KMEKSON] UNWRITTEN LITERATURE OP HAWAII 201 



[Tiausliilion] 



Yours, doubtless, this name, 



WbicLi people are toastinji 



With loudest acclaiui. 



Now raise it, a.v<' raise it, 

 n Till it i-eaelies the iiiclies 



Of KMau-L'-a. 



Enshrined is there my kinsman, 



Kii-ni'ii-akea. 



Then jjive it a place 

 10 In the temple of Pele: 



And a bowl for the throats 



That are eroakin.u: with thirst. 



Knock-kneed eater of land, 



() Pele, ijod Pele! 

 35 O Pele, god Pele! 



Burst forth now ! Inirst forth ! 



Launch a bolt from the sky! 



Let thy li.uhtninss fly ! 



When this poem " first came into the anther's hands, thongh at- 

 tracted by its classic form and vigorous style, he could not avoid being- 

 repelled by an evident grossness. An old Hawaiian, to whom he 

 stated his objections, assured him that the mele was innocent of all 

 bad intent, and when the offensive word was pointed out he protested 

 that it was an interloper. The substitution of the right word showed 

 that the man was correct. The offense was at once removed. This 

 set the whole poem in a new light and it is presented with satisfaction. 

 The mele is properly a name-song, niele-inoa. The poet represents 

 some one as lifting a name to his mouth for praise and adulation. 

 He tells him to take it to Kilauea — that it may reecho, doubtless, from 

 the walls of the crater. 



" It is saifl to be the work of a hula master, now some years dead, hy the name of 

 Namakeehia. 



