THE LAME FISHERMAN—HIS EPIC RECITAL CELEBRATING PELE
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Emerson, Nathaniel Bright
Ke amo ’a la ke ko’i7
Ke Akua la i uka.
Haki nu’anu’a mai ka nalu mai Kahiki;
Popo’i aku i ke alo o Kilauea,
Ke kai huli i ke alo o Papa-lau-ahi.
Kanáka hea i ke ála—
Kou pua’a-kanu,8 Wahine kui lehua
Ka uka i Ola’a, ku’u moku lehua
I ke alo o Heeia, o Kukuena9 wahine.
Komo i ka lauwili10 na hoalii
I ka nahele o Puna—
A’e, a’e a noho.
Eia makou, kou lau kaula, la!
Elieli, kau mai!
He kai ehu ko Kohala-loa,
Kai apa’apa’a11 ko ka pali i uka;
He kai kiei pali ko Kupehau,
Kai pi’i hala o ka aina:
Ke popo’i aku la i kai o Maui
Ke kai a ka Wahine ali’i,
O ke kai kui lehua a Pele,
A ko’u akua la, e!
Elieli, kau mai!
Hiiaka was so greatly impressed with this mele that she commanded Wahine-oma’o to restrain herself and observe the dignity of the occasion by eating more quietly. The young woman, thereupon, moderated her gusto and concluded her repast with less smacking of the lips; and the singers proceeded:
E oe mauna i ka ohu ka pali,
Kahá ka leo o ka ohi’a, uwé:
Ike au i ke ahi ai alá,
Ka luahine moe naná12
A pápa enaena, wai hau, a wa’a kauhí.13
Ilaila Pepe mua, Pepe waena,14
O Pepe ka muimui—15
O kihele ia ulu,16 ka maka hakaikea
O Niheu17 Kalohe, ka maka kahá la.
Elieli, kau mai!
A Moloka’i nui a Hina,18
A Kaunu-ohua19 he pali,
A kukui o Haupu.20
Haupu ke akua li’ili’i;
Puka mai Pele, ke Akua nui,
Me Haumea, me Hiiaka,