🧚 Pele’s Long Sleep

Pele and her family dwelt in the beauty of Puna.1 On a certain day there was a fine, clear atmosphere and Pele saw the splendid surf with its white crests and proposed to her sisters to go down for bathing and surf-riding.2

Pele, as the high chiefess of the family, first entered the water and swam far out, then returned, standing on the brink of the curling wave, for the very crest was her surf-board which she rode with great skill.3 Sometimes her brother, Kamohoalii, the great shark-god, in the form of a shark would be her surf-board.4 Again and again she went out to the deep pit of the waves, her sisters causing the country inland to resound with their acclamation, for she rode as one born of the sea.5

At last she came to the beach and, telling the sisters that the tabu on swimming was lifted, and they could enter upon their sport, went inland with her youngest sister, Hiiaka, to watch while she slept.6 They went to a house thatched with ti [9] leaves, a house built for the goddess.7 There Pele lay down, saying to her sister Hiiaka:8

“I will sleep, giving up to the shadows of the falling evening—dropping into the very depths of slumber.9 Very hard will be this sleep.10 I am jealous of it.11 Therefore it is tabu.12 This is my command to you, O my little one.13 Wait you without arousing me nine days and eight nights.14 Then call me and chant the ‘Hulihia’” (a chant supposed to bring life back and revive the body).15

Then Pele added: “Perhaps this sleep will be my journey to meet a man—our husband.16 If I shall meet my lover in my dreams the sleep will be of great value.17 I will sleep.”18

Hiiaka moved softly about the head of her sister Pele, swaying a kahili fringed and beautiful.19 The perfume of the hala, [10] the fragrance of Keaau, clung to the walls of the house.20 From that time Puna has been famous as the land fragrant with perfume of the leaves and flowers of the hala tree.21

Whenever Pele slept she lost the appearance which she usually assumed, of a beautiful and glorious young woman, surpassing all the other women in the islands.22 Sleep brought out the aged hag that she really was.23 Always when any worshipper saw the group of sisters and Pele asleep in their midst they saw a weary old woman lying in the fire-bed in the great crater.24

While Pele was sleeping her spirit heard the sound of a hula-drum skilfully played, accompanied by a chant sung by a wonderful voice.25 The spirit of Pele arose from her body and listened to that voice.26 She thought it was the hula [11] of Laka, who was the goddess of the dance.27 Then she clearly heard male voices, strong and tender, and a great joy awoke within her, and she listened toward the east, but the hula was not there.28 Then westward, and there were the rich tones of the beaten drum and the chant.29 Pele’s spirit cried: “The voice of love comes on the wind.30 I will go and meet it.”31

Pele then forsook Keaau and went to Hilo, but the drum was not there.32 She passed from place to place, led by the call of the drum and dance, following it along the palis (precipices) and over the deep ravines, through forest shadows and along rocky beaches until she came to the upper end of Hawaii.33 There she heard the call coming across the sea from the island Maui.34 Her spirit crossed the channel and listened again.35 The voices of the dance were louder and clearer and more beautiful.36

She passed on from island to island until she came to Kauai, and there the drum-beat and the song of the dance did not die away or change, so she knew she had found the lover desired in her dream.37

Pele’s spirit now put on the body of strong, healthful youth.38 Nor was there any blemish in her beauty and symmetry from head to foot.39 She was anointed with all the fragrant oils of Puna.40 Her dress was the splendid garland of the red lehua flower and maile [12] leaf and the fern from the dwelling-places of the gods.41 The tender vines of the deep woods veiled this queen of the crater.42 In glorious young womanhood she went to the halau.43 The dark body of a great mist enveloped her.44

The drum and the voice had led her to Haena, Kauai, to the house of Lohiau, the high-born chief of that island.45 The house for dancing was long and was beautifully draped with mats of all kinds.46 It was full of chiefs engaged in the sports of that time.47 The common people were gathered outside the house of the chief.48

The multitude saw a glorious young woman step out of the mist.49 Then they raised a great shout, praising her with strong voices.50 It seemed as if the queen of sunrise had summoned the beauty of the morning to rest upon her.51 The countenance of Pele was like the clearest and gentlest moonlight.52 The people made a vacant space for the passage of this wonderful stranger, casting themselves on the ground before her.53

