--- title: Pele’s Long Sleep — Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology) · full text with trees description: Pele’s Long Sleep, «Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology)» by W. D. Westervelt: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Pele and her family dwelt in the beauty of Puna. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/14/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mytholo…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/) / Pele’s Long Sleep # Pele’s Long Sleep Pele’s Long Sleep of «Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology)» by W. D. Westervelt: the whole text, 206 sentences and 3439 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/14/page/2/) Pele and her family dwelt in the beauty of Puna.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") On a certain day there was a fine, clear atmosphere and Pele saw the splendid surf with its white crests and proposed to her sisters to go down for bathing and surf-riding.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele, as the high chiefess of the family, first entered the water and swam far out, then returned, standing on the brink of the curling wave, for the very crest was her surf-board which she rode with great skill.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") Sometimes her brother, Kamohoalii, the great shark-god, in the form of a shark would be her surf-board.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Again and again she went out to the deep pit of the waves, her sisters causing the country inland to resound with their acclamation, for she rode as one born of the sea.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") At last she came to the beach and, telling the sisters that the tabu on swimming was lifted, and they could enter upon their sport, went inland with her youngest sister, Hiiaka, to watch while she slept.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") They went to a house thatched with ti \[9\] leaves, a house built for the goddess.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") There Pele lay down, saying to her sister Hiiaka:[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") “I will sleep, giving up to the shadows of the falling evening—dropping into the very depths of slumber.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") Very hard will be this sleep.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") I am jealous of it.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Therefore it is tabu.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") This is my command to you, O my little one.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Wait you without arousing me nine days and eight nights.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") Then call me and chant the ‘Hulihia’” (a chant supposed to bring life back and revive the body).[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Pele added: “Perhaps this sleep will be my journey to meet a man—our husband.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") If I shall meet my lover in my dreams the sleep will be of great value.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") I will sleep.”[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") Hiiaka moved softly about the head of her sister Pele, swaying a kahili fringed and beautiful.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") The perfume of the hala, \[10\] the fragrance of Keaau, clung to the walls of the house.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") From that time Puna has been famous as the land fragrant with perfume of the leaves and flowers of the hala tree.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Whenever Pele slept she lost the appearance which she usually assumed, of a beautiful and glorious young woman, surpassing all the other women in the islands.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") Sleep brought out the aged hag that she really was.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") Always when any worshipper saw the group of sisters and Pele asleep in their midst they saw a weary old woman lying in the fire-bed in the great crater.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") While Pele was sleeping her spirit heard the sound of a hula-drum skilfully played, accompanied by a chant sung by a wonderful voice.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") The spirit of Pele arose from her body and listened to that voice.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") She thought it was the hula \[11\] of Laka, who was the goddess of the dance.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she clearly heard male voices, strong and tender, and a great joy awoke within her, and she listened toward the east, but the hula was not there.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Then westward, and there were the rich tones of the beaten drum and the chant.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele’s spirit cried: “The voice of love comes on the wind.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") I will go and meet it.”[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele then forsook Keaau and went to Hilo, but the drum was not there.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") She passed from place to place, led by the call of the drum and dance, following it along the palis (precipices) and over the deep ravines, through forest shadows and along rocky beaches until she came to the upper end of Hawaii.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") There she heard the call coming across the sea from the island Maui.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") Her spirit crossed the channel and listened again.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") The voices of the dance were louder and clearer and more beautiful.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") She passed on from island to island until she came to Kauai, and there the drum-beat and the song of the dance did not die away or change, so she knew she had found the lover desired in her dream.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele’s spirit now put on the body of strong, healthful youth.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Nor was there any blemish in her beauty and symmetry from head to foot.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") She was anointed with all the fragrant oils of Puna.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Her dress was the splendid garland of the red lehua flower and maile \[12\] leaf and the fern from the dwelling-places of the gods.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") The tender vines of the deep woods veiled this queen of the crater.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") In glorious young womanhood she went to the halau.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") The dark body of a great mist enveloped her.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") The drum and the voice had led her to Haena, Kauai, to the house of Lohiau, the high-born chief of that island.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") The house for dancing was long and was beautifully draped with mats of all kinds.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") It was full of chiefs engaged in the sports of that time.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") The common people were gathered outside the house of the chief.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") The multitude saw a glorious young woman step out of the mist.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they raised a great shout, praising her with strong voices.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") It seemed as if the queen of sunrise had summoned the beauty of the morning to rest upon her.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") The countenance of Pele was like the clearest and gentlest moonlight.