or in a spirit of levity, as a great impropriety.

In ancient times the performance of the hula Pele, like that
of all other plays, was prefaced with prayer and sacrifice.
The offering customarily used in the service of this hula
consisted of salt crystals and of luau made from the delicate
unrolled taro leaf. This was the gift demanded of every pupil
seeking admission to the school of the hula, being looked
upon as an offering specially acceptable to Pele, the patron
of this hula. In the performance of the sacrifice teacher and
pupil approached and stood reverently before the kuahu while
the former recited a mele, which was a prayer to the goddess.
The pupil ate the luau, the teacher placed the package of
salt on the altar, and the service was complete.

Both olapa and hoopaa took part in the performance of this
hula. There was little or no moving about, but the olapa did
at times sink down to a kneeling position. The performance
was without instrumental accompaniment, but with abundant
appropriate gestures. The subjects treated of were of such
dignity and interest as to require no extraneous
embellishment.

Perusal of the mele which follows will show that the story of
Pele dated back of her arrival in this group:

_He Oli-O ka mele mua keia o ka, hula Pele_

Mai Kahiki ka wahine, o Pele,
Mai ka aina i Pola-pola,
Mai ka punohu ula a Kane,
Mai ke ao lalapa i ka lani,
5 Mai ka opua lapa i Kahiki.

Lapa-ku i Hawaii ka wahine, o Pele;
Kalai i ka wa'a Houna-i-a-kea,
Kou wa'a, e Ka-moho-alii.
I apo'a ka moku i pa'a;
10 Ua hoa ka wa'a o ke Akua,

Ka wa'a o Kane-kalai-honua.
Holo mai ke au, a'ea'e Pele-honua-mea;
A'ea'e ka Lani, ai-puni'a i ka moku;
A'ea'e Kini o ke Akua,
[Page 188] 15 Noho a'e o Malau.
Ua ka ia ka liu o ka wa'a.
Ia wai ka hope, ka uli o ka wa'a, e ne hoa 'lii?
Ia Pele-honua-mea.
A'ea'e kai hoe oluna o ka wa'a.

20 O Ku ma, laua o Lono,
No