Like smoke from roasting bird Ocean’s wild dance;
The shark-god is swimming the sea;
The rocks leap down at Big-leaf[174] and Flat-leaf— [174]
See the ocean charge ’gainst the cliffs,
Thrust snout like rooting boar against Windy-cape,
Against Koholá-lele.
Footnote 169:[ (return) ] Koa’e-kea, Pueo hulu-nui. Steep declivities, pali, on the side of Waipio valley, Hawaii. Instead of inserting these names, which would be meaningless without an explanation, the author has given a literal translation of the names themselves, thus getting a closer insight into the Hawaiian thought.
Footnote 170:[ (return) ] A’e. The precipices rise one above another like the steps of a stairway, climbing, climbing up, though the probable intent of the poet is to represent some one as climbing the ascent.
Footnote 171:[ (return) ] Ha’i. Short for Ha’ina-kolo; a woman about whom there is a story of tragic adventure. Through eating when famished of some berries in an unceremonious way she became distraught and wandered about for many months until discovered by the persistent efforts of her husband. The pali which she climbed was named after her.
Footnote 172:[ (return) ] Maka’u-kiu. The name of a famous huge shark that was regarded with reverential fear.