CHAPTER XIX

 HIIAKA FINDS A RELATIVE IN MAKA-PU’U—KO’OLAU WEATHER—MALEI

 

Hiiaka’s adventurous¹ tour of Moloka’i ended at Kauna-ka-kai, from which place she found no difficulty in obtaining the offer of transportation to Oahu. The real embarrassment² lay in the super-gallantry of the two sailors who manned the canoe. When the two men looked upon Hiiaka and Wahine-oma’o, they were so taken with admiration³ for their beauty and attractiveness, that they sneaked⁴ out of a previous engagement to take their own wives along with them, trumping⁵ up some shuffling⁶ excuse about the canoe being overladen.

 

Arriving at the desolate⁷ landing near the wild promontory⁸ of Maka-pu’u, it was only by a piece of well-timed duplicity that Hiiaka and her companion managed to shake off the sailors and relieve themselves from their excessive attentions.

 

While in mid⁹ channel, in sight of Ulu-ma-wao, a promontory whose name was the same as a near relative of the Pele family, Hiiaka poured out this reminiscence in song:

 

Ku’u kane i ka pali kauhuhu,

Kahi o Maka-pu’u1 huki i ka lani

Ka Lae o Ka-laau,2

Kela pali makua-ole3 olaila:—

Anu ka ua i ka pali o Ulu-ma-wao,4 e;

E mao wale ana i ka lani kela pali:

Ku’i, ha-ina i ke kai.

I ke kai ho’i ke Akua,

A pololi a moe au, e-e!

Ku’u la pololi, a ola i kou aloha:

Ina’i pu me ka waimaka, e-e!

A e u’wé kaua, e-e!

[87]

 

TRANSLATION

 

O fellow mine on the stair-like cliff,

Where Maka-pu’u climbs to the sky,

Companioned by Cape¹⁰-of-the-woods,

That fatherless bluff¹¹ over yonder:

Cold cheer the rain on Ulu-ma-wao;

That lone¹² steep faints away in the sky,

While Ocean pounds and breaks at its base—

The sea is the home of the gods.

I lay in a swoon from hunger

What time I awoke from love’s dream,

Love, salt with the brine of our tears.

Let us mingle¹³ our tears.

It was a question with Hiiaka whether to follow the Koolau or the Kona side of the island. The consideration that turned the scale in favor of the Koolau route was that thus she would have sight of a large number of aunts and uncles, members of the Pele family, whose ghosts still clung to the dead volcanic¹⁴ cones¹⁵ and headlands which stood as relics¹⁶ of their bygone activities, and where they eked¹⁷ out a miserable¹⁸ existence. The region was thickly strewn with these skeleton forms. Hiiaka first addressed herself to Maka-pu’u:

 

Noho ana Maka-pu’u i ka lae,

He wahine a ke Akua Pololi:—

Pololi, ai-ole, make i ka pololi, e-e!

TRANSLATION

 

Maka-pu’u dwells at the Cape,

Wife to the god of Starvation—

Hunger and death from starvation.

To this Maka-pu’u answered: “We love the place, the watch-tower, from which we can see the canoes, with their jibing¹⁹ triangular²⁰ sails, sailing back and forth²¹ between here and Moloka’i.” To this she added a little chanty:

 

E Maka-pu’u nui, kua ke au e!

Na mauü moe o Malei, e-e,

I ai na maua, i ai na maua, e-e!

[88]

 

TRANSLATION

 

Oh Maka-pu’u, the famous,

Back pelted²² by wind and by tide!

Oh the withered²³ herbs of Malei!

Oh give us some food for us both.

To Malei Hiiaka addressed the following condolence:

 

Owau e hele i na lae ino o Koolau,

I na lae maka-kai o Moe-au;

E hele ka wahine au-hula ana o ka pali,

Naná uhu ka’i o Maka-pu’u—

He i’a ai na Malei, na ka wahine

E noho ana i ka ulu o ka makani.

I Koolau ke ola, i ka huaka’i malihini,

Kanaenae i ka we-uwe’u,

Ola i ka pua o ka mauu.

E Malei e, e uwé kaua;

A e Malei e, aloha-ino no, e.

TRANSLATION

 

I walk your stormy capes²⁴, Koolau,

The wave-beaten capes of Moe-au,

Watch-towers, where the women who brave the sea

May see the uhu coursing by—

Meat for the woman who faces the gale²⁵,

Sea-food for the woman Malei;

For her living comes from Koolau,

From the pilgrim bands that pass her way;

Yet we bless the herbs of the field,

Whose bud and flower is meat for Malei:

We pity and weep for Malei.

