At the time when Kahalaomapuana leaped from the canoe into the sea it was going very swiftly, so she fell far behind. The canoe turned back to recover Kahalaomapuana, but the party did not find her; then Aiwohikupua abandoned his young sister and sailed straight for Kauai.
As Aiwohikupua sailed away from Hawaii, between Oahu and Kauai he spoke to his paddlers as follows: "When we get back to Kauai let no one tell that we have been to Hawaii after Laieikawai, lest shame come to me and I be spoken of jeeringly; and therefore I lay my commands upon you. Whoever speaks of this journey of ours and I hear of it, his penalty is death, his and all his offspring, as I vowed to those paddlers of mine before."
They returned to Kauai. A few days afterwards Aiwohikupua, the chief, wished to make a feast for the chiefs and for all his friends on Kauai.
While the feast was being made ready the chief gave word to fetch the feasters; with all the male chiefs, only one woman of rank was allowed to come to the celebration; this was Kailiokalauokekoa.[47]
On the day of the feast all the guests assembled, the food was ready spread, and the drink at the feast was theawa.
Before eating, all the guests together took up their cups ofawaand drank. During the feasting, theawahad not the least effect upon them.
And because theawahad no effect, the chief hastily urged hisawachewers to chew theawaa second time. When the chief's command was carried out, the guests and the chief himself took up their cups ofawaall together and drank. When this cup ofawawas drained the effect of theawaovercame them. But the one who felt the effects most was the chief who gave the feast.
Now, while the chief was drunk, the oath which he swore at sea to the rowers was not forgotten; not from one of his own men was the forbidden story told, but from the mouth of Aiwohikupua himself was the chief's secret heard.
While under the influence of theawa, Aiwohikupua turned right around upon Kauakahialii, who was sitting near, and said: "O Kauakahialii, when you were talking to us about Laieikawai, straightway there entered into me desire after that woman; then sleepless were my nights with the wish, to see her; so I sailed and came to Hawaii, two of us went up, until at daylight we reached the uplands of Paliuli; when I went to see the chief's house, it was very beautiful, I was ashamed; therefore I returned here. I returned, in fact, thinking that the little sisters were the ones to get my wish; I fetched them, made the journey with the girls to the house of the princess, let them do their best; when, as it happened, they were all refused, all four sisters except the youngest; for shame I returned. Surely that woman is the most stubborn of all, she has no equal."
While Aiwohikupua talked of Laieikawai's stubbornness, Hauailiki was sitting at the feast, the young singer of Mana, a chief of high rank on the father's side and of unrivaled beauty.
He arose and said to Aiwohikupua, "You managed the affair awkwardly. I do not believe her to be a stubborn woman; give me a chance to stand before her eyes; I should not have to speak, she would come of her own free will to meet me, then you would see us together."
Said Aiwohikupua, "Hauailiki, I wish you would go to Hawaii; if you get Laieikawai, you are a lucky fellow, and I will send men with you and a double canoe; and should you lose in this journey then your lands become mine, and if you return with Laieikawai then all my lands are yours."
After Aiwohikupua had finished speaking, that very night, Hauailiki boarded the double canoe and set sail, but many days passed on the journey.
As they sailed they stood off Makahanaloa, and, looking out, saw the rainbow arching above the beach of Keaau. Said Aiwohikupua's chief counsellor to Hauailiki, "Look well at that rainbow arching the beach there at Keaau. There is Laieikawai watching the surf riding."
Said Hauailiki, "I thought Paliuli was where she lived."
And on the next day, in the afternoon, when they reached Keaau,Laieikawai had just returned with Aiwohikupua's sisters to Paliuli.
When Hauailiki's party arrived, behold many persons came to see this youth who rivaled Kauakahialii and Aiwohikupua in beauty, and all the people of Keaau praised him exceedingly.
Next day at sunrise the mist and fog covered all Keaau, and when it cleared, behold! seven girls were sitting at the landing place of Keaau, one of whom was more beautiful than the rest. This was the very first time that the sisters of Aiwohikupua had come down with Laieikawai, according to their compact.
As Laieikawai and her companions were sitting there that morning,Hauailiki stood up and walked about before them, showing off his goodlooks to gain the notice of the princess of Paliuli. But what wasHauailiki to Laieikawai? Mere chaff!
Four days Laieikawai came to Keaau after Hauailiki's entering the harbor; and four days Hauailiki showed himself off before Laieikawai, and she took no notice at all of him.
On the fifth day of her coming, Hauailiki thought to display before the beloved one his skill with the surf board;[48] the truth is Hauailiki surpassed any one else on Kauai as an expert in surf riding, he surpassed all others in his day, and he was famous for this skill as well as for his good looks.
That day, at daybreak, the natives of the place, men and women, were out in the breakers.
While the people were gathering for surfing, Hauailiki undid his garment, got his surf board, of the kind made out of a thick piece ofwili-wiliwood, went directly to the place where Laieikawai's party sat, and stood there for some minutes; then it was that the sisters of Aiwohikupua took a liking to Hauailiki.
Said Mailehaiwale to Laieikawai, "If we had not been set apart by our parents, I would take Hauailiki for my husband."
Said Laieikawai, "I like him, too; but I, too, have been set apart by my grandmother, so that my liking is useless."
"We are all alike," said Mailehaiwale.
When Hauailiki had showed himself off for some minutes, Hauailiki leaped with his surf board into the sea and swam out into the breakers.
When Hauailiki was out in the surf, one of the girls called out, "Land now!"
"Land away!" answered Hauailiki, for he did not wish to ride in on the same breaker with the crowd. He wished to make himself conspicuous on a separate breaker, in order that Laieikawai should see his skill in surf riding and maybe take a liking to him. Not so!
When the others had gone in a little wave budded and swelled, then Hauailiki rode the wave. As he rode, the natives cheered and the sisters of Aiwohikupua also. What was that to Laieikawai?
When Hauailiki heard the cheering, then he thought surely Laieikawai's voice would join the shouting. Not so! He kept on surfing until the fifth wave had passed; it was the same; he got no call whatever; then Hauailiki first felt discouragement, with the proof of Aiwohikupua's saying about the "stubbornness of Laieikawai."
When Hauailiki saw that Laieikawai still paid no attention to him he made up his mind to come in on the surf without the board.
He left it and swam out to the breakers. As he was swimming Laieikawai said, "Hauailiki must be crazy."
Her companions said, "Perhaps he will ride in on the surf without a board."
