64^) I'oniamicr Collcctioii of I-faii'aiiaii folk-lore. 



batten called the alio lolo, that is the one next to the supplementary ridge; these battens 

 thatched thus are called kauhuhu.^'' 



The thatching of the house made of pili is done in this same manner; but the 

 size of each bundle of pili to be ])laced on the batten is e(|ual to what one hand can 

 grasp, so that the thatching would be even, and the house would withstand the wind. 

 The thatching of the dry ti-leaf house is not like these houses; it is totally different, 

 r.ut it excels in appearance these two. 



CONCERNINr, THE TRIMMING. 



After the house is thatched, hasten to trim it. else it would be ridiculed as a 

 luilc oliiilc.^'' when it is new. The trimming for a house thatched with lauhala is the 

 leaves of the aiiia'niiia'ii,'^ and this is the way to prepare it; a person goes mountain- 

 wards and brings down the dry ama'uma'u leaves, obtaining a good supplv before he 

 returns to the house; and then proceeds in this manner; break the ama'u leaf in two 

 in the middle, then bring the top point to join with the lower point (thus laying the 

 upper half of the leaf over the lower half). Keep on in this way until the ama'uma'u 

 is all joined. There are two ways of preparing the trimming; one way is to fix it on 

 the ground on two long sticks, then placed against the corners and the ridge. The sec- 

 ond method is to do the trimming right on the parts to be trimmed until the work is 

 finished. 



The trimming of a pili g'rass house is pili grass braided on the ridge and the cor- 

 ners of the house. That of the ti-leaf house, however, is the pili grass and the ama'u- 

 ma'u, but prepared in a similar manner. After the house is trimmed quickly secure 

 the halakca (central) of the house, that is. the upright in the middle. The proper ha- 

 lakea is one that is red, and the wood from which to make it is ohia. After the ha- 

 lakea is obtained, then level off the ground inside the house; that is, shift the dirt 

 around until the ground is level. On this spread old potato vines, next on that some 

 dry grass, that is, ma'u and pili, then some old coarse mats, and then the fine mats 

 suitable to sleep on. 



When the house is trimmed erect the halakea, the upright in the middle support- 

 ing the ridge. When the halakea is in place construct the door. The proper woods 

 generally used for a door frame are the ulu (breadfruit) and ohia. When this is com- 

 ])leted the woman braids a mat for covering for the door, because that was the door 

 of the houses of Hawaii nei in the olden time. Sometimes, however, a door is con 

 structed like a net, and the ])lace to which this door is attached is over the passage way; 

 when closing, lower it, and when opening, roll it up. \\'hen the door frames are placed 

 in position that is the time to cut the piko^^ of the house; that is, trim those ragged lau- 

 hala leaves which hang over the doorway. During cutting, however, it is well to bring 

 an aholcholc (fish) and some young sugar-cane and also cut them; at the same time 

 say; "Here I am a house-builder; T am cutting the piko of the house; therefore, ward 

 off' the evil influences from the house. .\men." 



'■'Knuhuhu, cover for the ridge-pole. "The trimming of the doorway was the final act in- 



"■| l;ile oluile bald-headed house dicating a linislicd house and was attended willi reli- 



■^\n,a•nn,a•n! the .V,„//,'//„ tree-fern of Hawaii. f^"' ceremonies and offerings. The accompanying 



feast m.ay be termed the house warnniig. 