Note.—Malei was, I am told, a female kupua who assumed various bodily forms. Offerings were necessary, not for her physical but for her spiritual sustenance²⁶. The burnt offering was not merely pleasing for its sweet smelling savour, it was an aliment necessary to the creature’s continued existence. For the same or a parallel reason, songs of praise and adulation (kanaenae) were equally acceptable and equally efficacious. Cut off the flowers of speech as well as the offerings of its worshippers, and a kupua would soon dwindle²⁷ into nothingness. [89]

 

“You are quite right,” answered Malei: “the only food to be had in this desolate spot is the herbage that grows hereabouts; and for clothing we have to put up with such clouts²⁸ as are tossed us by travelers. When the wind blows one has but to open his mouth to get his belly²⁹ full. That has been our plight³⁰ since your sister left us two old people here. Cultivate this plain, you say; plant it with sweet potatoes; see the leaves cover the hills; then make an oven and so relieve your hunger. Impossible.”

 

As they traveled on Maka-pu’u and its neighbor hills passed out of sight. Arriving at Ka-ala-pueo, they caught view of the desolate hill Pohaku-loa, faint, famished³¹, forlorn. The sight of it drew from Hiiaka this chanting utterance³²:

 

Puanaiea ke kanáka,

Ke hele i ka li’u-la,

I Koholá-pehu, i ke kaha o Hawí, e.

Wi, ai ole, make i ka i’a ole, e.

TRANSLATION

 

Man faints if he travels till night-fall

In the outer wilds of Kohala,

In the barren lands of Hawi—

It’s famine, privation of bread, of meat!

“It is indeed a barren land. Fish is the only food it produces. Our vegetables come from Wai-manalo. When the people of that district bring down bundles of food we barter³³ for it our fish. When we have guests, however, we try to set vegetable food before them.”

 

To speak again of the kupua Malei, a few years ago, as I am told, a Hawaiian woman on entering a certain cave in the region of Wai-manalo, found herself confronted with a stone figure, from which glowed like burning coals a group of eight flaming eyes, being set in deep sockets³⁴ in the stone. This rare object was soon recognized as the bodily dwelling³⁵ of the kupua Malei. This little monolith at a later time came into the possession of Mr. John Cummins of Wai-manalo. [90]

 

1Maka-pu’u, a headland at the eastern extremity³⁶ of Oahu, on which a lighthouse of the first class has been established within three years. ↑

 

2Lae o Ka-laau, the south-western cape of Moloka’i, on which is a lighthouse of the first class. ↑

 

3Makua-ole, literally³⁷, fatherless or parentless; seemingly a reference to the lonely inhospitable character of the place. ↑

 

4Ulu-ma-wao, a hill in the same region as Maka-pu’u point. The name is said to mean a place having a very thin soil. 

1 adventurous   

adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的　

参考例句：

• I was filled with envy at their adventurous lifestyle.我很羨慕他们敢于冒险的生活方式。
• He was predestined to lead an adventurous life.他注定要过冒险的生活。

2 embarrassment   

n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫

参考例句：

• She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
• Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。

3 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

4 sneaked   

v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状

参考例句：

• I sneaked up the stairs. 我蹑手蹑脚地上了楼。
• She sneaked a surreptitious glance at her watch. 她偷偷看了一眼手表。

5 trumping   

v.（牌戏）出王牌赢（一牌或一墩）( trump的现在分词 )；吹号公告，吹号庆祝；吹喇叭；捏造

参考例句：

• Reality has a way of trumping art, and human-climate change is very real indeed. 现实总有它的王牌艺术，受人类影响的气候变化的确成了事实。 来自互联网
• This quirky aversion may be a case of psychological security trumping physical comfort. 这种奇怪现象可能是缘于一个心理上的安全感战胜生理上的舒适感的例子。 来自互联网

6 shuffling   

adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• Don't go shuffling along as if you were dead. 别像个死人似地拖着脚走。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some one was shuffling by on the sidewalk. 外面的人行道上有人拖着脚走过。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

7 desolate   

adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂

参考例句：

• The city was burned into a desolate waste.那座城市被烧成一片废墟。
• We all felt absolutely desolate when she left.她走后，我们都觉得万分孤寂。

8 promontory   

n.海角；岬

参考例句：

• Genius is a promontory jutting out of the infinite.天才是茫茫大地突出的岬角。
• On the map that promontory looks like a nose,naughtily turned up.从地图上面，那个海角就像一只调皮地翘起来的鼻子。

9 mid   

adj.中央的，中间的

参考例句：

• Our mid-term exam is pending.我们就要期中考试了。
• He switched over to teaching in mid-career.他在而立之年转入教学工作。

10 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

11 bluff   

v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗

参考例句：

• His threats are merely bluff.他的威胁仅仅是虚张声势。
• John is a deep card.No one can bluff him easily.约翰是个机灵鬼。谁也不容易欺骗他。

12 lone   

adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的

参考例句：

• A lone sea gull flew across the sky.一只孤独的海鸥在空中飞过。
• She could see a lone figure on the deserted beach.她在空旷的海滩上能看到一个孤独的身影。