When Hauailiki got to the breakers, just as the crest rose and broke at his back, he stood on its edge, the foam rose on each side of his neck like boars' tusks. Then all on shore shouted and for the first time Laieikawai smiled; the feat was new to her eyes and to her guardians also.
When Hauailiki saw Laieikawai smiling to herself he thought she had taken a liking to him because of this feat, so he kept on repeating it until five breakers had come in; no summons came to him from Laieikawai.
Then Hauailiki was heavy-hearted because Laieikawai took no notice of him, and he felt ashamed because of his boast to Aiwohikupua, as we have seen in the last chapter.
So he floated gently on the waves, and as he floated the time drew near for Laieikawai's party to return to Paliuli. Then Laieikawai beckoned to Hauailiki.
When Hauailiki saw the signal the burden was lifted from his mind; Hauailiki boasted to himself, "You wanted me all the time; you just delayed."
And at the signal of the princess of Paliuli he lay upon the breaker and landed right where Laieikawai and her companions were sitting; then Laieikawai threw alehuawreath around Hauailiki's neck, as she always did for those who showed skill in surf riding. And soon after the mist and fog covered the land, and when it passed away nothing was to be seen of Laieikawai and her party; they were at Paliuli.
This was the last time that Laieikawai's party came to Keaau while Hauailiki was there; after Hauailiki's return to Kauai, then Laieikawai came again to Keaau.
After Laieikawai's party were gone to the uplands of Paliuli, Hauailiki left off surf riding and joined his guide, the chief counsellor of Aiwohikupua. Said he, "I think she is the only one who is impregnable; what, Aiwohikupua said is true. There is no luck in my beauty or my skill in surf riding; only one way is left, for us to foot it to Paliuli to-night." To this proposal of Hauailiki his comrade assented.
In the afternoon, after dinner, the two went up inland and entered the forest where it was densely overgrown with underbrush. As they went on, they met Mailehaiwale, the princess's first guardian. When she saw them approaching from a distance, she cried, "O Hauailiki, you two go back from there, you two have no business to come up here, for I am the outpost of the princess's guards and it is my business to drive back all who come here; so turn back, you two, without delay."
Said Hauailiki, "Just let us go take a look at the princess's house."
Said Mailehaiwale, "I will not let you; for I am put here to drive off everybody who comes up here like you two."
But because they urged her with such persuasive words, she did consent.
As they went on, after Mailehaiwale let them pass, they soon encounteredMailekaluhea, the second of the princess's guardians.
Said Mailekaluhea, "Here! you two go back, you two have no right to come up here. How did you get permission to pass here?"
Said they, "We came to see the princess."
"You two have no such right," said Mailekaluhea, "for we guards are stationed here to drive off everybody who comes to this place; so, you two go back."
But to Mailekaluhea's command they answered so craftily with flattering words that they were allowed to pass.
As the two went on they met Mailelaulii and with the same words they had used to the first, so they addressed Mailelaulii.
And because of their great craft in persuasion, the two were allowed to pass Mailelaulii's front. And they went on, and met Mailepakaha, the fourth guardian.
When they came before Mailepakaha this guardian was not at all pleased at their having been let slip by the first guards, but so crafty was their speech that they were allowed to pass.
And they went on, and behold! they came upon Kahalaomapuana, the guardian at the door of the chief-house, who was resting on the wings of birds, and when they saw how strange was the workmanship of the chief-house, then Hauailiki fell to the earth with trembling heart.
When Kahalaomapuana saw them she was angry, and she called out to them authoritatively, as the princess's war chief, "O Hauailiki! haste and go back, for you two have no business here; if you persist, then I will call hither the birds of Paliuli to eat your flesh; only your spirits will return to Kauai."
At these terrible words of Kahalaomapuana, Hauailiki's courage entirely left him; he arose and ran swiftly until he reached Keaau in the early morning.
For weariness of the journey up to Paliuli, they fell down and slept.
While Hauailiki slept, Laieikawai came to him in a dream, and they met together; and on Hauailiki's starting from sleep, behold! it was a dream.
Hauailiki slept again; again he had the dream as at first; four nights and four days the dream was repeated to Hauailiki, and his mind was troubled.
On the fifth night after the dream had come to Hauailiki so repeatedly, after dark, he arose and ascended to the uplands of Paliuli without his comrade's knowledge.
In going up, he did not follow the road the two had taken before, but close to Mailehaiwale he took a new path and escaped the eyes of the princess's guardians.
When he got outside the chief-house Kahalaomapuana was fast asleep, so he tiptoed up secretly, unfastened the covering at the entrance to the house, which was wrought with feather work, and behold! he saw Laieikawai resting on the wings of birds, fast asleep also.
When he had entered and stood where the princess was sleeping, he caught hold of the princess's head and shook her. Then Laieikawai started up from' sleep, and behold! Hauailiki standing at her head, and her mind was troubled.
Then Laieikawai spoke softly to Hauailiki, "Go away now, for death and life have been left with my guardians, and therefore I pity you; arise and go; do not wait."
Hauailiki said, "O Princess, let us kiss[49] one another, for a few nights ago I came up and got here without seeing you; we were driven away by the power of your guards, and on our reaching the coast, exhausted, I fell asleep; while I slept we two met together in a dream and we were united, and many days and nights the same dream came; therefore I have come up here again to fulfill what was done in the dream."
Laieikawai said, "Return; what you say is no concern of mine; for the same thing has come to me in a dream and it happened to me as it happened to you, and what is that to me? Go! return!"
As Kahalaomapuana slept, she heard low talking in the house, and she started up from sleep and called out, "O Laieikawai, who is the confidant who is whispering to you?"
When she heard the questioner, Laieikawai ceased speaking.
Soon Kahalaomapuana arose and entered the house, and behold! Hauailiki was in the house with Laieikawai.
Kahalaomapuana said, "O Hauailiki, arise and go; you have no right to enter here; I told you before that you had no business in this place, and I say the same thing to-night as on that first night, so arise and return to the coast."
And at these words of Kahalaomapuana Hauailiki arose with shame in his heart, and returned to the beach at Keaau and told his comrades about his journey to Paliuli.
When Hauailiki saw that he had no further chance to win Laieikawai, then he made the canoe ready to go back to Kauai, and with the dawn left Keaau and sailed thither.
When Hauailiki's party returned to Kauai and came to Wailua, he saw a great company of the high chiefs and low chiefs of the court, and Kauakahialii and Kailiokalauokekoa with them.
As Hauailiki and his party were nearing the mouth of the river atWailua, he saw Aiwohikupua and called out, "I have lost."
