534 Fornmidci- Collection of Haivaiian Folk-lore. 



had done. At the end of twentj^ days the outside coveriug of the package was removed 

 aud Makapailu looked and saw that the taro had changed and was in the form of a very 

 beautiful female child, one without a blemish and ver}' pleasant to look upon. The 

 grandparents from this time on brought her up with great surveillance under very 

 strict kapu." This was maintained until she was twenty j-ears of age, without the 

 knowledge of anybody, even her own parents. After she grew up it M^as her usual 

 custom to go with her attendant in the woods to string lehua blossoms into leis, with- 

 out the knowledge of any one. On their fourth day out in the woods to string wreaths 

 of lehua, they reached a section' in the thick woods, a place to them unknown where 

 the lehua was plentiful. While they were picking the lehua there came Elepaio, the 

 messenger of Kalaniaula, the lizard king of Keawewai. Elepaio' was a bird that 

 changed at times into a human form. It called out: 



The wi is at Waiaha, the wi is at Waiaha. 

 The fish is good, the fish is good. 



Hoamakeikekula said to her companion: "Say, there is a bird calling." The 

 attendant answered: "Perhaps it is the scjueak of a tree rubbing one against another, 

 or it may be the wind. Let tis listen." The bird again sang out: 



The wi is at Waiaha, the wi is at Waiaha. 

 The fish is good, the fish is good. 



Hoamakeikektila upon hearing the call the second time said: "There 3'ou see, it 

 is a bird." So the two looked more closely. While they continued watching the bird, 

 it changed its form and asstimed that of a human being. There stood a yottng man of 

 handsome appearance who said: "My greetings to you two." Btit when he saw the 

 beauty of Hoamakeikekula he chanted and interpreted the following mele: 



Haili, the plain of lehua [flowers] 



Where the birds twine them into wreaths. 



The GO with its sweet note 



In the leafy dell of Hilo; 



Like the voice of the Achatinella 



Gathering the awa* 



That grows on the trees in the forests of Puna. 



Upou hearing this the attendant said to Hoamakeikektila: "Let us return home; 

 the time for stringing wreaths is ended. Your grandparents will be worried if we 

 remain much lotiger. As they were about to return, Elepaio spoke to the fog: 



Ye fog that creeps in the upland, 

 Ye fog that creeps seaward; 

 Ye ugly seas, ye mad seas. 

 Ye kapu-breaking seas. 



' Palania is used here in the sense of strict surveil- in Hawaiian myths more than any other. Prof. H. W. 



lance of secrecy under a sacred kapn. Elsewhere Uie Henshaw observed: "No bird has a more important place 



word is used as one espoused; a fiancee. in Hawaiian mythology than the elepaio, and omens and 



-k'ula, not a plain or open place, but a section of the warnings were formerly read from its actions and notes." 

 ohia grove where the lehua blossoms are abundant, for '.■l2L'a {Piper incihyslicuni), usually of groundculture, 



the sake of which the birds assemble and sit. appears to have a variety or species whicli thrives in tree 



^Tlie bird elepaio {Chasicmpii sandwie/iensis) is ihe stumps, 

 favorite messenger or agent for carrying out the plots 



