156 Pomander Collection of Hazi'aiian Folk-lore. 



RELATING TO KAALAEA. 



When the news of the great catch of fish came to Kaalaea, she and her ten 

 brothers boarded their canoes, eacli taking one, making eleven canoes, and went to the 

 place where the fish were being collected. When these canoes landed, Kaalaea went up 

 on the sand and sat down and did not go about from place to place; but just looked on 

 as the men and women helped themselves to the fish. 



While she was sitting there Puniakaia saw her and was captivated by her beauty 

 and quiet demeanor, not at all like the other women ; so he said to his mother, Hale- 

 kou," "Say, Halekou, I am going to secure that woman for my own, because she is very 

 beautiful, without blemish, and in all respects my equal." Halekou gave her consent, 

 saying: "Yes, she shall be your wife, for you two are alike in looks and behavior, there- 

 fore you go and ask her." 



When Puniakaia came to the presence of Kaalaea, he asked the woman that she 

 become his wife. Kaalaea gave her consent to this. Puniakaia then said to her: 

 "When we get to my mother, don't be backward but go and sit on her lap." When 

 the two came to Halekou, Kaalaea went and sat on the lap of her future mother-in-law. 

 After a little while Halekou ordered the men to load the ten canoes with fish, and this 

 was done; not only the ten canoes but several others also were filled, and this prop- 

 erty was distributed as gifts to the i)eople. Halekou began to contribute gifts to Kaa- 

 laea, as was the custom" of those days. Nuupia then did likewise, and then Puniakaia; 

 those three brought ofiferings to Kaalaea. In giving the various gifts, great heaps of 

 them, Kaalaea on her part gave only herself, still it exceeded that of all three. After 

 the giving of gifts, Kaalaea returned to her place with her brothers and her parents. 



Sometime after this Puniakaia asked of his mother that he go and live with his 

 wife. His mother replied: "My son, listen to what I have to say: You are going to 

 the home of your wife to live, but you will be insulted and you will return here in a very 

 short time." After this Puniakaia went to the home of Kaalaea his wife, where they 

 lived as husband and wife. At meal times it was customary with the brothers-in-law of 

 Puniakaia to prepare the meal, then send for Puniakaia and make him sit on their lap 

 while they fed him. This was carried on for some time; all Puniakaia did was to eat 

 and sleep and never left his wife. 



One day while the two were in bed, an aunt of Kaalaea's, together with several 

 others, came into the house where the two were sleeping. These people were on their 

 way to catch crabs. While in the house, the aunt said: "Wake up, Puniakaia, and let 

 us go crabbing. What do you do, any way? Just sleej), and when you get up clean your 

 eyes and catch flies and eat?" While the aunt was speaking, Puniakaia was listening 

 through the soft mantle that covered them; the aunt did not know this, however, for 

 she thought he was asleep. 



This angered Puniakaia and he was sore displeased; and when his brothers-in- 

 law came home he would not speak to them nor go to eat food with them as before. 



°It is quite customary for children to address their "This probably has reference to hookul^u, though that 



parents or other relatives by name, rather than rela custom of giving gifts had a broader application, 



tionship. 



