294 HAWAIIAN ROMANCE OF LAIEIKAWAI [ETH. ANN. 33 
newspaper, the Awokoa, then, in 1863, in book form.t Later, in 1885, 
two part-Hawaiian editors, Bolster and Meheula, revised and re- 
printed the story, this time in pamphlet form, together with several 
other romances culled from Hawaiian journals, as the initial volumes 
of a series of Hawaiian reprints, a venture which ended in financial 
failure? The romance of Laieikawai therefore remains the sole 
piece of Hawaiian imaginative writing to reach book form, Not 
only this, but it represents the single composition of a Polynesian 
mind working upon the material of an old legend and eager to create 
a genuine national literature. As such it claims a kind of classic 
interest. ‘ 
The language, although retaining many old words unfamiliar to 
the Hawaiian of to-day, and proverbs and expressions whose meaning 
is now doubtful, is that employed since the time of the reduction 
of the speech to writing in 1820, and is easily read at the present 
day. Andrews incorporated the vocabulary of this romance into his 
dictionary, and in only a few cases is his interpretation to be ques- 
tioned. The songs, though highly figurative, present few difficulties. 
So far as the meaning is concerned, therefore, the translation is sufli- 
ciently accurate. But as regards style the problem is much more 
1 Daggett calls the story ‘“‘a supernatural folklore legend of the fourteenth century,” 
and includes an excellent abstract of the romance, prepared by Dr. W. D. Alexander, in 
his collection of Hawaiian legends. Andrews says of it (Islander, 1875, p. 27): “ We 
have seen that a Hawaiian Kaao or legend was composed ages ago, recited and kept 
in memory merely by repetition, until a short time since it was reduced to writing by 
a Hawaiian and printed, making a duodecimo volume of 220 pages, and that, too, with 
the poetical parts mostly left out. It is said that this legend took six hours in the 
recital.” In prefacing his dictionary he says: “The Kaao of Laieikawai is almost 
the only specimen of that species of language which has been laid before the public. 
Many fine specimens have been printed in the Hawaiian periodicals, but are neither seen 
nor regarded by the foreign community.” 
2 The changes introduced by these editors have not been followed in this edition, except 
in a few unimportant omissions, but the popular song printed below appears first in its 
pages : 
“ Aia Laie-i-ka-wai Behold Laieikawai 
I ka uka wale la o Pali-uli; On the uplands of Paliuli; 
O ka nani, o ka nani, Beautiful, beautiful, 
Helu ekahi o ia uka. The storied one of the uplands, 
“FE nanea e walea ana paha, Rer.—Perhaps resting at peace, 
I ka leo nahenahe o na manu. To the melodious voice of the birds. 
“Kau mai Laie-i-ka-wal Laieikawai rests here 
I ka ehcu la o na manu; On the wings of the birds; 
O ka nani, o ka nani, Beautiful, beautiful, 
Helu ekahi o Pali-uli. The storied one of the uplands. 
“FE nanea, etc. 
“Ua lohe paha i ka hone mai, She has heard perhaps the playing 
O ka pu lau-i a Malio; Of Malio’s ti-leaf trumpet; 
Honehone, honehone, Playfully, playfully, 
Helu ekahi o Hopoe. The storied one of Hopoe. 
“E nanea, etc.’’ 
