We received a letter from the Holo-uha wind of Kekaha stating that the hula is growing at Waialae and the boys and girls participate in great numbers; the name of the kumu hula is Kaumai (m). We ask all of you, as human beings, not as animals, to scatter and toss away the rubbish altar of Laka, to smash the awa bowls and cups, and to recognize yourselves as human, and to grasp the digging stick with your fingers, dig some holes in the earth, and plant [?? hawele] sweet potato leaves and gourd seeds, and wait for a while, and delicious fruit will appear from the earth—the familiar bird (Turkey) of the land will chant, “Pokeokeo! pokeokeo! pokeokeo oe!”* And that is how the days of hunger of the land will come to an end. That is what we ask of you Kekaha people.

*This word play plays off of the sound of the cry of a turkey, “pokeokeo,” which has a meaning of prosperous.

(Lahui Hawaii, 7/27/1876, p. 3)

Ka Lahui Hawaii, Buke II, Helu 31, Aoao 3. Iulai 27, 1876.