The kumu with his big drum, and the musicians, the ho’o-pa’a, pass through the door and take their places outside in the lanai, where sit the waiting multitude. At the tap of the drum the group of waiting olapa plume themselves like fine birds eager to show their feathers; and, as they pass out the halau door and present themselves to the breathless audience, into every pose and motion of their gliding, swaying figures they pour a full tide of emotion in studied and unstudied effort to captivate the public.
DÉBUT OF A HULA DANCER
The occasion is that of a lifetime; it is their uniki, their debut. The song chosen must rise to the dignity of the occasion. Let us listen to the song that enthralls the audience seated in the rushstrown lanai, that we may judge of its worthiness.
He Mele-Inoa (no Naihe) [38]
Ka nalu nui, a ku ka nalu mai Kona,
Ka malo a ka mahiehie, [39]
Ka onaulu-loa, [40] a lele ka’u malo.
O ka malo kai, [43] malo o ke alii
E ku, e hume a paa i ka malo.