The breakers of Milo-li’i—
Scaling the ladder that climbs Makua.
The ladder, alas, the ladder is gone!
The child in my heart has grown a man.
My heart found room for this travel-mate;
But now!—I strip from my back
That emblem—that burden—of love!
Alas for emblem and love!
The “child in the heart that has grown to be a man” is Lohiau’s old love for Pele-ula, which now wakes up into new life at the sight of his old flame. The old love has, however, in a sense become a burden. It stands in the way of the new-born affection that has sprung up in his heart for Hiiaka.
It was after the chanting of this mele that Lohiau threw his kilu. But, to the consternation of the audience and his own bewilderment, his play was a miss. His aim had been true, his hand steady, the whirling kilu had gone straight on its way as if sure of the mark, then, to the utter amazement of all experts, like the needle of the compass influenced by some hidden magnet, it had swerved and gone wild.