a Hawaiian Kaao or legend was composed ages ago, recited and kept in
memory merely by repetition, until a short time since it was reduced to
writing by a Hawaiian and printed, making a duodecimo volume of 220
pages, and that, too, with the poetical parts mostly left out. It is
said that this legend took six hours in the recital." In prefacing his
dictionary he says: "The Kaao of Laieikawai is almost the only specimen
of that species of language which has been laid before the public. Many
fine specimens have been printed in the Hawaiian periodicals, but are
neither seen nor regarded by the foreign community."]

[Footnote 3: The changes introduced by these editors have not been
followed in this edition, except in a few unimportant omissions, but the
popular song printed below appears first in its pages:

"Aia Laie-i-ka-wai
I ka uka wale la o Pali-uli;
O ka nani, o ka nani,
Helu ekahi o ia uka.

"E nanea e walea ana paha,
I ka leo nahenahe o na manu.

"Kau mai Laie-i-ka-wai
I ka eheu la o na manu;
O ka nani, o ka nani,
Helu ekahi o Pali-uli.

"E nanea, etc.

"Ua lohe paha i ka hone mai,