Rice — Hatvaiian Legends 89 



canoe. At last she saw it. Father and mother were overcome with joy. 

 As their son stepped ashore his mother pressed him to her heart. 



Paakaa heard the story of the boy's adventures from the day he had 

 left Molokai until his return. When he heard the king's command that 

 he return to Hawaii he asked, "What gifts did the king give you?" 



"He gave me nothing," replied Ku-a-paakaa. "He will give you boun- 

 tiful gifts when you return." 



"Without promised gifts there is no use in my returning," answered 

 Paakaa. "Better that I stay on Alolokai where I have something to call 

 my own." 



In vain Ku-a-paakaa urged his father to return with him to care for the 

 king who had lost all his servants. Paakaa said that when the king had 

 restored his position and lands, then only would he return. 



Ku-a-paakaa stayed with his parents for three days, resting and prepar- 

 ing to go back to the king. When he had not returned by the evening of 

 the second day, the king sent his prime minister with many canoes to con- 

 duct Paakaa and his son back to Hawaii. 



When the sun had reached its zenith on the third day, Paakaa saw the 

 canoes nearing the land and he knew that the king had sent for his son. 



As Lapakahoe, now the prime minister, saw his cousin, Paakaa, he 

 threw his arms about him and they wailed together. After this greeting 

 the prime minister asked his old friend why he had not made himself 

 known to the king before. Paakaa replied that he had wanted to test the 

 king's aloha for him and to get his revenge on those who had wronged 

 him. 



Then he called his wife, the daughter of a chief of Molokai, whom he 

 had married when he had come as a stranger to the island, and introduced 

 her to the king's men. 



Paakaa promised to return to Hawaii if the king would restore his 

 lands and position. The prime minister promised all in the name of the 

 king, and with his canoes loaded with gifts set out for home. 



When the king saw his men returning without Paakaa he was very 

 sad. But when he had heard Paakaa's promise he ordered his men to 

 prepare a fleet of two hundred canoes to go for his beloved servant. He 

 kept Ku-a-paakaa with him. 



As this great fleet neared Molokai, the people there thought that it 

 must be a f^eet fishing for flying fish. But they soon realized that it had 

 come for Paakaa, who returned to Hawaii like a king with friends and 

 retainers. His king wept over him and gave him position and lands be- 

 fitting so faithful a servant. So Paakaa lived in peace and honor for 

 many years. 



