Laieikawai. 257
Hinaikamalama, the beauty of Hana? As for your desire to form a union with me, I will say this, if you free yourself from all the entanglements in which you are involved, and then come for me, I will consent." Aiwokikupua is overwhelmed with wonder and con- fusion. At length he replies : " What you say is true, I cannot deny it ; but tell me, whence have you all this knowledge, and who has informed you?" "I am descended," she answers, "as you are, from the gods, and they have given me power to see things afar off, as if they were close by. I consent to accompany you in your voyage along the coast, provided you give me a seat apart, and do not approach or touch me. I also will keep separate from you." He willingly agrees ; she sails with him for about twenty miles, and then returns to her mountain, leaving him to strike off, and pursue his way to Kauai. 1 But he seems born to exemplify the maxim, " Men are deceivers ever," inasmuch as he makes for Hana, but does not land, keeping his canoe afloat in the harbor of Haneoo. Hinaika- malama perceives him approach, and is rejoiced at the thought of meeting him, but seeing him remain on the canoe, she goes to the shore, and asks him why he does not land. He replies that he can- not do so. She tells him he must, for he has become hers by the issue of the game at Konani, and that if he does not come ashore, she will send a party to capture him. He replies : " Not so, O lady ; I have no intention of breaking the contract I have formed with you, but the time is not yet come for fulfilling it. I have not yet been able to make the island of Hawaii, for a messenger was sent after me, to inform me that a disturbance had broken out at Kauai which requires my immediate presence. I have turned out of my way to inform you of this, that you may remain as we agreed, in expecta- tion of my arrival/' Hearing this, Hinaikamalama is pacified and he departs. Before he arrives at Kauai, feeling that he would be put to shame if the ill success of his voyage became known, he warns his followers, on pain of death, to keep silence concerning their jour- ney. Toward evening he arrives at Kauai, calls together his five sisters, informs them that he has been at Hawaii, and what was his object in going there, and tells them that he returned in order to request their assistance in gaining the object of his desire, and to return with him to Hawaii, to employ whatever influence they may acquire over Laieikawai in furtherance of his suit. They consent, and returning to that island, ascend with him the stark precipice of Paliuli to the abode of Laieikawai. The four elder sisters derive their names from different modifications of a sweet-smelling shrub called maile, the youngest and wisest is known as the Breath of 1 She changes mantles with him, as sign of betrothal. Her own mantle is snow-white. She evidently impersonates the snowy mountain.
VOL. XIII. — NO. 51. 17
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