THE LEHUA TREES
Not in a grove where each tree loses its presence, not singly do Lehua trees grow; they are Lehua trees only when they grow as I saw them growing in Kapoho, on Hawaii.
Where I had seen them before they were mingled with other trees or they grew singly, a tree here and a tree there, and looking upon them I had marvelled that the poets of Hawaii had emblemed their warriors as Lehua trees.
But in Kapoho, on Hawaii, they stand upon lava rock and on lava crust; some like mighty champions, like Kamehameha, like Umi, stand on high places, upon the mounds and rocks of lava. All stand in ranks as if all the warriors of the Eight Islands stood spear-ready upon that lava waste.
With branches from the ground they grow. From top to bottom the blossoms show themselves—not blossoms, but the precious ornaments that the warrior decks himself with.
The blossoms show themselves amongst the leaves; they are the scarlet birds, the lost i-i-wi birds of Hawaii come back to hide and to show themselves in the trees beloved of Hiiaka.
They stand upon the lava waste, upon black rocks and amongst black shingles; rank on rank they stand, like warriors erect to watch the red glow of the volcano.
I saw your lava-mounting trees, and I marvelled no more that your poets, Hawaii, had emblemed your warriors as Lehua trees. They have departed, the warriors whom these trees well emblemed. Honey for the birds of heaven, wreaths of red for girls to deck their lovers with, these your Lehua trees bring out of your fire-formed rock, Hawaii.