13 mingle   

vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往

参考例句：

• If we mingle with the crowd,we should not be noticed.如果我们混在人群中，就不会被注意到。
• Oil will not mingle with water.油和水不相融。

14 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

15 cones   

n.（人眼）圆锥细胞；圆锥体( cone的名词复数 )；球果；圆锥形东西；（盛冰淇淋的）锥形蛋卷筒

参考例句：

• In the pines squirrels commonly chew off and drop entire cones. 松树上的松鼠通常咬掉和弄落整个球果。 来自辞典例句
• Many children would rather eat ice cream from cones than from dishes. 许多小孩喜欢吃蛋卷冰淇淋胜过盘装冰淇淋。 来自辞典例句

16 relics   

[pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸

参考例句：

• The area is a treasure house of archaeological relics. 这个地区是古文物遗迹的宝库。
• Xi'an is an ancient city full of treasures and saintly relics. 西安是一个有很多宝藏和神圣的遗物的古老城市。

17 eked   

v.（靠节省用量）使…的供应持久( eke的过去式和过去分词 )；节约使用；竭力维持生计；勉强度日

参考例句：

• She eked out the stew to make another meal. 她省出一些钝菜再做一顿饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She eked out her small income by washing clothes for other people. 她替人洗衣以贴补微薄的收入。 来自辞典例句

18 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

19 jibing   

v.与…一致( jibe的现在分词 )；（与…）相符；相匹配

参考例句：

20 triangular   

adj.三角（形）的，三者间的

参考例句：

• It's more or less triangular plot of land.这块地略成三角形。
• One particular triangular relationship became the model of Simone's first novel.一段特殊的三角关系成了西蒙娜第一本小说的原型。

21 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

22 pelted   

（连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮

参考例句：

• The children pelted him with snowballs. 孩子们向他投掷雪球。
• The rain pelted down. 天下着大雨。

23 withered   

adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The grass had withered in the warm sun. 这些草在温暖的阳光下枯死了。
• The leaves of this tree have become dry and withered. 这棵树下的叶子干枯了。

24 capes   

碎谷； 斗篷( cape的名词复数 )； 披肩； 海角； 岬

参考例句：

• It was cool and they were putting on their capes. 夜里阴冷，他们都穿上了披风。
• The pastor smiled to give son's two Capes five cents money. 牧师微笑着给了儿子二角五分钱。

25 gale   

n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等）

参考例句：

• We got our roof blown off in the gale last night.昨夜的大风把我们的房顶给掀掉了。
• According to the weather forecast,there will be a gale tomorrow.据气象台预报，明天有大风。

26 sustenance   

n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计

参考例句：

• We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
• The urban homeless are often in desperate need of sustenance.城市里无家可归的人极其需要食物来维持生命。

27 dwindle   

v.逐渐变小（或减少）

参考例句：

• The factory's workforce has dwindled from over 4,000 to a few hundred.工厂雇员总数已经从4,000多人减少到几百人。
• He is struggling to come to terms with his dwindling authority.他正努力适应自己权力被削弱这一局面。

28 clouts   

n.猛打( clout的名词复数 )；敲打；（尤指政治上的）影响；（用手或硬物的）击v.（尤指用手）猛击，重打( clout的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

29 belly   

n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛

参考例句：

• The boss has a large belly.老板大腹便便。
• His eyes are bigger than his belly.他眼馋肚饱。

30 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

31 famished   

adj.饥饿的

参考例句：

• When's lunch?I'm famished!什么时候吃午饭？我饿得要死了！
• My feet are now killing me and I'm absolutely famished.我的脚现在筋疲力尽，我绝对是极饿了。

32 utterance   

n.用言语表达，话语，言语

参考例句：

• This utterance of his was greeted with bursts of uproarious laughter.他的讲话引起阵阵哄然大笑。
• My voice cleaves to my throat,and sob chokes my utterance.我的噪子哽咽，泣不成声。

33 barter   

n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易

参考例句：

• Chickens,goats and rabbits were offered for barter at the bazaar.在集市上，鸡、山羊和兔子被摆出来作物物交换之用。
• They have arranged food imports on a barter basis.他们以易货贸易的方式安排食品进口。

34 sockets   

n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴

参考例句：

• All new PCs now have USB sockets. 新的个人计算机现在都有通用串行总线插孔。
• Make sure the sockets in your house are fingerproof. 确保你房中的插座是防触电的。 来自超越目标英语 第4册

35 dwelling   

n.住宅，住所，寓所

参考例句：

• Those two men are dwelling with us.那两个人跟我们住在一起。
• He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street.他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。

36 extremity   

n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度

参考例句：

• I hope you will help them in their extremity.我希望你能帮助在穷途末路的他们。
• What shall we do in this extremity?在这种极其困难的情况下我们该怎么办呢？

37 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。