6i8 Pomander CoUccfion of Hazvaiian Polk-lorc. 



forest because of its fragrance. And because it was so very much desired by the peo- 

 ple, therefore it was greatly used in the composition of songs, hulas, chants, dirges, 

 and various other compositions. 



The fragrant sisters of Aiwohikupua," one of the Kauai chiefs, were named after 

 the maile. These were the names : Mailehaiwale,' Mailekaluhea,'* ]\Iailelaulii'- and Mai- 

 lepakaha." Some of the famous places also of that island were named after the maile : 

 "the leaping fire of Kamaile." because maile grew abundantly on those mountain ranges 

 from Nualolo to the precipices of Kalalau, and even unto the valley of the dwarf oopus, 

 Hanakapiai, overlooking the fire-hurling precipice of IMakena, where Haena'" inhales 

 the wind. This is the one plant familiar to these mountains, the maile. 



There are other kinds of maile, but they are foreign mailes. I do not know their 

 names. There is one plant by Air. Bishop's gate. Some kinds of maile also grow on 

 the plains in weeds; it has fine hair. When preparing the fishes known as palaiii^^ and 

 maikoiko,^'- this plant is used to do away with the strong smell, rubbing its leaves in 

 among the fish. Perhaps you know about this. This plant still grows on the plains. 



And if I have not properly explained about this plant of our country, then let 

 me alone be to blame, because I am not thoroughly familiar with the various mailes of 

 Hawaii nei; because this is not my home; I am from the cold seas'" of the Arctic. 



Ed. K. L11.1KALAN1. 



HISTORY OF THE WILIWIU. 



The wiliwili is one of the useful trees of Hawaii nei; but it is not like other trees 

 the stories of which were told us heretofore. It is not like other trees which are growing 

 now. This is what I have gathered from inquiries of friends. They state that this 

 tree is indigenous to Hawaii nei, but I do not know of the place where it first grew. 

 This tree is rough in its kind. We have therefore the basis. 



THE VALUE OF THE WILIWILI. 



The wiliwili' is a wood which is prepared here in Hawaii for sale to others ; 

 some of it is made into the longitudinal outrigger stick for canoes. That is not all : it 

 is also used as firewood for cooking food by some people. This tree grows plentifullv 

 on hills and valleys surrounding us. It is used by children for play boats, also by men ; 

 it is also used by some to mend looking glasses. When a glass is broken a piece of 

 wiliwili wood is taken and shaped so that the broken piece of looking glass is fitted in. 



Nor is that all ; it is also made into canoes,- provided a tree large enough to be 



"The defeated suitor for the hand of Laieikawai, "The writer here makes reference to his absence for 



famed princess of Paliuli. a time in cold regions as a reason or excuse for any 



■Maileliaiwale, easily broken or brittle maile. shortcomings of his paper. 



'.Mailekaluhca, maile of luxuriant growth. 'Wiliwili (Erythrimi iiioiiosfcnmi), a medium sized 



«Mailep.akaha, greedy maile. ]'''' f e.xceedmgly hght wood; adnnrablc for surf- 



' ' ^ -^ ^ , Itoards. 



'"As note 3, these places and persons are of Kauai. 5^^, 1 1 r •.,!■, r 



. ■ , ,^ , ■ ., , 1 hcsc canoes would of necessity be for the use of a 



Pal.ani, Surgeon-fish rrcirZ/nj mntoidcs). single person, and while Iiandy to handle were not of a 



''Maikoiko, Surgeon-fish (Tcnthis linroldlus). durable kind, hence they were limited. Single canoes 



were termed kaukalii, also konkalii. 



