The story of Aukele, a Polynesian folk hero, recounts the adventures of a young chief who sails for an unknown land, undertakes a perilous quest, and overcomes formidable opponents. Along the way he encounters horrible monsters and evil creatures, and he must contend with his ten resentful, jealous brothers. Aukele, who slew Halulu-the-evil-one and took a sorceress wife; Aukele, who learned to fly to Thunder God and to Moon God; Aukele, the legendary hero who was saved by Rat Maiden and Lizard Maiden, is truly daring and fearless. In spite of his magical prowess, Aukele, as Vivian Thompson presents him, is a very human, understandable, and likable fellow. Elly Tepper’s illustrations reflect the power, pathos, and humor of Aukele and the other colorful characters in this Hawaiian tale.
