Aia Lä `O Pele I Hawai`i (Pele Is At Hawai`i) - Hula Ala`apapa
 
 
Aia lä `o Pele i Hawai`i, `eä
Ke ha`a mai la i Maukele, `eä
 
`Ühï`ühä mai ana, `eä
Ke nome a`e la i`ä Puna, `eä
 
Ka mea nani ka i Paliuli, `eä
Ke pulelo a`e la i nä pali,`eä
 
Aia ka palena i Maui, `eä
`Äina o Kaululä`au, `eä
 
I hea käua e la`i ai, `eä
I ke alanui a`e li`a nei, `eä
 
Ha`ina `ia mai ka puana, `eä
No Hi`iaka nö he inoa, `eä
 
Pele is at Hawai`i
She is dancing at Maukele
 
She surges and puffs this way
Devouring the land of Puna
 
It makes Paliuli beautiful
Fire tongues leaping at the cliffs
 
It is heard at Maui
Land of Kaulula`au
 
Where will we find peace?
Oh, how we yearn on the road
 
The end of my song
A name song for Hi`iaka
 

Source: This mele inoa for Hi`iaka is learned by most hula students when they begin the study of ancient hula. The dancer is the olapa and these chants are sometimes called Hula Olapa. Maukele is in the Puna district of Hawai`i and Paliuli was a legendary paradise. Kaululä`au (grove of trees) was a chief of Maui, the mischievous son of Chief Kaka`alaneo. Pele asked her sisters to dance and sing for her. All except the youngest, Hi`iaka i ka poli o Pele (Hi`iaka in the bosom of Pele), asked to be excused. She danced to a chant about Puna, a place she loved dearly, the home of her friend, Hopoe. Pele promised not to destroy Puna. Pele asked Hi`iaka to go to Kaua`i and escort Lohi`au, Pele's dream lover, back. Pele destroyed Puna in a fit of jealousy, when she thought Hi`iaka would try to keep Lohia`u from her.

 


Momi Aarona Kepilino