Volume 6 / Part 2 — In Praise of Liholiho.1
Reading edition
In Praise of Liholiho.1
The dear first-born sacred child.
To the sacred shore of Lono above.
Of Kahiki, the owl that shaded the chief, 5.
These were chiefs of Kapaina Kumalolo
Kalanikona’s grandfather came from Ahuena,
The chiefs rising clouds [like] new growing leaves,
Growing, that the chiefs became numerous, 10.
Increasing like flowing fountain water.
Chiefs Kaumaka, and Kuihewa, and Lono.
Is the red glow causing one to flee in fear
This is the kapu of the daughter also, 15.
The chief is the stone from the pit.
The master held forth in this breaking; 20.
Returned to the husband, father,
Walikeamaile of Papa.
Closed was the bursting of the chief
Destroying the companion, the mapele, 25.
Malelaaekahi the chief.
Brought out from them,
The swelling, budding and untamed of the kapu,
The last of the chiefs. It is released.
For Waihonua, [the] earth below, 30.
Is for the chief
Of the heavens of lightning-like eyes,
Traveling to the eye-ball of the sun.
Great hot day of the summer.
The chief was not heated thereby 35.
Toward his daughter who went with him,
My chief of threatening weather.
Floating clouds confusing the chief.
This is a new chief
Living above with Makalii, 40.
Hiding his kapu far distant.
Bearing away his kapu lest it be spread abroad,
To Kapunaki of the chief above here.
Who watches up here? Kalani the chief.
The sea, the billowy sea, 45.
The net eye of Kane.
The ocean is a swimming pool for the haalolo.
The sea is moving by Kuhalahala.
Here is the deep sea of Lono.
The offspring of Keaka, born twins, 50.
Whose returning waves bared the coral strand
And gathered up the fish for the chief.
Inquiring of him
For whom is this ocean down here? For the chief.
The land is sacred, fulfilling its purpose.
At present Hawaii has difficulty;
A sacred difficulty for the chief. 60.
The fog creeping from above;
And the cold land-breeze of the night,
Productive of the forest, 65.
The man of the great forest
Inquiring of him
For whom is this mountain?
For the chief, the chief indeed, 70.
The chief placed reverently;
Called by the parent chief
Kalanikauikaalaneo. 75.
Kalaninui Kuiapoiwa,
The first-born of the male chief
Kapaeulumoku, the chief.
Your father, grandfather, grandson,
Ku was the sacred father of the chief, he was
Wet by the rain and numb from the cold
Up above Halepohaha. 85.
It was my endeared place
In the woods of Luhaunui,
Just kapued to the god.
The leaves of the wild lehua [tree]
He did not restrain 90.
By the cold and the chill,
The tarrying of the benumbing dews
Of that quiet place above,
Entangling the travelers
Wishing to purchase the right, 95.
A marketing god.
The lehua was very watchful,
Fine rain hid the mountain in fog,
The sun above became darkened,
The strangers thought it was night 100.
Covering the many houses.
There was no deception,
It was different up above
The men dodging in the rain ran, then stood erect.
The travelers halted. 105.
Hasten to reach Kuapehu
For release of fatigue, of weariness,
The cold also of the mist.
He [the chief] was known for his kindness, 115.
Whose is the beauty of the godly companions?
By the lighting of fires the lands are warmed.
The land of the chief was returned. 120.
Fresh meat gives plumpness and fatness.
The male chief had strong desires in mind.
The edible birds live above Laa,
The voice only was recognized here.
Hidden was the lehua flower, changed by it,
Remainder of the sacred heirs of the chief, 130.
He was the caller for help.
The kapu commenced with the rising of the wind;
The bright bird-feathers of the lowland was the wreath for 135.
Weeping above [on the] mountain of Kona, 140.
Wholly covered with goodness;
The calm alternating between sea and land breezes.
Jealousy covered the lehua mist,
Red lehua of the sea [shore] of Kona. 145.
Pitiless in disposition toward you,
As if by many unnumbered people.
Let us see with our eyes
The women inside of Kaulehua, 150.
Hiding from the men.
It is not the hiding of lovers,
It is better to show up; how beautiful.