644 Fornander Collection of Hazvaiian Folk-lore. 



are three of that kind of house: the />///, the Iniainoa and the zvai. If the house de- 

 sired be piH, then the battens are placed four fingers apart; if it be wai, then they 

 are two fingers apart; and if huamoa. then they are three fingers apart. These names, 

 however, apply to lauhala houses only, and not to other houses. These houses are so 

 designated according to the lauhala and is imderstood by one thatching the house. 



When placing the battens, however, care should be used to separate them ; first 

 the larger battens {aho-pueo) ; those are the ones to hold the posts together. Then the 

 free running battens (aJw holowala) \ those are the ones tied to the vertical battens 

 (ahu'i), the small sized battens which I first mentioned. The end post is the ray — 

 kukitna in Hawaiian. These battens run between posts and between rafters, extend- 

 ing about three inches beyond the corner posts and rafters. The customary practice 

 in placing battens is to put two smaller ones between the puco alios. In placing the 

 battens on the rear side of the house, it is done all over from the bottom to the top 

 excepting for a distance of one hand" from the supplementary ridge-pole. But when 

 doing the same to the front, leave one space for a door for the house, and cover all 

 other parts with battens, as was done in the rear side. In jilacing battens on the ends, 

 the larger ones are tied to all other uprights except the main post (pou ha-na) ; that 

 is the chief post and is also kapu. 



This, however, is how the battens are placed on houses thatched with lauhala or 

 dry ti-leaves ; but on houses thatched with the pili grass there is some difference. A 

 double set of battens is placed, one inside and one outside. The set inside is placed as 

 is done for a house thatched with lauhala, and the set outside is slightly different. The 

 ])lacing of battens on other houses is done according to the idea of the house builder. 



CONCERNING THATCHING. 



The way of thatching various houses differs, and is not the same, but [here is 

 the method employed] concerning the houses thatched with lauhala and pili, not those 

 thatched with dry ti-leaves, because that is a house difhcult in construction, and you 

 would hardly understand if I were to tell you. All the other houses are thatched in 

 any way; these are the difficult ones. 



If the house is to be pili-thatched, that is with the s])ace between the battens 

 equal to four fingers, then prepare a pointed stick having two eyes, one at one end and 

 one in the middle. This stick measures about one and a half hands in length. If the 

 house be huamoa or wai-thatched, the pointed stick has only one eye. In commencing, 

 first thatch on two battens, then another two, and so keep agoing until sufficient have 

 been started. In piercing string holes they must alternate, and not run in one line, 

 lest the house leak. It is well to alternate the placing of cords, so that thev would ap- 

 pear irregular. In preparing the lauhala, however, the thorny edges are stripped before 

 thatching, or else it is wet with water. When the thatching is completed except near 

 the top, two other battens are prepared and ])laced on either side of the ridge; these 

 Iiattens are called the alio kopckopc and zvc-o. When these have been covered with 

 thatching, again place two other battens, one on each side; and in the middle, another 



"Pi-a, a measure of one hand span distance, or space. 



