ts of leisure; therefore, when
the editor of this book prepared it for publication he depended upon the
support of all the friends of learning in these islands; and this
thought alone has encouraged him to persevere in his work throughout all
the difficulties that blocked his way. Now, for the first time is given
to the people of Hawaii a book of entertainment for leisure moments like
those of the foreigners, a book to feed our minds with wisdom and
insight. Let us all join in forwarding this little book as a means of
securing to the people more books of the same nature written in their
own tongue--the Hawaiian tongue.

And, therefore, to all friends of learning and to all native-born
Hawaiians, from the rising to the setting sun, behold the
Woman-of-the-Twilight! She comes to you with greetings of love and it is
fitting to receive her with the warmest love from the heart of Hawaii.
_Aloha no!_[1]

[Footnote 1: For the translation of Haleole's foreword, which is in a
much more ornate and involved style than the narrative itself, I am
indebted to Miss Laura Green, of Honolulu.]

CHAPTER I

This tale was told at Laie, Koolau; here they were born, and they were
twins; Kahauokapaka was the father, Malaekahana the mother. Now
Kahauokapaka was chief over two districts, Koolauloa and Koolaupoko, and
he had great authority over these districts.

At the time when Kahauokapaka took Malaekahana to wife,[1] after their
union, during those moments of bliss when they had just parted from the
first embrace, Kahauokapaka declared his vow to his wife, and this was
the vow:[2]

"My wife, since we are married, therefore I will tell you my vow: If we
two live hereafter and bear a child and it is a son, then it shall be
well with us. Our children shall live in the days of our old age, and
when we die they will cover our nakedness.[3] This child shall be the
one to portion out the land, if fortune is ours in our first born and it
is a boy; but if the first born is a daughter, then let her die; however
many daughters are born to us, let them die; only one thing shall save
them, the birth of a son shall save those daughters who come after."

About the eighth year of their living as man and wife, Malaekahana
conceived and bore a daughter, who was so beautiful to look upon, the
mother thought that Kahauokapaka would disregard his vow; this child he
would save. Not so! At the time when she was born, Kahauokapaka was away
at the f