XXVIII.—THE HULA MÚ’U-MÚ’U

The conception of this peculiar hula originated from a pathetic incident narrated in the story of Hiiaka’s journey to bring Prince Lohiau to the court of Pele. Hiiaka, standing with her friend Wahine-oma’o on the heights that overlooked the beach at Kahakuloa, Maui, saw the figure of a woman, maimed as to hands and feet, dancing in fantastic glee on a plate of rock by the ocean. She sang as she danced, pouring out her soul in an ecstasy that ill became her pitiful condition; and as she danced her shadow-dance, for she was but a ghost, poor soul! these were the words she repeated:

Auwé, auwé, mo’ ku’u lima!