Poliahu - by Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett
Wai maka o Poliahu I ka ʻeha a ke aloha Kaumaha i ka haʻalele O ʻAiwohi kupua Anuanu ka ʻiu kēhau O Mauna Kea Aʻohe ana ipo aloha E hoʻo pumehana Kau mai ka haliʻa aloha O ka wa mamua Puolu ka wai o Nohi Kuʻu mehameha He lei ko aloha No kuʻu kino Pili poli hemoʻole No na kau akau Hui: E hoʻi mai (e hoʻi mai) E kuʻu ipo E hoʻi mai (e hoʻi mai) E pili kāua E hoʻi mai (e hoʻi mai ʻoe) E hoʻi mai ʻoe ē, ē E hoʻi mai ʻoe	Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett	Tears of the snow goddess And the pains of love Sadden by separation Of Aiwohi, the demi-god   Cold the sacred dew Of Mauna Kea And no one to love And to warm   To enact memories of love Of times gone by Refresh the water of Nohi And my loneliness   Your wreath of love For my body And bosom closed tied Put in place forever   Chorus: Come back to me My sweetheart Come back to me As we embrace Come back to me Come back to me Come back to me
Source: The 14th century legend of Lāʻieikawai (Lāʻie in the water) - ʻAiwohikupua, chief of Wailua, Kauaʻi, was originally from Kahiki and vowed never to marry a Hawaiian woman. He heard of the beauty of Lāʻieikawai and set out to find the sacred princess and propose marriage. He stopped at the harbor of Haneoʻo in the Hāna district of Maui and met Hinaikamalama, the Hana chiefess. He was invited to join the surf riders and was smitten with Hina. She, in turn, fell in love with him. Mindful of his quest and remembering his vow, he declared that he would not give himself to any woman until he traveled to the island of Hawaiʻi. He promised to return for Hina and asked her to remain faithful to him. Resuming his journey to find Lāʻieikawai, he arrived at Paliuli with a feather mantle as a gift for the princess. Amazed by her house in Puna, thatched with the yellow feathers of the ʻōʻō bird, he was embarrassed by his gift, not equal to the roof of her hale. He left without seeing the princess and sailed for Kauaʻi. Along the coast of Hāmākua, he saw a woman of extraordinary beauty reclining on a cliff. He landed, made her aquaintance and spoke of love to the woman in a snow white mantle. She was Poliahu, the snow goddess of Mauna Kea and also of kupua (demigod or supernatural being) descent, like ʻAiwohi. She reminded him of his promise to marry Hina but, if he was released from his vow, he could return and she would marry him. They exchanged mantles and he continued on, avoiding Hāna and the chiefess who expected to become his wife. When he arrived home, his sisters agreed to accompany him to Hawaiʻi to plead ʻAiwohi’s case to win the hand of Lāʻieikawai. Obsessed with her beauty, he again set sail for Hawaiʻi. Poliahu saw their canoes when they passed Kaʻelehuluhulu, Kona, and was disappointed when they did not land. ʻAiwohi and his sisters went to Paliuli and as each sister presented his case, each was rejected by the princess. Hearing his rejection, ʻAiwohi returned home to Kauaʻi and remembered Poliahu. He began expiatory rites to release him from his engagement to the chiefess of Hāna, and sent his messengers to Poliahu asking her to prepare for his return and their wedding. Preparations were begun and ʻAiwohi promised to arrive in 4 months. On the day of Kulu (17th day), in the appointed month, the 3 mountains (Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualālai) were covered with snow, the sign promised by Poliahu. ʻAiwohi arrived at Waiulaula and was greeted by his bride-to-be and the other snow goddesses of the mountains, Līlīnoe, Waiau and Kahoupokane. After their marriage, the couple sailed to Kauaʻi and made their home above Honopuwai. When Hina learned of the wedding of her betrothed, she was enraged and went to Kauaʻi to confront her lover. The chiefs were gathered at Mānā for a celebration where Hina accused ʻAiwohi of unfaithfulness. ʻAiwohi’s conduct was condemned. Humilated, Poliahu returned to Mauna Kea and ʻAiwohi agreed to fulfill his promise to Hina. The night of their marriage, Poliahu sent the chill of her snow mantle to cover her rival with intense cold. Whenever Hina and Aiwohi tried to be together, Poliahu would send the intense cold of her snow mantle. Frightened, Hina returned to Hāna without ʻAiwohi and their marriage was never consumated. Poliahu remained at Mauna Kea, brokenhearted. Translated by Henry Kaalekahi.