while the scene we have described was being enacted on kaua’i, the spirit of pele, returning from its long flight, hovered over the sleeping body at lau-pahoehoe. above it waved the kahilis, about it were gathered the sisters and other relatives, quietly sobbing. though it was many days since pele had lain down to sleep, and though they feared the consequences if she continued thus, they dared not disturb her. when that was proposed, the sister in charge objected. “if it must be done, we shall have to send for hiiaka the beloved.”

some of them suggested that pele must be dead, she had remained so long without motion. but hiiaka-of-the-lightning-flash scouted the idea: “how can that be? the body shows no signs of decay.” [10]

the girl hiiaka saw the messenger that had been despatched to fetch her, while as yet she was in the dim distance,—it was her nurse, paú-o-pala’e,—and there came to her a premonition of what it all meant, a vision, a picture, of the trouble that was to come; yet, overmastering her, was a feeling of affection and loyalty for her elder sister. standing outside the house, that she might better watch the approach of paú-o-pala’e and be on hand to greet her, she voiced her vision in song:

a ka lae ohi’a i papa-lau-ahi,

i ka imu lei lehua o kua-o-ka-la—

lehua maka-nou i ke ahi—

a wela e-e, wela la!

wela i ke ahi au,

a ka wahine mai ka lua, e-e!

translation

from the forest-tongue at papa-lau-ahi

to the garlands heaped at back-o’-the-sun,

the beauteous lehuas are wilted,

scorched, burnt up, aye burnt,

consumed by the fire of the woman—

the fire that flows from the pit.

as the messenger, in the vibrating sunlight, thridded her way among the tree clumps and lava-knobs, which now concealed her and now brought her into full view, hiiaka, with gaze intent to gain such snap-shots of her as these obstructions did not forbid, continued her song:

no ka lua paha ia makani, o ka pu’u-lena,

ke halihali i ke ala laau,

honi u ai ke kini i kai o haena—

haena aloha!

ke kau nei ka haili moe;

kau ka haili moe i ke ahiahi:

he hele ko kakahiaka:

mana’o hele paha au e-e.

homai ka ihu a hele a’e au;

aloha oe a noho iho, e-e!

[11]

translation

from the pit, doubtless, breathes pu’u-lena,

with its waft of woodland perfume—

a perfume drunk in with rapture

on the beach of belovéd haena.

there wafts to me this premonition,

this vision and dream of the night:

i must be gone in the morning:

i foresee i must travel to-morrow.

a farewell kiss ere i journey;

farewell, alas, to thee who remainest!

her hostess, hopoe, would not take the song or the farewell of hiiaka seriously. “you are simply joking,” she said, “letting your gloomy imagination run away with you. who in the world is driving you away, as if you had worn out your welcome?”

the messenger, paú-o-pala’e, when she had saluted hiiaka, said, “i come from your sisters. they want to see you.”

arrived at lau-pahoehoe,1 hiiaka found her sisters in great consternation, fearing for the life of pele if she were allowed to continue her long sleep. her spirit, it is true, had come back to her body; but it was merely hovering about and had not entered and taken possession, so that there were no signs of animation or life. it seemed to be waiting for the voice of hiiaka, the belovéd, to summon it back and to make it resume consciousness.

hiiaka demanded to know the cause of the wailing.

“we are lamenting our sister, the head of the family. you can see for yourself; she is dead.”

after carefully examining the body of pele, hiiaka stoutly declared, “she is not dead. that is evident from the absence of corruption.” then, sitting close to pele’s feet, she sang:

o hookó ia aku oe

o ka hana ana a ke akua:

i kai o maka-wai

ke kiké la ka pohaku:

wáhi kai a ke ’kua—

he akua, he kanáka;

he kanáka no, e-e!

[12]

translation

content you now with your god-work:

down by the sea at maka-wai

the rocks have smitten together;

the sea has opened a channel.

goddess you were, now human,

return to your human clay!

pele slept on and gave no sign of waking. hiiaka then chanted this serenade:

e ala, e ala, e ala!

e ala, e hi-ka-po-kuakini!

e ala, e hi-ka-po-kuamáno!

e ala, e ke akua, e ke alo!

e ala, e ka uwila nui,

maka ehá i ka lani, la!

e ala, e, e ala!

translation

awake now, awake, awake!

wake, goddess of multiple god-power!

wake, goddess of essence most godlike!

wake, queen of the lightning shaft,

the piercing fourth eye of heaven!

awake; i pray thee awake!

the effect was magical: pele’s bosom heaved; breath entered her lungs; a fresh color came to her face, and spread to the tips of her ears. she sighed, stretched herself and sat up: she was herself again.

1 this laupahoehoe is to be distinguished from that in hilo.