VIII.—COSTUME OF THE HULA DANCER
The costume of the hula dancer was much the same for both sexes, its chief article a simple short skirt about the waist, the pa-ú. (PL I.)
When the time has come for a dance, the halau becomes one common dressing room. At a signal from the kumu the work begins. The putting on of each article of costume is accompanied by a special song.
First come the ku-pe’e, anklets of whale teeth, bone, shell-work, dog-teeth, fiber-stuffs, and what not. While all stoop in unison they chant the song of the anklet:
Mele Ku-pe’e
Aala kupukupu [87] ka uka o Kane-hoa. [88]
E ho-a! [89]
Hoa na lima o ka makani, he Wai-kaloa. [90]
He Wai-kaloa ka makani anu Lihue.
Alina [91] lehua ï kau ka opua—
Ku’u pua,
Ku’u pua i’ini e ku-i a lei.
Ina ia oe ke lei ’a mai la.