Chapter XXVIII: Canto I

Fallen is the chief, overthrown is the whole kingdom, Gasping in death, deserted, forsaken in flight, An universal overthrow is this; A hard panting this for the speedy flight. Numberless the cases, for the flight is everywhere. 5. The nights declare the slaughter. There was extended my night of death— My real night, dark, seeing nothing, Falling in the smooth road, on the sand. The kingly power along with the land 10. Are passed away, here they are with the chief. The personal dignity of chiefs their glory, is gone, The multitude also with them in high places, There they are now in humble places, They are shaken, they are scattered asunder, are destitute, dead; 15. Wantonly slain with their harmless women. There stand two signs of great slaughter; The house of death for them there,—the house of safety for him here, There is triumph for him here,—there is destruction for them there, The people of that land are conquered, their chief is dead, 20. Hoku has the care of the land, The mountain tops are bare of verdure, Burnt by the hot whirlwinds of heaven they stand; Withering has struck them, the polluted scent rises to heaven; The polluted scent of night contends with the great heat of day, 25. The strong scent rises on high, the mountain tops are hot; The mountains are covered with pointed clouds and stormy winds. The spirit of the land is fled; The soul of the island is flown upward. The pebbles of Palila have appeared, 30. The glory of the land is thrown into a place of death:—Kau is dead! Kau is slain by these conquering forces. The souls of the land approach, weak and staggering, Even the enlarged ghosts of the land. The enlarged ghosts of the three [lands] of Kau, of Puna, of Hilo. 35. Not lately did they flee, long ago they fled conquered by the chief, Then was finished the offering of the sacrifice by Ku. The souls of the slaughtered are crowded together—they are dead; They have flown to the pit,—there, where there is no repentance.