PAOA COMES BEFORE PELE

The eminence of Akani-kolea stood near at hand and offered Paoa a vantage ground for better contemplation of the mysterious earth-pit, and when the first tide of emotion had swept by thither he repaired. Looking down into the desolate abyss, his gaze centered on a group of human figures, beautiful women, seated on the vast plates of pahoehoe that made the floor of the caldera. He saw but four of them, Pele herself not being visible. He had no clue as to their identity and was only impressed as by the sight of beautiful women who were to him as goddesses. The grandeur and strangeness of the scene moved him to song:

Hulihia ka Mauna,

Wela i ke ahi a ka Wahine;

Wela na ohi’a o Kulili i ka ua;

Wela, a nopu ke ahi o ka Lua.

Ai kamumu, nakeke ka pahoehoe;

Wela, a iluna o Hale-ma’uma’u;

Malu ka pali o Ka-au-eä.

Auwe, e Hiiaka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele, e,