The hula ku’i Molokai was a variety of the Hawaiian dance that originated on the island of Molokai, probably at a later period than what one would call the classic times. Its performance extended to the other islands. The author has information of its exhibition on the island of its name as late as the last quarter of the nineteenth century. The actors, as they might be called, in this hula were arranged in pairs who faced each other and went through motions similar to those of boxing. This action, ku’i, to smite, gave the name to the performance. The limiting word Molokai was added to distinguish it from another still more modern form of dance called ku’i, which will be described later.
While the performers stood and went through with their motions, marching and countermarching, as they are said to have done, they chanted or recited in recitative some song, of which the following is an example. This they did with no instrumental accompaniment:
Mele
He ala kai olohia, [389]
He hiwahiwa na ka la’i luahine,
He me’ aloha na’u ka makani hauai-loli, [390]
E uwe ana I ke kai pale iliahi.
Kauwá ke aloha i na lehua o Kaana. [391]
Pomaikai au i kou aloha e noho nei;
Ka haluku wale no ia a ka waimaka,