EMERSON] UNWEITTEN LITEKATURE OF HAWAII 243 



The scene of this idyl is laid in the district of AVaialua, Oahu, but 

 the poet gives his imagination free range regardless of the unities. 

 The chief subjects of interest that serve as a trellis about which the 

 human sentiments entwine concern the duties of the fisherman, who is 

 also a farmer; the school for the hula, in which the hero and the 

 heroine are pupils; and lastly an ideal condition of happiness which 

 the lovers look forward to under the benevolent dispensation of the 

 gods Ku and Ahuena. 



Among the numerous relatives of Pele was one said to be a sister, 

 who was stationed on a bleak sun-burnt promontory in Koolau, Oahu, 

 where she supported a half-starved existence, striving to hold soul 

 and body together by gathering the herbs of the fields, eked out by 

 unsolicited gifts of food contributed by passing travelers. The pa- 

 thetic plaint given below is ascribed to this goddess. 



Mele 



Mao wale i ka laui 



Ka leo o ke Akna pololi. 



A pololi a uioe au 



kii'u la pololi, 



5 A ola i kou alolia; 



1 na'i pn no i ka waimaka o uwe nei. 

 E nwe kaua, el 



[TranslationJ 



Song 



Engulfed in heaven's abyss 

 Is tlie cry of the famished god. 

 I sank to the ground from faintness. 

 My day of utter starvation ; 

 5 Was rescued, revived, by your love: 

 Ours a contest of tears sympathetic — 

 Let us pour out together our tears. 



The Hawaiian thought it not undignified to express sympathy 

 (aloha-ino) with tears. 



