Page:Pele and Hiiaka; a myth from Hawaii (IA pelehiiakamythfr00emeriala).pdf/91

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Pele and Hiiaka—A Myth
65

The young man added his protest: "Yes, his whole conduct is, indeed, shameful, scandalous. He hasn’t the decency to wait till he gets ashore."

In the midst of this unpleasantness it was a comfort to hear the strong cheerful voice of her former companion Paú-o-pala'e calling to her across the stretch of waters. It will be remembered that their roads had parted company sometime before Hiiaka had left the big island. The separation had made no change, however, in their mutual affection:

O hele ana oe, e ka noe, e ka awa,
E na ki a Wahine-kapu,
E ka ua lele a'e maluna
O Ka-la-hiki-ola, la:
O hele ana, e!

TRANSLATION

Like a cloud you fleet by,
On the wings of the storm—
Vision of womanly tabu—
Of the rain-clouds that sweep
O'er the Hill-of-good-luck:
May you speed on your way!

Hiiaka replied to her kahu's mele in these words:

A noho ana,
E na hoaiku,
E na hoa haele,
I uka o Ka-li'u-la,
I Moe-awakea.

TRANSLATION

Kinsmen, allies, travel-mates,
You rest in upland Ka-li'u;
There taste you midday repose.

Perhaps it was that Hiiaka failed to manifest in her carriage and department the dignity and tabu that hedges in an alii or an akua; perhaps the rough hearted Pi'i-ke-a-nui, sailor-fashion, deemed himself outside the realm of honor which rules on land.