HIIAKA’S BATTLE WITH PANA-EWA
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Emerson, Nathaniel Bright
Ye tall ones who dwell in the forest;
Ku, the hirsute god of the wilds;
With his fellows who carve the canoe;
Come bent-kneed terrace-consumer,
With crash and groan of lava-plate;
And reeking smoke that glooms the forest.
Come, Lord of the ruddy flame;
Fire-tongues that search and spread;
Fire-shafts that smite and crash.
Let earthquake groan and lightning flash.
Kane the god of lightning shall hear
And warm this frigid month Ulua.
Two women go to the Sun’s east gate
To rouse goddess Kapo from sleep—
She of the black-spotted red robe.
O Kapo, reënter your Sun-temple
And bathe in your sacred water-pool—
Round as a gourd, scooped in the sand;
Drink from your black polished awa cup
Dark awa that’s offered to the gods,
To placate the goddess of gentle snore;
Then enter the house of Pele.
Pele once burst forth at Kahiki;
Once again, O Pele, break forth;
Display thy power, my God, to the world;
Let thy voice sound out like a drum;
Reütter the law of thy burning back;
That thy dwelling is sacred, apart;
That Kane and Loa have limits;
That fixed and firm are Pele’s laws!
For Pele, great Pele, is my God!
The sisters, uncles, aunts and other kindred of Hiiaka heard this prayer of Paú-o-pala’e distinctly enough, and so did Pele; and when they saw that she appeared indifferent and made no move, they muttered among themselves. Then Ku-ili-kaua, a man of war and a leader in battle, spoke up and, addressing Ka-moho-alii, said “Why is it that she does not send warriors to the assistance of her sister? The girl has fought most bravely all day and is worn out; and there she lies fast asleep.”
Ka-moho-alii thereupon bade Kilioe-i-ka-pua and Olu-wale-i-malo, two handsome lads who were very dear to Pele (mau keiki punahele a Pele)—her sons in fact—to go in to Pele and ask her sanction to their going to the aid of Hiiaka.
When these two boys came into Pele’s presence they found her poking the fire with a stick (hoelo kapuahi). With a fine show of confidence, they at once went and seated themselves in Pele’s lap, one on her right thigh and one on her left. Pele’s looks softened as she contemplated them, tears gathered in her eyes and she said, “What is the thought in the heart? Speak.” (Heaha ka hua i ka umauma? Ha’i’na.)
“Your commands.” (O ka leo,38 literally, the voice.)
At this Pele stood up and, leaving her own home-hearth, went over and took her station in the fire-pit of Hale-ma’u-ma’u. Then, pointing to the east, she said:
O ka leo o ke kanáka hookahi, mailuna mai;
Mailoko mai o ka leo o ka manu.39
O huli kai-nu’u40 a Kane;
E wehe ka lani, hamama ka honua;