me to pass in spite
of the equable climate. A similar diversity marks the plant and sea
life--only in animal, bird, and especially insect life, are varieties
sparsely represented.

Most of the action of the story takes place on the four largest
islands--on Oahu, where the twins are born; on Maui, the home of Hina,
where the prophet builds the temple to his god; on Hawaii, where lies
the fabled land of Paliuli and where the surf rolls in at Keaau; and on
Kauai, whence the chiefs set forth to woo and where the last action of
the story takes place. These, with Molokai and Lanai, which lie off Maui
"like one long island," virtually constitute the group.

Laie, where the twins are born, is a small fishing village on the
northern or Koolau side of Oahu, adjoining that region made famous by
the birth and exploits of the pig god, Kamapuaa. North from Laie
village, in a cane field above the Government road, is still pointed out
the water hole called Waiopuka--a long oval hole like a bathtub dropping
to the pool below, said by the natives to be brackish in taste and to
rise and fall with the tide because of subterranean connection with the
sea. On one side an outjutting rock marks the entrance to a cave said to
open out beyond the pool and be reached by diving. Daggett furnishes a
full description of the place in the introduction to his published
synopsis of the story. The appropriateness of Laie as the birthplace of
the rainbow girl is evident to anyone who has spent a week along this
coast. It is one of the most picturesque on the islands, with the open
sea on one side fringed with white beach, and the Koolau range rising
sheer from the narrow strip of the foothills, green to the summit and
fluted into fantastic shapes by the sharp edge of the showers that drive
constantly down with the trade winds, gleaming with rainbow colors.

Kukaniloko, in the uplands of Wahiawa, where Laielohelohe is concealed
by her foster father, is one of the most sacred places on Oahu. Its fame
is coupled with that of Holoholoku in Wailua, Kauai, as one of the
places set apart for the birthplace of chiefs. Tradition says that since
a certain Kapawa, grandson of a chief from "Tahiti" in the far past, was
born upon this spot, a special divine favor has attended the birth of
chiefs upon this spot. Stones were laid out right and left with a mound
for the back, the mother's face being turned to the right. Eighteen
chiefs stood guard on either hand. Then