Page:Pele and Hiiaka; a myth from Hawaii (IA pelehiiakamythfr00emeriala).pdf/91

 The young man added his protest: "Yes, his whole conduct is, indeed, shameful, scandalous. He hasn’t the decency to wait till he gets ashore."

In the midst of this unpleasantness it was a comfort to hear the strong cheerful voice of her former companion Paú-o-pala'e calling to her across the stretch of waters. It will be remembered that their roads had parted company sometime before Hiiaka had left the big island. The separation had made no change, however, in their mutual affection:

Hiiaka replied to her kahu's mele in these words:

Perhaps it was that Hiiaka failed to manifest in her carriage and department the dignity and tabu that hedges in an alii or an akua; perhaps the rough hearted Pi'i-ke-a-nui, sailor-fashion, deemed himself outside the realm of honor which rules on land.