HIIAKA LEARNS OF THE DEATH OF LOHIAU
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Emerson, Nathaniel Bright
Ako Mana i ka hale ohai—
Aina ko hele la, e-e,—
Hoopunipuni i ka malihini:
Puni ho’i au, e-e!
TRANSLATION
The deed this of Lima-loa,
That wonder-monger who works
In the barren land of Maná;
Who roofs Maná with ohai—
One there munches cane as he plods.
His to deceive the stranger;
I’m the victim of his deceit!
Hiiaka, at the mention of Lima-loa and the part he had taken in constructing the house that served as a sepulcher for Lohiau, jumped to the conclusion that he had been the body-snatcher of Lohiau. Kahuanui strongly dissented from this view. “There can be no doubt,” said she, “that my brother’s body lies in that sepulcher at this very moment. That is the reason for my keeping guard over the place. But why stand we here? Let us go to my home.”
As Hiiaka went with her she again had sight of the ghost-form of Lohiau standing in the door of the cavern, and she addressed to him this mele:
Ako nanani maka i Wawae-nohu,8 e-e;
Me he nanai hale la Ka-ula i ke kai;
Ke amo a’e la i ka lima o Kaunu-lau, e-e;
Ke hoa la i ke kua o Lei-no-ai—
He ai aloha na olua, e-e!
TRANSLATION
His airy phantoms queer the eye
At Wawae-nohu, and yon islet
Ka-ula, like a lanai, looms at sea;
While lifts the hand of Kauna-la’a
To smite the back of Lei-no-ai:
The sight enchants you twain.
Hiiaka paused for a moment and then continued in a reflective mood:
O Ka-ula nui ka i akaka,
Ua po Ka-halau-a-ola9 i ka noe;
O ka manu na’e ke lele nei
Kai luna o Wa’a-hila, la;
Ke noho la i Lei-no-ai:
He ai aloha keia ia oe la, e-e!
TRANSLATION
Famous Ka-ula looms crystal clear;
Misty and dark the Temple of Health:
Yet the birds keep flying around
And about the hill Wa’a-hila.
They settle at Lei-no-ai,
A sight most pleasing to you.