uld have married, but that King Lihohho
(Kamehameha IV) would not allow the marriage. Thereby hangs a
tragedy.]

[Footnote 61: _La'a_. The region in Hawaii now known as Ola'a
was originally called La'a. The particle _o_ has become fused
with the word.]

[Footnote 62: _Hewa ka waha_. This expression, here tortured,
into "(till) the mouth awry," is difficult of translation. A
skilled Hawaiian scholar suggests, it may mean to change one
from, an enemy to a friend by stopping his mouth with food.]

[Footnote 63: _Wa'a_. Literally a canoe. This is a euphemism
for the human body, a gift often too freely granted. It will
be noted that in the answering mele komo, the song of
admission, the reward promised is more modestly
measured--"Simply the voice."]

The answer to this appeal for admission was in these words:

_Mele Komo_

E hea i ke kanaka e komo maloko,
E hanai ai a hewa waha;
Eia no ka uku la, o ka leo,
A he leo wale no, e!

[Translation]

Welcoming-Song

Call to the man to come in,
And eat till the mouth is estopt;
And this the reward, the voice,
Simply the voice.

The cantillation of the _mele komo_: in answer to the
visitor's petition, meant not only the opening to him of the
halau door, but also his welcome to the life of the halau as
a heart-guest of honor, trebly welcome as the bringer of
fresh tidings from the outside world.
[Page 42]

VII.--WORSHIP AT THE ALTAR OF THE HALAU

The first duty of a visitor on being admitted to the halau
while the tabu was on--that is, during the conduct of a
regular hula--was to do reverence at the kuahu. The
obligations of religion took precedence of all social
etiquette. He reverently approaches the altar, to which all
eyes are turned, and with outstretched hands pours out a
supplication that breathes the aroma of ancient prayer:

_Pule Kuahu_ (no Laka)

O Laka oe,
O ke akua i ke a'a-lii[