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") The people made a vacant space for the passage of this wonderful stranger, casting themselves on the ground before her.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") An ancient chant says:[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") “O the passing of that beautiful woman.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") Silent are the voices on the plain.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") No medley of the birds is in the forest; There is quiet, resting in peace.”[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele entered the long house, passed by the place of the drums, and seated herself on a resting-place of soft royal mats.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") The chiefs were astonished, and after a long time asked her if she came from the far-off sunrise of foreign lands.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele replied, smiling, “Ka\![60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") I belong to Kauai.”[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") Lohiau, the high chief, said: “O stranger, child of a journey, you speak in riddles.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") I know Kauai from harbor to clustered hills, and my eyes have never seen any woman like you.”[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") “Ka!” said Pele, “the place where you did not stop, there I was.”[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") But Lohiau refused her thought, and asked her to tell truly whence she had come.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") At last Pele acknowledged that she had come from Puna, Hawaii,—“the place beloved by the sunrise at Haehae.”[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") The chiefs urged her to join them in a feast, but she refused, saying she had recently eaten and was satisfied, but she “was hungry for the hula—the voices and the drum.”[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Lohiau told her that her welcome was all that he could give.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") “For me is the island, inland, seaward, and all around Kauai.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") This is your place.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") The home you have in Puna you will think you see again in Kauai.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") The name of my house for you is Ha-laau-ola \[Tree of Life\].”[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele replied: “The name of your house is beautiful.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") My home in Puna is Mauli-ola \[Long Life\].[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") I will accept this house of yours.”[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") Lohiau watched her while he partook of the feast with his chiefs, and she was resting on the couch of mats.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") He was thinking of her marvellous, restful beauty, as given in the ancient chant known as “Lei Mauna Loa.”[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") “Lei of Mauna Loa, beautiful to look upon.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") The mountain honored by the winds.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") Known by the peaceful motion.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") Calm becomes the whirlwind.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") Beautiful is the sun upon the plain.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") Dark-leaved the trees in the midst of the hot sun. Heat rising from the face of the moist lava.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") The sunrise mist lying on the grass, Free from the care of the strong wind.[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") The bird returns to rest at Palaau.[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") He who owns the right to sleep is at Palaau.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") I am alive for your love— For you indeed.”[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Lohiau proposed to his chiefs that he should take this beautiful chiefess from Kauai as his queen, and his thought seemed good to all.[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") Turning to Pele, he offered himself as her husband and was accepted.[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Lohiau arose and ordered the sports to cease while they all slept.[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele and Lohiau were married and dwelt together several days, according to the custom of the ancient time.[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") After this time had passed Lohiau planned another great feast and a day for the hula-dance and the many sports of the people.[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") When they came together, beautiful were the dances and sweet the voices of Lohiau and his aikane (closest friend).[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") Three of the women of Kauai who were known as “the guardians of Haena” had come into the halau and taken their places near Lohiau.[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") The people greeted their coming with great applause, for they were very beautiful and were also possessed of supernatural power.[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") Their beauty was like that of Pele save for the paleness of their skins, which had come from their power to appear in different forms, according to their pleasure.[96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") They were female mo-o, or dragons.[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") Their human beauty was enhanced by their garments of ferns and leaves and flowers.[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele had told Lohiau of their coming and had charged him in these words: “Remember, you have been set apart for me.[99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") Remember, and know our companionship.[100](100/ "tree and pragmatics") Therefore I place upon you my law, ‘Ke kai okia’ \[Cut off by the sea\] are you—separated from all for me.”[101](101/ "tree and pragmatics") Lohiau looked on these beautiful women.[102](102/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief of the women, Kilinoe, was the most interesting.[103](103/ "tree and pragmatics") She refused to eat while others partook of a feast before the dancing should begin, and sat watching carefully with large, bright, shining eyes the face of Lohiau, using magic power to make him pay attention to her charms.[104](104/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele did not wish these women to know her, so placed a shadow between them and her so that they looked upon her as through a mist.[105](105/ "tree and pragmatics") —Some legends say that Pele danced the Hula of the Winds of Kauai, calling their names until strong winds blew and storms of rain beat upon the house in which the chiefs were assembled, driving the common people to their homes.—[106](106/ "tree and pragmatics") There the chiefs took their hula-drums and sat down preparing to play for the dancers.[107](107/ "tree and pragmatics") Then up rose Kilinoe, and, taking ferns and flowers from her skirts, made fragrant wreaths wherewith to crown Lohiau and his fellow hula-drummers, expecting the chief to see her beauty and take her for his companion.[108](108/ "tree and pragmatics") But the law of Pele was upon him and he called to her for a chant before the dance should commence.[109](109/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/14/page/2/) - ← previous: [Genealogy of the Pele Family](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/13/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/14/page/2/) - ↑ back to [Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/)