Note 225 — CONTENTS. (continued 5)

During the month of Ikuwa225 occurs the rain called Pohakoeleele;226 on the day called Hua227 at noon, a person goes to plant. These are the names of the stalks to be propagated: hualani, hokeo, lopa, likolehua and kawelo.228 This is the method of planting: he takes three stalks, separating them one from the other with his fingers, and plants them. He leaves them until two months have passed; he goes to inspect them, and if he finds that they have grown well he says this: “The future [living] is provided for, the growth is good.” But if when he arrives, they are dead or drying up, he would feel grieved because they did not do well. The farmers know there is a time when plants do not grow well; that is the winter season when rains are plentiful and the shoots will die. But if a planter waits until the month of Ikiiki,229 of misty rain, that is when the rain is light and is easily scattered by the wind, on the day of Mohalu230 in the month of Ikiiki, [that] is the month for him to plant in the manner described above. These are the names of the potatoes to be planted: waipalupalu, kokoakeawe, kuapai, heauau and haole. He waits until the months of Kaaona231 and Hinaiaeleele232 are past when he goes again to look, and he finds that some are dead and some are growing. This is what he says: “My wife and children are saved by the baldheaded one.” He waits for some time longer until the grass grows, then he weeds it; this [weeding] is sufficient until the time that the potato is ripe. After weeding, leave it for many days; when the planter comes again and hills up the soil. If any potato is found while hilling up the dirt, that is, the fruit in between the plants growing on the vine, he breaks off the first potato. He returns, lights a fire in the imu, cooks the potato until done, and brings it to the house. He sits beside the doorway and prays thus: “Ye large black cloud hanging below the eye of the narrow pointed clouds, give shade, protecting shade; guard this our garden, O Keaonui;233 do thou cast shade over this our garden, O Keaonui; shade thou from that corner to this corner; shade thou from that side to this side; shade not another’s garden lest you be scolded for shutting out the sun and chilling the owner of that garden. O Keaonui, shade thou this our field; shade thou the hills, shade thou the leaves of our food, so that the plants would grow and the hills be filled with potatoes. O ye Keaonui, shade our garden from the head to the bottom, from the upper to the lower side; hallowed is the prayer; it is free.”