EMERSON] UNWRITTEN LITERATURE OF HAWAII 55 



35 Deftly wields the knife of small-leafed bamboo; 



A bamboo choice and fit for the work. 



Cut, cut through, cut ofiC the corners ; 



Cut round, like crescent moon of Hoaka ; 



Cut in scallops this shift that makes tabu : 

 40 A fringe is this for the pa-u. 



'Tis lifted by Ka-holo-ku-iwa, 



'Tis borne by Pa-wili-wili ; 



A pa-ti narrow at top like a house, 



That's hung on the roof-tree till morning, 



45 Himg on the roof-tree Ha-la'a-wili. 



Make a bundle titting the shoulder ; 



Lash it fast, rolled tight like a log. 



The bundle falls, red shows the pali ; 



The children shout, they scream in derision. 

 50 The a'o bird shrieks itself hoarse 



In wonder at the pa-ti — 



Pa-ti with a sheen like Hi'i-lawe falls, 



Bowed like the rainbow arch 



Of the rain that's now falling. 



The girls of the ohipa, their worlv in the tiring-room completed, lift 

 their voices in a spirited song, and with a lively motion pass out into 

 the hall to bloom before the waiting assembly in the halau in all the 

 glory of their natural charms and adornments : 



Oil 



Ku ka punohu ula i ka moana ; 

 Hele ke ehu-kai, uhi i ka aina ; 

 Olapa ka uila, noho i Kahiki. 

 Uina, nakolo, 

 5 Uwa ka pihe, 



Lau" kanaka ka hula. 

 E Laka, e ! 



[Translation] 

 Tiring Song 



The rainbow stands red o'er the ocean ; 

 IMist crawls from the sea and covers the land ; 

 Far as Kahiki flashes the lightning; 

 A reverberant roar, 

 5 A shout of applause 



From the four hundred. 

 I appeal to thee, Laka ! 



" Lau (archaic). Four hundred. 



