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,!¢ after 
their union, during those moments of bliss when they had just parted 
trom the first embrace, Kahauokapaka declared his vow to his wife, 
and this was the vow:? 
“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.* 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, Malaeka- 
hana 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 
how. Kahauokapaka was away at the fishing with the men. 
W hea Kahauokapaka returned from the fishing he was told that 
Malaekahana had born a daughter. The chief went to the house; 
the baby girl had been wrapped in swaddling clothes; Kahauokapaka 
at once ordered the executioner to kill it. 
After a time Malaekahana conceived again and bore a second 
daughter, more beautiful than the first; she thought to save it. Not 
so! Kahauokapaka saw the baby girl in its mother’s arms wrapped 
in swaddling clothes; then the chief at once ordered the executioner 
to kill it. 
Afterwards Malaekahana bore more daughters, but she could not 
save them from being killed at birth according to the chief’s vow. 
* The superior figures refer to notes at the end of the story, p. 616. 
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