]
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,[1] after their
union, during those moments of bliss when they had just parted from the
first embrace, Kahauokapaka declared his vow to his wife, and this was
the vow:[2]
"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.[3] 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, Malaekahana
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.
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