146 I'uniandcr Collection of Hawaiian 1-olk-lorc. 



62. Till': GOD OF THE CANOE-Il EVVING PRIEST. 



Kupulupulu was the god of the canoe-hewing priests, and Mokuhahi the canoe- 

 hewing priest who attended the deity. They, Mokuhahi, a male deity, and Leaka, his 

 wife, a female deity, were deities of the canoe hewers, and the canoe-hewing priests and 

 their offspring" descending from them. 



OF THE INITIATION SERVICE OF THE CANOE-IIEWING PRIEST. 



Canoe-hewing priests performed an initiation service at the beginning of canoe- 

 hewing, but the service did not relate to priests already established. When a person 

 desired to learn canoe hewing he had to do as his instructor directed him. When his 

 canoe was comi)lete(l it was essential to purchase a pig and other necessaries, which 

 should not be bought cheai;)ly as in the case of other canoes. The ref|uirements for 

 the canoe of a new priest being jmrchased cheaply depended upon the acceptance of the 

 ottering service. In the service if the augury stood favorably, it would be apparent to 

 the instructor that his |mpil would prosper in the vocation of canoe hewing, Init if the 

 augury was inauspicious, then the instructor in canoe hewing would say that the pupil 

 could not learn the calling. • If the augury foretold death then that person would surely 

 die if he persisted in canoe hewing; therefore it had better be left alone. 



63. THE PROFESSION OF SPEAR HURLING. 



Spear hurling was an exhilarating profession, and a warlike vocation also. Spear 

 hurling was practiced for offensive and defensive fighting; it was not generally taught to 

 the common people, but only to those at court; only a few of the common people under- 

 stood fighting with spears. 



Si)ear throwers had a tactical profession, one of skill ; an accomplished spearsman 

 could stand before man}-''* s])ears hurled at him ; if a score of spears were hurled at an able 

 s]iearsman they would not o\'ercome him, in spite of their number. 



There were tw^o i)rincipal things in spear hurling; dexterity in dodging, and skill in 

 throwing, the spear. One who was dexterous in throwing the spear, however, could not 

 make a success before one who was clever in dodging. If an expert dodger was seen 

 [in action] then tremendous applause for him would ht heard. Dexterity in throwing 

 and agility in dodging should be incorporated in one person. 



64. AUGURIES IN SPEARMANSHIP. 



Instructors in spearsmanship maintained certain auguries in relation to the order 

 of priesthood. One would not instruct spearsmanship if an inauspicious augury fore- 

 told misfortune and adversities which might occur afterwards. One could not go to 

 fight in a spear battle unless skilled; only by practice, if the augury was favorable, 

 could a person go to battle. Otherwise it was improi)er to go. 



"The term haulc tnakaivahi used here means that though numerous the spears fell harmlessly before him. 



