: Pele’s bosom heaved; breath entered her lungs; a fresh color came to her face, and spread to the tips of her ears. She sighed, stretched herself and sat up: she was herself again.
Source notes
1 This Laupahoehoe is to be distinguished from that in Hilo. ↑