Note 2 — PREFACE. (continued 3)

In A.D. 1863, in the month of April, a society was formed for the purpose of searching for the ancient things of Hawaii.2 It was at this time that I wrote further on this subject, but I have not written this record with the impression that I am free from any shortcomings. Perhaps blame will be placed upon the writer of this history. From the beginning of my knowledge of the nature of the priesthood until I began to write this account, I had not realized the value of these things. Since those days impressions have come to me of the importance of preserving records of events relating to this people in ancient times, for, thought I, if the early history of this people is not recorded how can the future generations know the occurrences of those days in these islands.