Kahuli is a fanciful name applied to the beautiful and unique genus of tree-shells (Achatinella), plate XII, that inhabit the Hawaiian woods. The natives are persuaded that these shells have the power of chirping a song of their own, and the writer has often heard the note which they ascribe to them; but to his ear it was indistinguishable from the piping of the cricket. This is the song that the natives credit to the tree-shells:
Mele
Kahuli aku,
Kahuli mai,
Kahuli lei ula,
Lei akolea. [255]
Kolea, kolea, [256]
Ki’i ka wai,
Wai akolea.