ning rang the note of the
_oo_; at 9 in the evening rang the note of the _alala_; at midnight rang
the note of the _elepaio_; at dawn rang the note of the _apapane_; and
at the first streak of light rang the note of the _iiwipolena_; as soon
as it sounded there fell the shadow of a figure at the door of the
house. Behold! the room was thick with mist, and when it passed away she
lay resting on the wings of birds in all her beauty."

At these words of Kauakahialii to the chiefs, all the body of
Aiwohikupua pricked with desire, and he asked, "What was the woman's
name?"

They told him it was Laieikawai, and such was Aiwohikupua's longing for
the woman of whom Kauakahialii spoke that he thought to make her his
wife, but he wondered who this woman might be. Then he said to
Kauakahialii: "I marvel what this woman may be, for I am a man who has
made the whole circuit of the islands, but I never saw any woman resting
on the wings of birds. It may be she is come hither from the borders of
Tahiti, from within Moaulanuiakea."[20]

Since Aiwohikupua thought Laieikawai must be from Moaulanuiakea, he
determined to get her for his wife. For before he had heard all this
story Aiwohikupua had vowed not to take any woman of these islands to
wife; he said that he wanted a woman of Moaulanuiakea.

The chiefs' reception was ended and the accustomed ceremonies on the
arrival of strangers performed. And soon after those days Aiwohikupua
took Kauakahialii's man to minister in his presence, thinking that this
man would be the means to attain his desire.

Therefore Aiwohikupua exalted this man to be head over all things, over
all the chief's land, over all the men, chiefs, and common people, as
his high counsellor.

As this man became great, jealous grew the former favorites of
Aiwohikupua, but this was nothing to the chief.

CHAPTER IV

After this man had become great before the chief, even his high
counsellor, they consulted constantly together about those matters which
pleased the chief, while the people thought they discussed the
administration of the land and of the substance which pertained to the
chief; but it was about Laieikawai that the two talked and very seldom
about anything else.

Even before Aiwohikupua heard from Kauakahialii about Laieikawai he had
made a vow before his food companions, his sisters, and before all the
men of rank in his household: "Where are you, O chiefs, O my sisters,
all my food companion