And their sister went into the presence of Laieikawai.

When they had come to the house, the attendant opened the door; then, Kahalaomapuana was terrified to see Laieikawai resting on the wings of birds as was her custom; two scarlet iiwi birds were perched on the shoulders of the princess and shook the dew from red lehua blossoms upon her head.

And when Kahalaomapuana saw this, then it seemed marvelous to the stranger girl, and she fell to the ground with trembling heart.

The princess’s attendant came and asked, “What is the matter, daughter?”

And twice she asked, then the girl arose and said to the princess’s attendant as follows:  “Permit me to return to my sisters, to the place from which you took me, for I tremble with fear at the marvelous nature of your princess.”

Said the princess’s attendant, “Do not fear, have no dread, arise and enter to meet my princess as she has commanded you.”

“I am afraid,” said the girl.

When the princess heard their low voices, she arose and called to Kahalaomapuana; then the girl’s distress was at an end, and the stranger entered to visit the princess.

Said Laieikawai, “Is the merry instrument yours that sounded here last night and this?”

“Yes; it is mine,” said Kahalaomapuana.

“Go on,” said Laieikawai, “play it.”

Kahalaomapuana took her ti leaf trumpet from behind her ear, and played before the princess; then Laieikawai was delighted.  This was the first time the princess had seen this kind of instrument.

CHAPTER XII

Now, Laieikawai became fascinated with the merry instrument upon which the girl played, so she bade her sound it again.

Said the girl, “I can not sound it again, for it is now daylight, and this instrument is a kind that sounds only by night; it will never sound by day.”

Laieikawai was surprised at these words, thinking the girl was lying.  So she snatched the trumpet out of the girl’s hand and played upon it, and because she was unpracticed in playing the trumpet the thing made no sound; then the princess believed that the trumpet would not sound by day.

Said Laieikawai to Kahalapmapuana, “Let us two be friends, and you shall live here in my house and become my favorite, and your work will be to amuse me.”

Said Kahalaomapuana, “O princess, you have spoken well; but it would grieve me to live with you and perhaps gain happiness for myself while my sisters might be suffering.”

“How many of you are there?” asked Laieikawai, “and how did you come here?”

Said Kahalaomapuana, “There are six of us born of the same parents; one of the six is a boy and five of us are his younger sisters, and the boy is the oldest, and I am the youngest born.  And we journeyed hither with our brother, and because we failed to gain for him his wish, therefore he has abandoned us and has gone back with his favorite companion, and we live here in distress.”