v.— CEEEMONIES OF GRADUATION ; DEBUT OF A HULA 



DANCER 



Ceremonies or Graduation 



The ai-lolo rite and ceremony marked the consummation of a 

 pupil's readiness for graduation from the school of the halau and his 

 formal entrance into the guild of liula dancers. As the time drew 

 near, the kumu tightened the reins of discipline, and for a few days 

 before that event no pupil might leave the hahui save for the most 

 stringent necessity, and then only with the head muffled {pulo^u) to 

 avoid recognition, and he might engage in no conversation whatever 

 outside the halau. 



The night preceding the day of ai-lolo was devoted to special serv- 

 ices of dance and song. Some time after midnight the whole company 

 Avent forth to plunge into the ocean, thus to purge themselves of any 

 lurking ceremonial impurity. The progress to the ocean and the 

 return they made in complete nudity. " Nakedness is the garb of the 

 gods." On their way to and from the bath they must not look back, 

 they must not turn to the right hand or to the left. 



The kumu, as the priest, remained at the halau, and as the proces- 

 sion returned from the ocean he met it at the door and sprinkled each 

 one (pikai) with holy water. Then came another period of dance 

 and song; and then, having cantillated a pule hoonoa, to lift the 

 tabu, the kumu went forth to his own ceremonial cleansing bath in the 

 sea. During his absence his deputy, the kokua kumu, took charge of 

 the halau. When the kumu reached the door on his return, he made 

 himself known by reciting a mele wehe puka, the conventional pass- 

 word. 



Still another exercise of song and dance, and the wearied pupils 

 are glad to seek,repose. Some will not even remove the short dancing 

 skirts that are girded about them, so eager are they to snatch an hour 

 of rest ; and some lie down with bracelets and anklets yet unclasped. 



At daybreak the kumu rouses the company with the tap of the 

 drum. After ablutions, before partaking of their simple breakfast, 

 the company stand before the altar and recite a tabu-removing prayer, 

 accompanying the cantillation with a rhythmic tapping of feet and 

 clapping of hands: 



Pule Hoonoa 



Pupil we'iiwe'ii e, Laka e ! 

 O kona we'uwe'u ke ku nei. 



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