Daggett furnishes a
full description of the place in the introduction to his published
synopsis of the story. The appropriateness of Laie as the birthplace of
the rainbow girl is evident to anyone who has spent a week along this
coast. It is one of the most picturesque on the islands, with the open
sea on one side fringed with white beach, and the Koolau range rising
sheer from the narrow strip of the foothills, green to the summit and
fluted into fantastic shapes by the sharp edge of the showers that drive
constantly down with the trade winds, gleaming with rainbow colors.
Kukaniloko, in the uplands of Wahiawa, where Laielohelohe is concealed
by her foster father, is one of the most sacred places on Oahu. Its fame
is coupled with that of Holoholoku in Wailua, Kauai, as one of the
places set apart for the birthplace of chiefs. Tradition says that since
a certain Kapawa, grandson of a chief from "Tahiti" in the far past, was
born upon this spot, a special divine favor has attended the birth of
chiefs upon this spot. Stones were laid out right and left with a mound
for the back, the mother's face being turned to the right.
Pages:
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127