The cantillation of the _mele komo_: in answer to the visitor’s petition, meant not only the opening to him of the halau door, but also his welcome to the life of the halau as a heart-guest of honor, trebly welcome as the bringer of fresh tidings from the outside world. [Page 42] VII.—WORSHIP AT THE ALTAR OF THE HALAU The first duty of a visitor on being admitted to the halau while the tabu was on—that is, during the conduct of a regular hula—was to do reverence at the kuahu. The obligations of religion took precedence of all social etiquette. He reverently approaches the altar, to which all eyes are turned, and with outstretched hands pours out a supplication that breathes the aroma of ancient prayer: _Pule Kuahu_ (no Laka) O Laka oe, O ke akua i ke a’a-lii[64] nui. E Laka mai uka! E Laka mai kai! 5 O hoo-ulu[65] o Lono, O ka ilio nana e haehae ke aha, O ka ie-ie ku i ka wao, O ka maile hihi i ka nahele, O ka lau ki-ele[66] ula o ke akua, 10 O na ku’i[67] o Hauoli, O Ha’i-ka-malama,[68] Wahine o Kina’u.[69] Kapo ula[70] o Kina’u. O Laka oe, 15 O ke akua i ke kuahu nei la, e! E ho’i, e ho’i a nolao i kou kuahu. Hoo-ulu ia! [Footnote 64: _A’a-lii_. A deep-rooted tree, sacred to Laka or to Kapo.] [Footnote 65: Hoo-ulu. Literally to make grow; secondarily, to inspire, to prosper, to bring good luck. This is the meaning most in mind in modern times, since the hula has become a commercial venture.] [Footnote 66: _Ki-ele_. A flowering plant native to the Hawaiian woods, also cultivated, sacred to Laka, and perhaps to Kapo. The leaves are said to be pointed and curved like the beak of the bird _i-iwi_, and the flower has the gorgeous yellow-red color of that bird.] [Footnote 67: It has been proposed to amend this verse by substituting _akua_, for _ku’i_, thus making the idea the gods of the hula.] [Footnote 68: _Haí-ka-malama_. An epithet applied to Laka.] [Footnote 69: _Kina’u_. Said to mean Hiiaka, the sister of Pele.] [Footnote 70: _Kapo ula_. Red, _ula_, was the favorite color of Kapo. The _kahuna anaana_, high priests of sorcery, of the black art, and of murder, to whom Kapo was at times procuress, made themselves known as such by the display of a red flag and the wearing of a red malo.] [Translation.]