When Hauailiki landed and told Aiwohikupua the story of his journey and how his sisters had become the princess's guardians, then Aiwohikupua rejoiced.
He declared to Hauailiki, "There's an end to our bet, for it was made while we were drunk withawa."
While Hauailiki was telling how Aiwohikupua's sisters had become guardians to Laieikawai, then Aiwohikupua conceived afresh the hope of sailing to Hawaii to get Laieikawai, as he had before desired.
Said Aiwohikupua, "How fortunate I am to have left my sisters on Hawaii, and so I shall attain my desire, for I have heard that my sisters are guardians to the one on whom I have set my heart."
Now, while all the chiefs were gathered at Wailua, then Aiwohikupua stood up and declared his intention in presence of the chiefs: "Where are you! I shall go again to Hawaii, I shall not fail of my desire; for my sisters are now guardians of her on whom I have set my heart."
At these words of Aiwohikupua, Hauailiki said, "You will not succeed, for I saw that the princess was taboo, and your sisters also put on reserved airs; one of them, indeed, was furious, the smallest of them; so my belief is you will not succeed, and if you go near you will get paid for it."
To Hauailiki's words Aiwohikupua paid no attention, for he was hopeful because of what he had heard of his sisters' guarding the princess.
After this he summoned the bravest of his fighting men, his bodyguard, all his chiefly array, and the chief arranged for paddlers; then he commanded the counsellor to make the canoes ready.
The counsellor chose the proper canoes for the trip, twenty double canoes, and twice forty single canoes, these for the chiefs and the bodyguard, and forty provision canoes for the chief's supplies; and as for the chief himself and his counsellor, they were on board of a triple canoe.
When everything was ready for such a journey they set out.
Many days they sailed. When they came to Kohala, for the first time the Kohala people recognized Aiwohikupua, a magician renowned all over the islands. And because the chief came in disguise to Kohala when he fought with Cold-nose, this was why they had not recognized him.
They left Kohala and went to Keaau. Just as they reached there,Laieikawai and the sisters of Aiwohikupua returned to Paliuli.
When Laieikawai and her companions returned, on the day whenAiwohikupua's party arrived, their grandmother had already foreseenAiwohikupua's arrival at Keaau.
Said Waka, "Aiwohikupua has come again to Keaau, so let the guard be watchful, look out for yourselves, do not go down to the sea, stay here on the mountain until Aiwohikupua returns to Kauai."
When the princess's head guard heard the grandmother's words, then Kahalaomapuana immediately ordered Kihanuilulumoku,[50] their god, to come near the home of the chief and prepare for battle.
As the princess's chief guard, she ordered her sisters to consult what would be the best way to act in behalf of the princess.
When they met and consulted what was best to be done, all agreed to what Kahalaomapuana, the princess's chief guard, proposed, as follows: "You, Mailehaiwale, if Aiwohikupua should come hither, and you two meet, drive him away, for you are the first guard; and if he should plead his cause force him away: and if he is very persistent, because he is a brother, resist him still more forcibly; and if he still insists then despatch one of the guardian birds to me, then we will all meet at the same place, and I myself will drive him away. If he threatens to harm us, then I will command our god, Kihanuilulumoku, who will destroy him."
After all the council had assented they stationed themselves at a distance from each other to guard the princess as before.
At dawn that night arrived Aiwohikupua with his counsellor. When they saw the taboo sign—the hollow post covered with whitetapa—then they knew that the road to the princess's dwelling was taboo. But Aiwohikupua would not believe it taboo because of having heard that his sisters had the guardian power.
So they went right on and found another taboo sign like the first which they had found, for one sign was set up for each of the sisters.
After passing the fourth taboo sign, they approached at a distance the fifth sign; this was Kahalaomapuana's. This was the most terrible of all, and then it began to be light; but they could not see in the dark how terrible it was.
They left the sign, went a little way and met Mailehaiwale; overjoyed was Aiwohikupua to see his sister. At that instant Mailehaiwale cried, "Back, you two, this place is taboo."
Aiwohikupua supposed this was in sport; both again began to approach Mailehaiwale; again the guardian told them to go. "Back at once, you two! What business have you up here and who will befriend you?"
"What is this, my sister?" asked Aiwohikupua. "Are you not my friends here, and through you shall I not get my desire?"
Then Mailehaiwale sent one of her guardian birds to Kahalaomapuana; in less than no time the four met at the place guarded by Mailekaluhea, where they expected to meet Aiwohikupua.
And they were ready and were sent for and came. When Aiwohikupua saw Kahalaomapuana resting on the wings of birds, as commander in chief, this was a great surprise to Aiwohikupua and his companion. Said the head guard, "Return at once, linger not, delay not your going, for the princess is taboo, you have not the least business in this place; and never let the idea come to you that we are your sisters; that time has passed." Kahalaomapuana arose and disappeared.
Then the hot wrath of Aiwohikupua was kindled and his anger grew. He decided at that time to go back to the sea to Keaau, then send his warriors to destroy the younger sisters.
When they turned back and came to Kahalaomapuana's taboo sign, behold! the tail of the great lizard protruded above the taboo sign, which was covered with whitetapawound with theieievine and the sweet-scented fern,[51] and it was a terrible thing to see.
As soon as Aiwohikupua and his companion reached the sea at Keaau, Aiwohikupua's counsellor dispatched the chief's picked fighting men to go up and destroy the sisters, according to the chief's command.
That very day Waka foresaw what Aiwohikupua's intention was. So Waka went and met Kahalaomapuana, the princess's commander in chief, and said: "Kahalaomapuana, I have seen what your brother intends to do. He is preparing ten strong men to come up here and destroy you, for your brother is wrathful because you drove him away this morning; so let us be ready in the name of our god."
Then she sent for Kihanuilulumoku, the great lizard of Paliuli, their god. And the lizard came and she commanded him: "O our god, Kihanuilulumoku, see to this lawless one, this mischief-maker, this rogue of the sea; if they send a force here, slaughter them all, let no messenger escape, keep on until the last one is taken, and beware of Kalahumoku, Aiwohikupua's great strong dog;[52] if you blunder, there is an end of us, we shall not escape; exert your strength, all your godlike might over Aiwohikupua. Amen, it is finished, flown away." This was Kahalaomapuana's charge to their god.
That night the ten men chosen by the chief went up to destroy the sisters of Aiwohikupua, and the assistant counsellor made the eleventh in place of the chief counsellor.
