Beautiful sisters, La'ie's giant lizard lift 'Legend' | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Beautiful sisters, La'ie's giant lizard lift 'Legend' | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Posted on: Sunday, August 1, 2004

BOOK MARKS
Beautiful sisters, La'ie's giant lizard lift 'Legend'

"THE LEGEND OF LA'IEIKAWAI," retold and illustrated by Dietrich Varez, University of Hawai'i Press, paper, $12.95

By Wanda Adams
Advertiser Books Editor

This handsome short book will introduce many Islanders to the concept of a ka'ao — a full-length oral legend, distinct from the more historical and journalistic mo'olelo (stories). It is an all-ages morality tale suitable for reading aloud as a family; kids will be interested in the giant lizard that protects La'ie, and the birds that form a resting place for her in the air. (Varez employs careful language where adult themes are introduced so that the book is considerably less suggestive than any single night of network TV). Varez's trademark stylized block prints take up every other page and add interest for both the old and young reader.

Although the legend is named for a single character, the story is the tale of twin sisters, the devastatingly beautiful La'ieikawai (or, "the vine in the water" — and, yes, the town on O'ahu was named for this character) and the equally beguiling La'ielohelohe ("the vine that droops down").

The complicated story, peopled with colorful characters and built around a series of dangerous quests, begins with selfishness and a deception: The girls' father wanted only sons and insists that any girl children be put to death; their mother is forced to send them away and tell him they were stillborn.

These twin themes of self-involvement and lying to get what you want are woven throughout the story.

In the end, La'ieikawai gives up the privileges of a goddess and changes her very nature in order to reunite with her sister.

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