THE HAWAIIAN ROMANCE OF LAIEIKAWAI ***
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THE HAWAIIAN ROMANCE OF
LAIEIKAWAI
WITH INTRODUCTION AND TRANSLATION
BY
MARTHA WARREN BECKWITH
[Illustration: A KAHUNA OR NATIVE SORCERER]
PREFACE
This work of translation has been undertaken out of love for the land of Hawaii and for the Hawaiian people. To all those who have generously aided to further the study I wish to express my grateful thanks. I am indebted to the curator and trustees of the Bishop Museum for so kindly placing at my disposal the valuable manuscripts in the museum collection, and to Dr. Brigham, Mr. Stokes, and other members of the museum staff for their help and suggestions, as well as to those scholars of Hawaiian who have patiently answered my questions or lent me valuable material--to Mr. Henry Parker, Mr. Thomas Thrum, Mr. William Rowell, Miss Laura Green, Mr. Stephen Desha, Judge Hazelden of Waiohinu, Mr. Curtis Iaukea, Mr. Edward Lilikalani, and Mrs. Emma Nawahi. Especially am I indebted to Mr. Joseph Emerson, not only for the generous gift of his time but for free access to his entire collection of manuscript notes. My thanks are also due to the hosts and hostesses through whose courtesy I was able to study in the field, and to Miss Ethel Damon for her substantial aid in proof reading. Nor would I forget to record with grateful appreciation those Hawaiian interpreters whose skill and patience made possible the rendering into English of their native romance--Mrs. Pokini Robinson of Maui, Mr. and Mrs. Kamakaiwi of Pahoa, Hawaii, Mrs. Kama and Mrs. Supé of Kalapana, and Mrs. Julia Bowers of Honolulu. I wish also to express my thanks to those scholars in this country who have kindly helped me with their criticism--to Dr. Ashley Thorndike, Dr. W.W. Lawrence, Dr. A.C.L. Brown, and Dr. A.A. Goldenweiser. I am indebted also to Dr. Roland Dixon for bibliographical notes. Above all, thanks are due to Dr. Franz Boas, without whose wise and helpful enthusiasm this study would never have been undertaken.
MARTHA WARREN BECKWITH.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY,
October, 1917.
CONTENTS
Introduction
I. The book and its writer
II. Nature and the Gods as reflected in the story 1. Polynesian origin of Hawaiian romance 2. Polynesian cosmogony 3. The demigod as hero 4. The earthly paradise; divinity in man and nature 5. The story: its mythical character 6. The story as a reflection of aristocratic social life
III. The art of composition 1. Aristocratic nature of Polynesian art 2. Nomenclature: its emotional value 3. Analogy: its pictorial quality 4. The double meaning; plays on words 5. Constructive elements of style
IV. Conclusions
Persons in the story Action of the story Background of the story
Text and translation
Chapter I. The birth of the Princess[A] II. The flight to Paliuli III. Kauakahialii meets the Princess VI. Aiwohikupua goes to woo the Princess V. The boxing match with Cold-nose VI. The house thatched with bird feathers VII. The Woman of the Mountain VIII. The refusal of the Princess IX. Aiwohikupua deserts his sisters X. The sisters' songs XI. Abandoned in the forest XII. Adoption by the Princess XIII. Hauailiki goes surf riding XIV. The stubbornness of Laieikawai XV. Aiwohikupua meets the guardians of Paliuli XVI. The Great Lizard of Paliuli XVII. The battle between the Dog and the Lizard XVIII. Aiwohikupua's marriage with the Woman of the Mountain XIX. The rivalry of Hina and Poliahu XX. A suitor is found for the Princess XXI. The Rascal of Puna wins the Princess XXII. Waka's revenge XXIII. The Puna Rascal deserts the Princess XXIV. The marriage of the chiefs XXV. The Seer finds the Princess XXVI. The Prophet of God XXVII. A journey to the Heavens XXVIII. The Eyeball-of-the-Sun XXIX. The warning of vengeance XXX. The coming of the Beloved XXXI. The Beloved falls into sin XXXII. The Twin Sister XXXIII. The Woman of Hana XXXIV. The Woman of the Twilight
