tation. About this region has gathered the mysterious
lore of the spirit world. "Fear to do evil in the uplands of Puna,"
warns the old chant, lest mischief befall from the countless wood
spirits who haunt these mysterious forests. Pele, the volcano goddess,
still loves her old haunts in Puna, and many a modern native boasts a
meeting with this beauty of the flaming red hair who swept to his fate
the brave youth from Kauai when he raced with her down the slope to the
sea during the old mythic days when the rocks and hills of Puna were
forming.

_Footnotes to Background of the Story_

[Footnote 1: _Kuakoa_, iv, No. 31, translated also in _Hawaiian Annual_,
1912, p. 101; Daggett, p. 70; Fornander, II, 272.]

[Illustration: MAUNA KEA IN ITS MANTLE OF SNOW (HENSHAW)]

LAIE I KA WAI

A HAWAIIAN ROMANCE TRANSLATED FROM THE HAWAIIAN TEXT OF S.N. HALEOLE
(PRINTED IN HONOLULU, 1863)[1]

[Footnote 1: Title pages.

(_First edition_.) The story of _Laie-i-ka-wai_, The Beauty of
Pali-uli, the Woman-of-the-Twilight. Composed from the old stories of
Hawaii. Written by S.N. Haleole, Honolulu, Oahu. Published by Henry W.
Whitney, editor of the _Kuakoa_, 1863.

(_Second edition_.) The Treasure-Book of Hawaii. The Story of
Laie-i-ka-wai who is called The-Woman-of-the-Twilight. Revised and
published by Solomon Meheula and Henry Bolster. For the benefit and
progress of the new generation of the Hawaiian race. Honolulu. Printed
by the _Bulletin_, 1888.]

FOREWORD

The editor of this book rejoices to print the first fruits of his
efforts to enrich the Hawaiian people with a story book. We have
previously had books of instruction on many subjects and also those
enlightening us as to the right and the wrong; but this is the first
book printed for us Hawaiians in story form, depicting the ancient
customs of this people, for fear lest otherwise we lose some of their
favorite traditions. Thus we couch in a fascinating manner the words and
deeds of a certain daughter of Hawaii, beautiful and greatly beloved,
that by this means there may abide in the Hawaiian people the love of
their ancestors and their country.

Take it, then, this little book, for what it is worth, to read and to
prize, thus showing your search after the knowledge of things Hawaiian,
being ever ready to uphold them that they be not lost.

It is an important undertaking for anyone to provide us with
entertaining reading matter for our momen