At the first dawn they approached Paliuli. Then they heard the humming of the wind in the thicket from the tongue of that great lizard, Kihanuilulumoku, coming for them, but they did not see the creature, so they went on; soon they saw the upper jaw of the lizard hanging right over them; they were just between the lizard's jaws; then the assistant counsellor leaped quickly back, could not make the distance; it snapped them up; not a messenger was left.
Two days passed; there was no one to tell of the disaster to Aiwohikupua's party, and because he wondered why they did not return the chief was angry.
So the chief again chose a party of warriors, twenty of them, from the strongest of his men, to go up and destroy the sisters; and the counsellor appointed an assistant counsellor to go for him with the men.
Again they went up until they came clear to the place where the first band had disappeared; these also disappeared in the lizard; not a messenger was left.
Again the chief waited; they came not back. The chief again sent a band of forty; all were killed. So it went on until eight times forty warriors had disappeared.
Then Aiwohikupua consulted with his counsellor as to the reason for none of the men who had been sent returning.
Said Aiwohikupua to his counsellor, "How is it that these warriors who are sent do not return?"
Said his counsellor, "It may be when they get to the uplands and see the beauty of the place they remain, and if not, they have all been killed by your sisters."
"How can they be killed by those helpless girls, whom I intended to kill?" So said Aiwohikupua.
And because of the chief's anxiety to know why his warriors did not come back he agreed with his counsellor to send messengers to see what the men were doing.
At the chief's command the counsellor sent the Snipe and the Turnstone, Aiwohikupua's swiftest messengers, to go up and find out the truth about his men.
Not long after they had left they met another man, a bird catcher from the uplands of Olaa;[53] he asked, "Where are you two going?"
The runners said, "We are going up to find out the truth about our people who are living at Paliuli; eight times forty men have been sent—not one returned."
"They are done for," said the bird catcher, "in the great lizard,Kihanuilulumoku; they have not been spared."
When they heard this they kept on going up; not long after they heard the sighing of the wind and the humming of the trees bending back and forth; then they remembered the bird catcher's words, "If the wind hums, that is from the lizard."
They knew then this must be the lizard; they flew in their bird bodies. They flew high and looked about. There right above them was the upper jaw shutting down upon them, and only by quickness of flight in their bird bodies did they escape.
As they flew far upward and were lost to sight on high, Snipe and his companion looked down at the lower jaw of the lizard plowing the earth like a shovel, and it was a fearful thing to see. It was plain their fellows must all be dead, and they returned and told Aiwohikupua what they had seen.
Then Kalahumoku, Aiwohikupua's great man-eating dog, was fetched to go and kill the lizard, then to destroy the sisters of Aiwohikupua.
When Kalahumoku, the man-eating dog from Tahiti, came into the presence of his grandchild (Aiwohikupua), "Go up this very day and destroy my sisters," said Aiwohikupua, "and bring Laieikawai."
Before the dog went up to destroy Aiwohikupua's sisters the dog first instructed the chief, and the chiefs under him, and all the men, as follows: "Where are you? While I am away, you watch the uplands. When the clouds rise straight up, if they turn leeward then I have met Kihanuilulumoku and you will know that we have made friends. But if the clouds turn to the windward, there is trouble; I have fought with that lizard. Then pray to your god, to Lanipipili; if you see the clouds turn, seaward, the lizard is the victor; but when the clouds ascend and turn toward the mountain top, then the lizard has melted away; we have prevailed.[54] Then keep on praying until I return."[55]
After giving his instructions, the dog set out up the mountain, and Aiwohikupua sent with him Snipe and Turnstone as messengers to report the deeds of the dog and the lizard.
When the dog had come close to Paliuli, Kihanuilulumoku was asleep at the time; he was suddenly startled from sleep; he was awakened by the scent of a dog. By that time the lizard was too late for the dog, who went on until he reached the princess's first guardian.
Then the lizard took a sniff, the guardian god of Paliuli, and recognized Kalahumoku, the marvel of Tahiti; then the lizard lifted his upper jaw to begin the fight with Kalahumoku.
Instantly the dog showed his teeth at the lizard, and the fight began; then the lizard was victor over Kalahumoku and the dog just escaped without ears or tail.
At the beginning of the fight the messengers returned to tellAiwohikupua of this terrible battle.
When they heard from Snipe and his companion of this battle between the lizard and the dog, Aiwohikupua looked toward the mountain.
As they looked the clouds rose straight up, and no short time after turned seaward, then Aiwohikupua knew that the lizard had prevailed and Aiwohikupua regretted the defeat of their side.
In the evening of the day of the fight between the two marvelous creatures Kalahumoku came limping back exhausted; when the chief looked him over, gone were the ears and tail inside the lizard.
So Aiwohikupua resolved to depart, since they were vanquished. They departed and came to Kauai and told the story of the journey and of the victory of the lizard over them. (This was the third time that Aiwohikupua had been to Paliuli after Laieikawai without fulfilling his mission.)
Having returned to Kauai without Laieikawai, Aiwohikupua gave up thinking about Laieikawai and resolved to carry out the commands of Poliahu.
At this time Aiwohikupua, with his underchiefs and the women of his household, clapped hands in prayer before Lanipipili, his god, to annul his vow.
And he obtained favor in the presence of his god, and was released from his sinful vow "not to take any woman of these islands to wife," as has been shown in the former chapters of this story.
After the ceremonies at Kauai, he sent his messengers, the Snipe and theTurnstone, to go and announce before Poliahu the demands of the chief.
In their bird bodies they flew swiftly to Hinaikamalama's home at Hana and came and asked the people of the place, "Where is the woman who is betrothed to the chief of Kauai?"
"She is here," answered the natives of the place.
They went to meet the princess of Hana.
The messengers said to the princess, "We have been sent hither to tell you the command of your betrothed husband. You have three months to prepare for the marriage, and in February, on the night of the seventeenth, the night of Kulu, he will come to meet you, according to the oath between you."
When the princess had heard these words the messengers returned and came to Aiwohikupua.
Asked the chief, "Did you two meet Poliahu?"
"Yes," said the messengers, "we told her, as you commanded, to prepare herself; Poliahu inquired, 'Does he still remember the game ofkonanebetween us?'"
"Perhaps so," answered the messengers.
When Aiwohikupua heard the messengers' words he suspected that they had not gone to Poliahu; then Aiwohikupua asked to make sure, "How did you two fly?"
Said they, "We flew past an island, flew on to some long islands—a large, island like the one we first passed, two little islands like one long island, and a very little island; we flew along the east coast of that island and came to a house below the hills covered with shade; there we found Poliahu; that was how it was."
Said Aiwohikupua, "You did not find Poliahu; this was Hinaikainalama."
