nd how did you find out my name so
quickly?"
Said Aiwohikupua, "This is the first I knew about your coming from the
White Mountain, but we found out your name readily from that fisherman
yonder."
"As to what the chief desires of me," said Poliahu, "I will take you for
my husband; and now let me ask you, are you not the chief who stood up
and vowed in the name of your gods not to take any woman of these
islands from Hawaii to Kauai to wife--only a woman who comes from
Moaulanuiakea? Are you not betrothed to Hinaikamalama, the famous
princess of Hana? After this trip around Hawaii, then are you not
returning for your marriage? And as to your wishing our union, I assure
you, until you have made an end of your first vow it is not my part to
take you, but yours to take me with you as you desire."
At Poliahu's words Aiwohikupua marveled and was abashed; and after a
while a little question escaped him: "How have you ever heard of these
deeds of mine you tell of? It is true, Poliahu, all that you say; I have
done as you have described; tell me who has told you."
"No one has told me these things, O chief; I knew them for myself," said
the princess; "for I was born, like you, with godlike powers, and, like
you, my knowledge comes to me from the gods of my fathers, who inspire
me; and through these gods I showed you what I have told you. As you
were setting out at Humuula I saw your canoe, and so knew who you
were."
At these words Aiwohikupua knelt and did reverence to Poliahu and begged
to become Poliahu's betrothed and asked her to go with him to Kauai.
"We shall not go together to Kauai," said the woman, "but I will go on
board with you to Kohala, then I will return, while you go on."
Now, the chiefs met and conversed on the deck of the canoe.
Before setting out the woman said to Aiwohikupua and his companion, "We
sail together; let me be alone, apart from you two, fix bounds between
us. You must not touch me, I will not touch you until we reach Kohala;
let us remain under a sacred taboo;" and this request pleased them.
As they sailed and came to Kohala they did not touch each other.
They reached Kohala, and on the day when Aiwohikupua's party left,
Poliahu took her garment of snow and gave it to Aiwohikupua, saying,
"Here is my snow mantle, the mantle my parents strictly forbade my
giving to anyone else; it was to be for myself alone; but as we are
betrothed, you to me and I to you, therefore I give away t
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