Unwritten Literature of Hawaii

XXVII.—THE HULA KIELÉI

Reading edition

The sacrifice offered at the kuahu in connection with the production of this hula consisted of a black pig, a cock of the color termed ula-hiwa—black pointed with red—a white hen, and awa. According to some authorities the offerings deemed appropriate for the sacrifice that accompanied each hula varied with the hula, but was definitely established for each variety of hula. The author’s studies, however, lead him to conclude that, whatever may have been the original demands of the gods, in the long run they were not overparticular and were not only willing to put up with, but were well pleased so long as the offering contained, good pork or fish and strong awa.

Mele

Ka Pili-iki i ka Hua-moa, la;

A lewa ka hope o ko’u hoa, la,

A ko-ú ka hope o ke koléa, la—

[Translation.]

Song

Perilous, steep, is the climb to Hanalei woods; To walk canny footed over its bogs; To balance oneself on its ledges, And toil up ladder of hanging roots. 5The bulk of my guide overhangs me, His loins are well-nigh exhausted; Two beautiful shapes! ’Neath this bank I crouch sheltered from rain.

At first blush this mele seems to be the account of a perilous climb through that wild mountainous region that lies back of Hanalei, Kauai, a region of tangled woods, oozy steeps, fathomless bogs, narrow ridges, and overhanging cliffs that fall away into profound abysses, making such an excursion a most precarious adventure. This is what appears on the surface. Hawaiian poets, however, did not indulge in landscape-painting for its own sake; as a rule, they had some ulterior end in view, and that end was the portrayal of some primal human passion, ambition, hate, jealousy, love, especially love. Guided by this principle, one asks what uncouth or romantic love adventure this wild mountain climb symbolizes. All the Hawaiians whom the author has consulted on this question deny any hidden meaning to this mele.

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · Footnote 396: (return) Hanalei-lehua. A wilderness back of Hanalei valley, Kauai, in which the lehua tree abounds. The features of this regi Note 2 · Footnote 397: (return) Kaó’o. To bend down the shrubs and tussocks of grass to furnish solid footing in crossing swampy ground.Note 3 · Footnote 398: (return) Naé’le. Boggy ground; a swamp, such as pitted the summit of Kauai’s central mountain mass, Waiáleále.Note 4 · Footnote 399: (return) A’a lewalewa. Aerial roots such as are put forth by the lehua trees in high altitudes and in a damp climate. They oft Note 5 · Footnote 400: (return) U’i elua. Literally two beauties. One interpreter says the reference is to the arms, with which one pulls himself up;Note 6 · Footnote 401: (return) Ki-ki’i ka ua i ka nana keia, la. The meaning of this passage is obscure. The most plausible view is that this is an Note 7 · Ku piliki’i Hanalei-lehua, 396 la;Note 8 · Kao’o 397’luna o ka naéle, 398 la;Note 9 · E ka mauna o ke a’a lewalewa 399 la.Note 10 · Na u’i elua. 400 Note 11 · Ki-ki’i ka ua i ka nana keia, la. 401