Canto Iii

(Bombastic style)

Haunt of white tropic-bird and big ruffled owl, Up rises the firstborn child of the pali. He climbs, he climbs, he climbs up aloft, Kaholo-ku’-iwa, the pali of Ha’i. Accomplished now is the steep, The ladder-like series of steps. Malu-ó is left far below. Passed is Ka-maha-la’-wili, The very ridge-pole of the rain— It’s as if the peak cut it in twain— An arched roof the peak’s crest Hale-hale-o-ú. A twisted cord hangs the brook Wai-hilau; Like smoke from roasting bird Ocean’s wild dance; The shark-god is swimming the sea; The rocks leap down at Big-leaf and Flat-leaf— See the ocean charge ’gainst the cliffs, Thrust snout like rooting boar against Windy-cape, Against Koholá-lele.