Kua Loloa O Pu‘uanahulu
Na Kahakulielehua
Written for Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu as a hula ho‘i by William Kahakuleilehua Haunu‘u Ching in May of 1995.
It describes the area surrounding Pu‘uanahulu, namely the famous five mountains that encircle this place. The long ridge and the height and majesty of this area convey the feeling of moving or traveling; very appropriate for a ho‘i. The second line in the mele is a reference to ‘Anahulu, a mythical dog (or some say a priestess), who was killed by Pele and placed in a pool at “the cape of the dog,” of “ka lae o ka ‘īlio.” References to chief ‘Ehu and his reign are also mentioned, as well as poetical epitaphs for the district of Kona.
Kua loloa o Pu‘uanahulu,
Hāmau ‘Anahulu ma ka Lae-o-ka-‘īlio,
‘O Pu‘uwa‘awa‘a noho i ka mālie,
‘Ano‘ai Mauna Kea me Maunaloa,
Kilakila ‘o Hualalai,
Kōhala ‘ākau, aia ma mua ‘o Haleakalā,
Kaulana nā kuahiwi e pō‘ai ‘ia ‘o Pu‘uanahulu,
E ō e Kona ka ‘āina o ‘Ehu,
Kona kai ‘ōpua, Kona kai mā‘oki‘oki,
Nā ke aka o ka lā e hō‘ike i kou nani ē!
Long are the ridges of Pu‘uanahulu,
Anahulu is silenced at Ka-lae-o-ka-‘īlio,
There sits Pu‘uwa‘awa‘a in the calm,
Greetings Mauna Kea, Maunaloa,
And majestic Hualalai,
To the right is Kōhala, and there lies Haleakalā,
Famous are the mountains encircling Pu‘uanahulu,
Behold Kona, land of chief ‘Ehu,
Kona of the billowing clouds, Kona of the streaked sea
The reflection of the sun shows your glory!