Now for this mistake of the messengers the rage of Aiwohikupua was stirred against his messengers, and they ceased to be among his favorites.
At this, Snipe and his companion decided to tell the secrets prohibited to the two by their master. Now how they carried out their intrigue, you will see in Chapter XVIII.
After the dismissal of Snipe and his fellow, the chief dispatched Frigate-bird, one of his nimble messengers, with the same errand as before.
Frigate-bird went to Poliahu; when they met, Frigate-bird gave the chief's command, according to the words spoken in Chapter XVII of this story. Having given his message, the messenger returned and reported aright; then his lord was pleased.
Aiwohikupua waited until the end of the third month; the chief took his underchiefs and his favorites and the women of his household and other companions suitable to go with their renowned lord in all his royal splendor on an expedition for the marriage of chiefs.
On the twenty-fourth day of the month Aiwohikupua left Kauai, sailed with 40 double canoes, twice 40 single canoes, and 20 provision boats.
Some nights before that set for the marriage, the eleventh night of the month, the night of Huna, they came to Kawaihae; then he sent his messenger, Frigate-bird, to get Poliahu to come thither to meet Aiwohikupua on the day set for the marriage.
When the messenger returned from Poliahu, he told Poliahu's reply: "Your wife commands that the marriage take place at Waiulaula. When you look out early in the morning of the seventeenth, the day of Kulu, and the snow clothes the summit of Maunakea, Maunaloa, and Hualalai,[56] clear to Waiulaula, then they have reached the place where you are to wed; then set out, so she says."
Then Aiwohikupua got ready to present himself with the splendor of a chief.
Aiwohikupua clothed the chiefs and chiefesses and his two favorites in feather capes and the women of his household in braided mats of Kauai. Aiwohikupua clothed himself in his snow mantle that Poliahu had given him, put on the helmet ofievine wrought with feathers of the rediiwibird. He clothed his oarsmen and steersmen in red and whitetapaas attendants of a chief; so were all his bodyguard arrayed.
On the high seat of the double canoe in which the chief sailed was set up a canopied couch covered with feather capes, and right above the couch the taboo signs of a chief, and below the sacred symbols sat Aiwohikupua.
Following the chief and surrounding his canoe came ten double canoes filled with expert dancers. So was Aiwohikupua arrayed to meet Poliahu.
On the seventeenth day, the day of Kulu, in the early morning, a little later than sunrise, Aiwohikupua and his party saw the snow begin to hide the summits of the mountain clear to the place of meeting.
Already had Poliahu, Lilinoe, Waiaie, and Kahoupokane arrived for the chief's marriage.
Then Aiwohikupua set out to join the woman of the mountain. He went in the state described above.
As Aiwohikupua was sailing from Kawaihae, Lilinoe rejoiced to see the unrivaled splendor of the chief.
When they came to Waiulaula they were shivering with cold, so Aiwohikupua sent his messenger to tell Poliahu, "They can not come for the cold."
Then Poliahu laid off her mantle of snow and the mountain dwellers put on their sun mantles, and the snow retreated to its usual place.
When Aiwohikupua and his party reached Poliahu's party the princess was more than delighted with the music from the dancers accompanying the chief's canoe and she praised his splendid appearance; it was beautiful.
When they met both showed the robes given them before in token of their vow.
Then the chiefs were united and became one flesh, and they returned and lived in Kauai, in the uplands of Honopuwai.
Now Aiwohikupua's messengers, Snipe and Turnstone, went to tellHinaikamalama of the union of Aiwohikupua with Poliahu.
When Hinaikamalama heard about it, then she asked her parents to let her go on a visit to Kauai, and the request pleased her parents.
The parents hastened the preparation of canoes for Hinaikamalama's voyage to Kauai, and selected a suitable cortege for the princess's journey, as is customary on the journey of a chief.
When all was ready Hinaikamalama went on board the double canoe and sailed and came to Kauai.
When she arrived Aiwohikupua was with Poliahu and others at Mana, where all the chiefs were gathered for the sport between Hauailiki and Makaweli.
That night was a festival night, the game ofkiluand the dancekaekebeing the sports of the night.[57]
During the rejoicings in the middle of the night came Hinaikamalama and sat in the midst of the festive gathering, and all marveled at this strange girl.
When she came into their midst Aiwohikupua did not see her, for his attention was taken by the dance.
As Hinaikamalama sat there, behold! Hauailiki conceived a passion for her.
Then Hauailiki went and said to the master of ceremonies, "Go and tell Aiwohikupua to stop the dance and play at spin-the-gourd; when the game begins, then you go up and draw the stranger for my partner to-night."
At the request of the one for whom the sports were given the dance was ended.
Then Hauailiki played at spin-the-gourd with Poliahu until the gourd had been spun ten times. Then the master of ceremonies arose and made the circuit of the assembly, returned and touched Hauailiki with hismailewand and sang a song, and Hauailiki arose.
Then the master of ceremonies took the wand back and touchedHinaikamalama's head and she arose.
As she stood there she requested the master of the sports to let her speak, and he nodded.
Hinaikamalama asked for whom the sports were given, and they told her for Hauailiki and Makaweli.
And Hinaikamalama turned right around and said to Hauailiki, "O chief of this festal gathering (since I have heard this is all in your honor), your sport master has matched us two, O chief, to bring us together for a little; now I put off the match which the master of ceremonies has chosen. But let me explain my object in coming so far as Kauai. That fellow there, Aiwohikupua, is my reason for coming to this land, because I heard that he was married to Poliahu; therefore I came here to see how he had lied to me. For that man there came to Hana on Maui while we were surf riding. The two of them were the last to surf, and when they were through, they came home to playkonanewith me. He wanted to playkonane. We set up the board again; I asked what he would bet; he pointed to his double canoe. I said I did not like his bet; then I told the bet I liked, our persons; if he beat me atkonane, then I would become his and do everything that he told me to do, and the same if he lost to me, then he was to do for me as I to him; and we made this bargain. And in the game in a little while my piece blocked the game, and he was beaten. I said to him, 'You have lost; you ought to stay with me as we have wagered.' Said that fellow, 'I will wait to carry out the bet until I return, from a touring trip. Then I will fulfill the bet, O princess.' And because of his fine speeches we agreed upon this, and for this reason, I have lived apart under a taboo until now. And when I heard that he had a wife, I came to Kauai and entered the festal gathering. O chief, that is how it was."
Then the men at the gathering all around thekilushelter were roused and blamed Aiwohikupua. Then at Hinaikamalama's story, Poliahu was filled with hot anger; and she went back to White Mountain and is there to this day.