An ancient chant says:54

“O the passing of that beautiful woman.55 Silent are the voices on the plain.56 No medley of the birds is in the forest; There is quiet, resting in peace.”57

Pele entered the long house, passed by the place of the drums, and seated herself on a resting-place of soft royal mats.58

The chiefs were astonished, and after a long time asked her if she came from the far-off sunrise of foreign lands.59

Pele replied, smiling, “Ka!60 I belong to Kauai.”61

Lohiau, the high chief, said: “O stranger, child of a journey, you speak in riddles.62 I know Kauai from harbor to clustered hills, and my eyes have never seen any woman like you.”63

“Ka!” said Pele, “the place where you did not stop, there I was.”64

But Lohiau refused her thought, and asked her to tell truly whence she had come.65 At last Pele acknowledged that she had come from Puna, Hawaii,—“the place beloved by the sunrise at Haehae.”66

The chiefs urged her to join them in a feast, but she refused, saying she had recently eaten and was satisfied, but she “was hungry for the hula—the voices and the drum.”67

Then Lohiau told her that her welcome was all that he could give.68 “For me is the island, inland, seaward, and all around Kauai.69 This is your place.70 The home you have in Puna you will think you see again in Kauai.71 The name of my house for you is Ha-laau-ola [Tree of Life].”72

Pele replied: “The name of your house is beautiful.73 My home in Puna is Mauli-ola [Long Life].74 I will accept this house of yours.”75

Lohiau watched her while he partook of the feast with his chiefs, and she was resting on the couch of mats.76 He was thinking of her marvellous, restful beauty, as given in the ancient chant known as “Lei Mauna Loa.”77

“Lei of Mauna Loa, beautiful to look upon.78 The mountain honored by the winds.79 Known by the peaceful motion.80 Calm becomes the whirlwind.81 Beautiful is the sun upon the plain.82 Dark-leaved the trees in the midst of the hot sun. Heat rising from the face of the moist lava.83 The sunrise mist lying on the grass, Free from the care of the strong wind.84 The bird returns to rest at Palaau.85 He who owns the right to sleep is at Palaau.86 I am alive for your love— For you indeed.”87

Then Lohiau proposed to his chiefs that he should take this beautiful chiefess from Kauai as his queen, and his thought seemed good to all.88 Turning to Pele, he offered himself as her husband and was accepted.89

Then Lohiau arose and ordered the sports to cease while they all slept.90 Pele and Lohiau were married and dwelt together several days, according to the custom of the ancient time.91

After this time had passed Lohiau planned another great feast and a day for the hula-dance and the many sports of the people.92 When they came together, beautiful were the dances and sweet the voices of Lohiau and his aikane (closest friend).93

Three of the women of Kauai who were known as “the guardians of Haena” had come into the halau and taken their places near Lohiau.94 The people greeted their coming with great applause, for they were very beautiful and were also possessed of supernatural power.95 Their beauty was like that of Pele save for the paleness of their skins, which had come from their power to appear in different forms, according to their pleasure.96 They were female mo-o, or dragons.97 Their human beauty was enhanced by their garments of ferns and leaves and flowers.98

Pele had told Lohiau of their coming and had charged him in these words: “Remember, you have been set apart for me.99 Remember, and know our companionship.100 Therefore I place upon you my law, ‘Ke kai okia’ [Cut off by the sea] are you—separated from all for me.”101

Lohiau looked on these beautiful women.102 The chief of the women, Kilinoe, was the most interesting.103 She refused to eat while others partook of a feast before the dancing should begin, and sat watching carefully with large, bright, shining eyes the face of Lohiau, using magic power to make him pay attention to her charms.104 Pele did not wish these women to know her, so placed a shadow between them and her so that they looked upon her as through a mist.105

—Some legends say that Pele danced the Hula of the Winds of Kauai, calling their names until strong winds blew and storms of rain beat upon the house in which the chiefs were assembled, driving the common people to their homes.—106

There the chiefs took their hula-drums and sat down preparing to play for the dancers.107 Then up rose Kilinoe, and, taking ferns and flowers from her skirts, made fragrant wreaths wherewith to crown Lohiau and his fellow hula-drummers, expecting the chief to see her beauty and take her for his companion.108 But the law of Pele was upon him and he called to her for a chant before the dance should commence.109