2
Pele and Hiiaka—A Myth
TRANSLATION
Puna's a-dance in the breeze,
The hala groves of Keaau shaken:
Haena and Hopoe are swaying;
The thighs of the dancing nymph
Quiver and sway, down at Nana-huki—
A dance most sightly and pleasing,
Down by the sea Nana-huki.
The hala groves of Keaau shaken:
Haena and Hopoe are swaying;
The thighs of the dancing nymph
Quiver and sway, down at Nana-huki—
A dance most sightly and pleasing,
Down by the sea Nana-huki.
Pele was delighted. "Is that all you have?" she asked.
"I have somthing more," said the girl.
"Let us hear it then."
Hiiaka put even more spirit into the song as she complied:
O Puna kai kuwá i ka hala;
Pae ka leo o ke kai;
Ke lu, la, i na pua lehua.
Nana i kai o Hopoe,
Ka wahine ami i kai
O Nana-huki, la;
Hula le'a wale,
I kai o Nana-huki, e-e.
Pae ka leo o ke kai;
Ke lu, la, i na pua lehua.
Nana i kai o Hopoe,
Ka wahine ami i kai
O Nana-huki, la;
Hula le'a wale,
I kai o Nana-huki, e-e.
TRANSLATION
The voice of Puna's sea resounds
Through the echoing hala groves;
The lehua trees cast their bloom.
Look at the dancing girl Hopoe
Her graceful hips swing to and fro,
A-dance on the beach Nana-huki:
A dance that is full of delight,
Down by the sea Nana-huki.
Through the echoing hala groves;
The lehua trees cast their bloom.
Look at the dancing girl Hopoe
Her graceful hips swing to and fro,
A-dance on the beach Nana-huki:
A dance that is full of delight,
Down by the sea Nana-huki.
At the conclusion of this innocent performance—the earliest mention of the hula that has reached us—Hiiaka went to stay with her friend Hopoe, a person whose charm of character had fascinated the imagination of the susceptible girl and who had already become her dearest intimate, her inspiring mentor in those sister arts, song, poesy and the dance.
Pele herself remained with her sister Hiiaka-i-ka-pua-enaena (Hiiaka-of-the-fire-bloom), and presently she lay down to sleep
