Note 25 — PREFACE. (continued 3)

We will here leave Aukelenuiaiku and Kuwahailo for a time while we take up the brothers of Namakaokahai. In making their flight from the earth to heaven, they saw that Aukelenuiaiku was going much faster than they were. The length of time they took on this voyage was five days and five nights, while Aukelenuiaiku covered the distance in only one day and one night: hence, when Kuwahailo was pouring out his death-dealing bolts, the brothers were still on their way. When they were approaching heaven, and saw from a distance the fire-bolt called Kukuena, and the black rock Ikuwa being hurled at Aukelenuiaiku, they all cried out in alarm, for they thought their brother-in-law would be killed. They then flew to a rocky valley and there laid down; after the fire and the roar of the thunder had gone by they came out, and when they looked they saw Aukelenuiaiku still standing. They then called to him to come and hide himself between the rocks in the valley, for they knew that other death-dealing bolts were yet to come; but Aukelenuiaiku answered them: “You stay there where you are while I remain here until I shall kill Kuwahailo.” As soon as the last death-bolt had passed by, the nephews of Kuwahailo came out and stood in the presence of their uncle. He then asked them: “How is your sister?” “She is at home.” “And whence comes this wizard?” “That is your nephew, the husband of Namakaokahai.” When Kuwahailo heard this from his nephews, he stood there in fear and trembling, and wondered what he was to do to his nephew Aukelenuiaiku, the hero25 of Kuaihelani. After a pause of some time he said to Aukelenuiaiku: “My nephew, I have indeed sinned against you, for I have this day treated you unkindly. I will therefore make an offering before you of eight hundred men.” When Kuwahailo returned with his eight hundred men, and they stood before Aukelenuiaiku, Aukelenuiaiku turned to Kuwahailo and asked him: “What are these men for?” His uncle replied: “They are my offerings to you.” Aukelenuiaiku replied: “Leave the men for your grandnephew and as people for the land.”