Emerson] UNWRITTEN LITERATURE OF HAWAII 43 



5 'Let Lono bless the service, 



Shutting the mouth of the dog, 



That breaks the charm with his barlving. 



Bring tlie i-e that grows in the wilds. 



The maile that twines iu the thicket, 

 10 Red-beaked kiele, leaf of the goddess, 



The joyous pulse of the dance 



In honor of Ha'i-ka-malama, 



Friend of Kiua'u, 



Red-robed friend of Kina'u. 

 15 Thou art Laka, 



God of this altar here. 



Return, return and reside at your altar ! 



Bring it good luck ! 



A single prayer may not suflice as the offering at Laka's altar. 

 His repertory is full; the visitor begins anew, this time on a different 

 tack : 



Pule Kuahu (no Laka) 



Eia ke kuko, lea li'a ; 



I ka manawa he hiamoe ko'u, 



Hoala ana oe, 



Ooe o Halau-lani, 

 5 O Hoa-lani, 



O Puoho-lani, 

 Me he manu e hea ana 1 ka maha lehua 

 Ku moho kiekie la i-uka. 

 I-uka ho'i au me Laka 

 10 A Lea," a Wahie-loa,'' i ka nahelehele ; 

 He hoa kaana ia no'u, 

 No kela kuahiwi, kualono hoi. 



E Laka, e Laka, e ! 

 E maliu mai ! 

 15 A maliu mai oe pono au, 

 A a'e mai oe pono au ! 



[Translation] 

 Altar-Prayer (to Laka) 



This my wish, my burning desire, 

 That in the season of slumber 

 Thy spirit my soul may inspire, 



Altar-dweller, 

 5 Heaven-guest, 



Soul-awakener, 

 Bird from covert calling. 

 Where forest champions stand. 



There roamed I too with Laka, 



" Lea. The same as Laia, or probably Haumca. 



^ Wahie loa. This must be a mistake. Laka the son of Wahie-loa was a great voyager. 

 His canoe (kau-meli-eU) was built for him by the gods. In it he sailed to the South to 

 rescue his father's bones from the witch who had murdered him. This Laka had his 

 home at Kipahulu, Maui, and is not to be confounded with Laka, goddess of the hula. 



