Unwritten Literature of Hawaii The Sacred Songs of the Hula   By: Nathaniel Bright Emerson (1839-1915)

[Page 1]

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY

BULLETIN 38

UNWRITTEN LITERATURE OF HAWAII THE SACRED SONGS OF THE HULA

COLLECTED AND TRANSLATED, WITH NOTES AND AN ACCOUNT OF THE HULA BY NATHANIEL B. EMERSON, A.M., M.D.

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

1909

[Page 2][Blank]

[Page 3]

PREFATORY NOTE

Previous to the year 1906 the researches of the Bureau were restricted to the American Indians, but by act of Congress approved June 30 of that year the scope of its operations was extended to include the natives of the Hawaiian islands. Funds were not specifically provided, however, for prosecuting investigations among these people, and in the absence of an appropriation for this purpose it was considered inadvisable to restrict the systematic investigations among the Indian tribes in order that the new field might be entered. Fortunately the publication of valuable data pertaining to Hawaii is already provided for, and the present memoir by Doctor Emerson is the first of the Bureau's Hawaiian series. It is expected that this Bulletin will be followed shortly by one comprising an extended list of works relating to Hawaii, compiled by Prof. H.M. Ballou and Dr. Cyrus Thomas.

W.H. HOLMES,

Chief.

[Page 4] [Blank]

[Page 5]

CONTENTS

Page

Introduction 7

I. The hula 11

II. The halau; the kuahu their decoration and consecration 14

III. The gods of the hula 23

IV. Support and organization of the hula 26

V. Ceremonies of graduation; debut of a hula dancer 31

VI. The password the song of admission 38

VII. Worship at the altar of the halau 42

VIII. Costume of the hula dancer 49

IX. The hula alá'a papa 57

X. The hula pa ipu, or kuolo 73

XI. The hula ki'i 91

XII. The hula pahu 103

XIII. The hula úliulí 107

XIV. The hula puili 113

XV. The hula ka laau 116

XVI. The hula ili ili 120

XVII. The hula kaekeeke 122

XVIII. An intermission 126

XIX. The hula niau kani 132

XX. The hula ohe 135

XXI. The music and musical instruments of the Hawaiians 138

XXII. Gesture 176

XXIII. The hula pa hua 183

XXIV. The hula Pele 186

XXV, The hula pa'i umauma 202

XXVI. The hula ku'i Molokai 207