Soon after Hinaikamalama's speech the games began again; the game was between Aiwohikupua and Makaweli.
Then the master of ceremonies stood up and touched Hauailiki and Hinaikamalama with the wand, and Hauailiki arose and Hinaikamalama also. This time Hinaikamalama said to Hauailiki, "O chief, we have been matched by the sport master as is usual in this game. But I must delay my consent; when Aiwohikupua has consented to carry out our vow, after that, at the chief's next festival night, this night's match shall be fulfilled." Then Hauailiki was very well pleased.
And because of Hinaikamalama's words, Aiwohikupua took Hinaikamalama to carry out their vow.
That very night as they rested comfortably in the fulfillment of their bargain, Hinaikamalama grew numb with cold, for Poliahu had spread her cold snow mantle over her enemy.
Then Hinaikamalama raised a short chant—
Cold, ah! cold,A very strange cold,My heart is afraid.Perhaps sin dwells within the house,My heart begins to fear,Perhaps the house dweller has sinned.O my comrade, it is cold.
When Hinaikamalama ceased chanting, she said to Aiwohikupua, "Where are you? Embrace me close to make me warm; I am cold all over; no warmth at all."
Then Aiwohikupua obeyed her, and she grew as warm as before.
As they began to take their ease in fulfillment of their vow at the betrothal, then the cold came a second time upon Hinaikamalama.
Then she raised a chant, as follows:
O my comrade, it is cold,Cold as the snow on the mountain top,The cold lies at the soles of my feet,It presses upon my heart,The cold wakens meIn my night of sleep.
This time Hinaikamalama said to Aiwohikupua, "Do you not know any reason for our being cold? If you know the reason, then tell me; do not hide it."
Said Aiwohikupua, "This cold comes from your rival; she is perhaps angry with us, so she wears her snow mantle; therefore we are cold."
Hinaikamalama answered, "We must part, for we have met and our vow is fulfilled."
Said Aiwohikupua, "We will break off this time; let us separate; to-morrow at noon, then we will carry out the vow."
"Yes," said Hinaikamalama.
After they had parted then Hinaikamalama slept pleasantly the rest of the night until morning.
At noon Aiwohikupua again took her in fulfillment of the agreement of the night before.
As those two reposed accordingly, Poliahu was displeased.
Then Poliahu took her sun mantle and covered herself; this time it was the heat Poliahu sent to Hinaikamalama. Then she raised a short song, as follows:
The heat, ah! the heat,The heat of my love stifles me,It burns my body,It draws sweat from my heart,Perhaps this heat is my lover's—ah!
Said Aiwohikupua, "It is not my doing; perhaps Poliahu causes this heat; perhaps she is angry with us."
Said Hinaikamalama, "Let us still have patience and if the heat comes over us again, then leave me."
After this, they again met in fulfillment of their vow.
Then again the heat settled over them, then she raised again the chant:
The heat, ah! the heat,The heat of my love stifles me.Its quivering touch scorches my heart,The sick old heat of the winter,The fiery heat of summer,The dripping heat of the summer season,The heat compels me to go,I must go.
Then Hinaikamalama arose to go.
Said Aiwohikupua, "You might give me a kiss before you go."
Said Hinaikamalama, "I will not give you a kiss; the heat from that wife of yours will come again, it will never do. Fare you well!"
Let us leave off here telling about Aiwohikupua. It is well to speak briefly of Hinaikamalama.
After leaving Aiwohikupua, she came and stayed at the house of a native of the place.
This very night there was again a festivity for Hauailiki and the chiefs at Puuopapai.
This night Hinaikamalama remembered her promise to Hauailiki after the game of spin-the-gourd, before she met Aiwohikupua.
This was the second night of the festival; then Hinaikamalama went and sat outside the group.
Now, the first game of spin-the-gourd was between Kauakahialii and Kailiokalauokekoa. Afterward Kailiokalauokekoa and Makaweli had the second game.
During the game Poliahu entered the assembly. To Hauailiki and Poliahu went the last game of the night.
And as the master of ceremonies had not seen Hinaikamalama early that night, he had not done his duty. For on the former night the first game this night had been promised to Hauailiki and Hinaikamalama, but not seeing her he gave the first game to others.
Close on morning the sport master searched the gathering forHinaikamalama and found her.
Then the sport master stood up in the midst of the assembly, while Hauailiki and Poliahu were playing, then he sang a song while fluttering the end of the wand over Hauailiki and took away the wand and Hauailiki stood up. The sport master went over to Hinaikamalama, touched her with the wand and withdrew it. Then Hinaikamalama stood in the midst of the circle of players.
When Poliahu saw Hinaikamalama, she frowned at the sight of her rival.
And Hauailiki and Hinaikamalama withdrew where they could take their pleasure.
When they met, said Hinaikamalama to Hauailiki, "If you take me only for a little while, then there is an end of it, for my parents do not wish me to give up my virginity thus. But if you intend to take me as your wife, then I will give myself altogether to you as my parents desire."
To the woman's words Hauailiki answered, "Your idea is a good one; you think as I do; but let us first meet according to the choice of the sport master, then afterwards we will marry."
"Not so," said Hinaikamalama, "let me be virgin until you are ready to come and get me at Hana."
On the third night of Hauailiki's festivities, when the chiefs andothers were assembled, that night Lilinoe and Poliahu, Waiaie andKahoupokane met, for the three had come to find Poliahu, thinking thatAiwohikupua was living with her.
This night, while Aiwohikupua and Makaweli were playing spin-the-gourd, in the midst of the sport, the women of the mountain entered the place of assembly.
As Poliahu and the others stood in their mantles of snow, sparkling in the light, the group of players were in an uproar because of these women, because of the strange garments they wore; at the same time cold penetrated the wholekilushelter and lasted until morning, when Poliahu and her companions left Kauai. At the same time Hinaikamalama left Kauai.
When we get to Laieikawai's coming to Kauai after Kekalukaluokewa's marriage with Laieikawai, then we will begin again the story of Hinaikamalama; at this place let us tell of Kauakahialii's command to his friend, and so on until he meets Laieikawai.
After their return from Hawaii, Kauakahialii lived with Kailiokalauokekoa at Pihanakalani. [58] Now the end of their days was near.
Then Kauakahialii laid a blessing upon his friend, Kekalukaluokewa, and this it was:
"Ah! my friend, greatly beloved, I give you my blessing, for the end of my days is near, and I am going back to the other side of the earth.
