ers. By her wit and skill she
gains the favor of the royal beauty, and all five are taken into the
household of Laieikawai to act as guardians of her virginity and pass
upon any suitors for her hand.
When Aiwohikupua, on his return, confesses his ill fortune, a handsome
comrade, the best skilled in surfing over all the islands, lays a bet to
win the beauty of Paliuli. He, too, returns crestfallen, the guards
having proved too watchful. But Aiwohikupua is so delighted to hear of
his sisters' position that he readily cancels the debt and hurries off
to Puna. His sisters, however, mindful of his former cruelty, deny him
access, and he returns to Kauai burning with rage, to collect a war
party to lead against the obdurate girls. Only after band after band has
been swallowed up in the jaws of the great lizard who guards Paliuli,
and his supernatural fighting dog has returned with ears bitten off and
tail between its legs, does he give over the attempt and return home
disconsolate to Kauai.
Now, on his first voyage to Puna, as the chief came to land at Hana,
Maui, a high chiefess named Hina fell in love with him. The two staking
their love at a game of _konane_, she won him for her lover. He excused
himself under pretext of a vow to first tour about Hawaii, but pledged
himself to return. On the return trip he encountered and fell in love
with the woman of the mountain, Poliahu or Snow-bosom, but she, knowing
through her supernatural power of his affair with Hina, refused his
advances. Now, however, he determines to console himself with this lady.
His bird ambassadors go first astray and notify Hina, but finally the
tryst is arranged, the bridal cortege arrives in state, and the bridal
takes place. On their return to Kauai during certain games celebrated by
the chiefs, the neglected Hina suddenly appears and demands her pledge.
The jealous Poliahu disturbs the new nuptials by plaguing their couch
first with freezing cold, then with burning heat, until she has driven
away her rival. She then herself takes her final departure.
Kauakahialii, the high chief of Kauai, now about to die, cedes the
succession to his favorite chief, Kekalukaluokewa, and bids him seek out
the beauty of Paliuli for a bride. He is acceptable to both the girl and
her grandmother--to the first for his good looks, to the second for his
rank and power. But before the marriage can be consummated a wily rascal
of Puna, through the arts of his wise sister M
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