Nestled in the lush and fertile Waipi’o Valley, Hawaiʻi Island, Pōkahi and Kaukini have everything they need except a child. Through pule, they call upon Goddess Hina and ask her to bless them with a child. She adheres to their request with one stipulation. The baby is to sit under the ohia tree for 30 days without being touched. If they can do that, she will become their child. As difficult as this is, they abide and Laukaʻieʻie becomes theirs.
He moolelo kaao Hawaii no Laukaieie, appeared serially starting Jan. 2, 1894 in the newspaper Ka leo o ka lahui. The same story was published in another newspaper, Ka oiaio, starting Jan. 5, 1894. Block Print of Laukaʻieʻie by Caren Loebel-Fried. |