"Only one thing for you to guard, our wife.[59] When I fall dead, there where sight of you and our wife comes not back, then do you rule over the island, you above, and our wife below; as we two ruled over the island, so will you and our wife do.
"It may be when I am dead you will think of taking a wife; do not take our wife; by no means think of her as your wife, for she belongs to us two.
"The woman for you to take is the wife left on Hawaii, Laieikawai. If you take her for your wife it will be well with you, you will be renowned. Would you get her, guard one thing, our flute, guard well the flute,[60] then the woman is yours, this is my charge to you."
Kauakahialii's charge pleased his friend.
In the end Kauakahialii died; the chief, his friend, took the rule, and their wife was the counsellor.
Afterwards, when Kailiokalauokekoa's last days drew near, she prayed her husband to guard Kanikawi, their sacred flute, according to Kauakahialii's command:
"My husband, here is the flute; guard it; it is a wonderful flute; whatever things you desire it can do; if you go to get the wife your friend charged you to, this will be the means of your meeting. You must guard it forever; wherever you go to dwell, never leave the flute at all, for you well know what your friend did when you two came to get me when I was almost dead for love of your friend. It was this flute that saved me from the other side of the grave; therefore, listen and guard well my sayings."
After Kailiokalauokekoa's death, the chief's house and all things else became Kekalukaluokewa's, and he portioned out the land[61] and set up his court.
After apportioning the land and setting up his court, Kekalukaluokewa bethought him of his friend's charge concerning Laieikawai.
Then he commanded his counsellor to make ready 4,000 canoes for the journey to Hawaii after a wife, according to the custom of a chief.
When the chief's command was carried out, the chief took two favorites, a suitable retinue of chiefs, and all the embalmed bodies of his ancestors.
In the month called "the first twin," when the sea was calm, they leftKauai and came to Hawaii. Many days passed on the voyage.
As they sailed, they arrived in the early morning at Makahanaloa inHilo. Then said the man who had seen Laieikawai before to the chief,"See that rainbow arching over the uplands; that is Paliuli, where Ifound her." Now the rain was sweeping Hilo at the time when they came toMakahanaloa.
At the man's words, the chief answered, "I will wait before believing that a sign for Laieikawai; for the rainbow is common in rainy weather; so, my proposal is, let us anchor the canoes and wait until the rain has cleared, then if the rainbow remains when there is no rain, it must be a sign for Laieikawai." The chief's proposal was the same as Aiwohikupua's.
So they remained there as the chief desired. In ten days and two it cleared over Hilo, and the country was plainly visible.
In the early morning of the twelfth day the chief went out of the house, and lo! the rainbow persisted as before; a little later in the day the rainbow was at the seacoast of Keaau; Laieikawai had gone to the coast (as in the narrative before of Aiwohikupua's story).
That day there was no longer any doubt of the sign, and they sailed and came to Keaau. When they arrived, Laieikawai had gone up to Paliuli.
When they arrived the people crowded to see Kekalukaluokewa and exclaimed, "Kauai for handsome men!"
On the day when Kekalukaluokewa sailed and came to Keaau, Waka foresaw this Kekalukaluokewa.
Said Waka to her grandchild, "Do not go again to the coast, for Kekalukaluokewa has come to Keaau to get you for his wife. Kauakahialii is dead, and has charged his favorite to take you to wife; therefore this is your husband. If you accept this man you will rule the island, surely preserve these bones. Therefore wait up here four days, then go down, and if you like him, then return and tell me your pleasure."
So Laieikawai waited four days as her grandmother commanded.
In the early morning of the fourth day of retirement, she arose and went down with her hunchbacked attendant to Keaau.
When she arrived close to the village, lo! Kekalukaluokewa was already out surf riding; three youths rose in the surf, the chief and his favorites.
As Laieikawai and her companion spied out for Kekalukaluokewa, they did not know which man the grandmother wanted.
Said Laieikawai to her nurse, "How are we to know the man whom my grandmother said was here?"
Her nurse said, "Better wait until they are through surfing, and the one who comes back without a board, he is the chief."
So they sat and waited.
Then, the surf riding ended and the surfers came back to shore.
Then they saw some men carrying the boards of the favorites, but the chief's board the favorites bore on their shoulders, and Kekalukaluokewa came without anything. So Laieikawai looked upon her husband.
When they had seen what they had come for, they returned to Paliuli and told their grandmother what they had seen.
Asked the grandmother, "Were you pleased with the man?"
"Yes," answered Laieikawai.
Said Waka, "To-morrow at daybreak Kekalukaluokewa goes surfing alone; at that time I will cover all the land of Puna with a mist, and in this mist I will send you on the wings of birds to meet Kekalukaluokewa without your being seen. When the mist clears, then all shall see you riding on the wave with Kekalukaluokewa; that is the time to give a kiss to the Kauai youth. So when you go out of the house, speak no word to anyone, man or woman, until you have given a kiss to Kekalukaluokewa, then you may speak to the others. After the surf riding, then I will send the birds and a mist over the land; that is the time for you to return with your husband to your house, become one flesh according to your wish."
When all this had been told Laieikawai, she returned to the chief-house with her nurse.
Afterward, when they were in the house, she sent her nurse to bringMailehaiwale, Mailekaluhea, Mailelaulii, Mailepakaha, andKahalaomapuana, her counsellors, as they had agreed.
When the counsellors came, her body guard, Laieikawai said, "Where are you, my comrades? I have taken counsel with our grandmother about my marriage, so I sent my nurse to bring you, as we agreed when we met here. My grandmother wishes Kekalukaluokewa to be my husband. What do you say? What you all agree, I will do. If you consent, well; if not, it shall be just as you think." Kahalaomapuana said, "It is well; marry him as your grandmother wishes; not a word from us. Only when you marry a husband do not forsake us, as we have agreed; where you go, let us go with you; if you are in trouble, we will share it."
"I will not forsake you," said Laieikawai.
Now we have seen in former chapters, in the story of Hauailiki and the story of Aiwohikupua's second trip to Hawaii, that it was customary for Laieikawai to go down to Keaau, and it was the same when Kekalukaluokewa came to Hawaii.
Every time Laieikawai came to Keaau the youth Halaaniani saw her without knowing where she came from; from that time the wicked purpose never left his mind to win Laieikawai, but he was ashamed to approach her and never spoke to her.
As to this Halaaniani, he was Malio's brother, a youth famous throughoutPuna for his good looks, but a profligate fellow.
During the four days of Laieikawai's retirement Halaaniani brooded jealously over her absence. She came no more to Keaau.
In the village he heard that Laieikawai was to be Kekalukaluokewa's.
Then quickly he went to consult his sister, to Malio.[62]
Said her brother, "Malio, I have come to you to gain my desire. All those days I was absent I was at Keaau to behold a certain beautiful woman, for my passion forced me to go again and again to see this woman. To-day I heard that to-morrow she is to be the chief's of Kauai; therefore let us exert all our arts over her to win her to me."
Said his sister, "She is no other than Waka's grandchild, Laieikawai, whom the grandmother has given to the great chief of Kauai; to-morrow is the marriage. Therefore, as you desire, go home, and in the dark of evening return, and we will sleep here on the mountain; that is the time for us to determine whether you lose or win."
According to Malio's directions to her brother, Halaaniani returned to his house at Kula.
He came at the time his sister had commanded.
Before they slept, Malio said to Halaaniani, "If you get a dream when you sleep, tell it to me, and I will do the same."
They slept until toward morning. Halaaniani awoke, he could not sleep, and Malio awoke at the same time.
Malio asked Halaaniani, "What did you dream?"
Said Halaaniani, "I dreamed nothing, as I slept I knew nothing, had not the least dream until I awoke just now."
Halaaniani asked his sister, "How was it with you?"
Said his sister, "I had a dream; as we slept we went into the thicket; you slept in your hollow tree and I in mine; my spirit saw a little bird building its nest; when it was completed the bird whose the nest was flew away out of sight. And by-and-by another bird flew hither and sat upon the nest, but I saw not that bird come again whose the nest was."
Asked Halaaniani of the dream, "What is the meaning of this dream?"
His sister told him the true meaning of the dream. "You will prosper; for the first bird whose the nest was, that is Kekalukaluokewa, and the nest, that is Laieikawai, and the last bird who sat in the nest, that is you. Therefore this very morning the woman shall be yours. When Waka sends Laieikawai on the wings of the birds for the marriage with Kekalukaluokewa, mist and fog will cover the land; when it clears, then you three will appear riding on the crest of the wave, then you shall see that I have power to veil Waka's face from seeing what I am doing for you; so let us arise and get near to the place where Laieikawai weds."
After Malio's explanation of the dream was ended they went right to the place where the others were.
Now Malio had power to do supernatural deeds; it was to secure this power that she lived apart.
When they came to Keaau they saw Kekalukaluokewa swimming out for surf riding.
Malio said to Halaaniani, "You listen to me! When you get on the back of the wave and glide along with the breaker, do not ride—lose the wave; this for four waves; and the fifth wave, this is their last. Maybe they will wonder at your not riding ashore and ask the reason, then you answer you are not accustomed to surfing on the short waves, and when they ask you what long waves you surf on say on theHuia.[63] If they pay no attention to you, and prepare to ride in on their last wave, as they ride you must seize hold of Laieikawai's feet while Kekalukaluokewa rides in alone. When you have the woman, carry her far out to sea; look over to the coast where Kumukahi[64] swims in the billows, then this is the place for surfing; then pray in my name and I will send a wave over you; this is the wave you want; it is yours."
While they were talking Waka covered the land with a mist. Then the thunder pealed and there was Laieikawai on the crest of the wave. This was Waka's work. Again the thunder pealed a second peal. This was Malio's work. When the mist cleared three persons floated on the crest of the wave, and this was a surprise to the onlookers.
As Waka had commanded her grandchild, "speak to no one until you have kissed Kekalukaluokewa, then speak to others," the grandchild obeyed her command.
While they rode the surf not one word was heard between them.
As they stood on the first wave Kekalukaluokewa said, "Let us ride." Then they lay resting upon their boards; Halaaniani let his drop back, the other two rode in; then it was that Laieikawai and Kekalukaluokewa kissed as the grandmother had directed.
Three waves they rode, three times they went ashore, and three timesHalaaniani dropped back.
At the fourth wave, for the first time Laieikawai questioned Halaaniani: "Why do you not ride? This is the fourth wave you have not ridden; what is your reason for not riding?"
"Because I am not used to the short waves," said Halaaniani, "the long wave is mine."
He spoke as his sister had directed.
The fifth wave, this was the last for Laieikawai and Kekalukaluokewa.
As Kekalukaluokewa and Laieikawai lay resting on the wave, Halaaniani caught Laieikawai by the soles of her feet and got his arm around her, and Laieikawai's surf board was lost. Kekalukaluokewa rode in alone and landed on the dry beach.
When Laieikawai was in Halaaniani's arms she said, "This is strange! my board is gone."
Said Halaaniani, "Your board is all right, woman; a man will bring it back."
While they were speaking Laieikawai's surf board floated to where they were.
Said Laieikawai to Halaaniani, "Where is your wave that you have kept me back here for?"
At this question of the princess they swam, and while they swam Halaaniani bade the princess, "As we swim do not look back, face ahead; when my crest is here, then I will tell you."
They swam, and after a long time Laieikawai began to wonder; then she said, "This is a strange wave, man! We are swimming out where there are no waves at all; we are in the deep ocean; a wave here would be strange; there are only swells out here."
Said Halaaniani, "You listen well; at my first word to you there will be something for us."
Laieikawai listened for the word of her surfing comrade.
They swam until Halaaniani thought they could get the crest, thenHalaaniani said to his surfing comrade, "Look toward the coast."
Laieikawai replied, "The land has vanished, Kumukahi comes bobbing on the wave."
"This is our crest," said Halaaniani. "I warn you when the first wave breaks, do not ride that wave, or the second; the third wave is ours. When the wave breaks and scatters, keep on, do not leave the board which keeps you floating; if you leave the board, then you will not see me again."
At the close of this speech Halaaniani prayed to their god in the name of his sister, as Malio had directed.
Halaaniani was half through his prayer; a crest arose; he finished the prayer to the amen; again a crest arose, the second this; not long after another wave swelled.
This time Halaaniani called out, "Let us ride."
Then Laieikawai quickly lay down on the board and with Halaaniani's help rode toward the shore.
Now, when Laieikawai was deep under the wave, the crest broke finely; Laieikawai glanced about to see how things were; Halaaniani was not with her. Laieikawai looked again; Halaaniani with great dexterity was resting on the very tip of the wave. That was when Laieikawai began to give way to Halaaniani.
Waka saw them returning from surf riding and supposed Laieikawai's companion was Kekalukaluokewa.
Malio, the sister of Halaaniani, as is seen in the story of her life, can do many marvelous things, and in Chapters XXII and XXIII you will see what great deeds she had power to perform.