134 Bernice P. Bishop Museum — Bulletin 



Bugar-cane, as it might spoil the voice, nor to sit on a stone tor fear of stiff- 

 ness. Before being allowed to perform in public, the would-be dancers had to 

 pass a severe examination, after which they received the uniki, the secret 

 sign or religious ceremony. Some of the hulas and musical instruments used 

 with them were: the hula-ula-uli, in which the dancers rattled small double 

 gourds, filled with pebl)les, and trimmed with feathers; the hula-apuwai, 

 which was accompanied by the beating of hands on double calabashes, which 

 stood from two and a half to three feet high; the hula-ka-la-au, in which a 

 long, resounding stick was struck with other sticks, in time. A large drum 

 made from the hollowed trunk of a coconut tree over which a shark's skin was 

 stretched was frequently used. Another dance was the hula-puili in which the 

 dancers were seated on the ground, holding in their hands joints of split 

 bamboo, which rattled as the dancers beat with them and passed them from 

 one to another. With all these hulas there was an accompaniment of singing 

 or chanting, called the oli, sometimes sung by the dancers themselves and 

 sometimes by others. In learning the art of the hula, each pupil had also to 

 learn the art of the r/po, "catching" or committing to memory, which was 

 to repeat exactly, word for word, after hearing it only once, a viele, which 

 sometimes took hours to recite. 



lele (i'e-i'-e): Freycinetia arnotti, a climbing shrub which has a rigid stem about 

 an inch in diameter, numerous climbing and aerial roots, stiff rough leaves 

 from one to three feet long, and a large, handsome leaf-like flower, rose and 

 Vermillion in color. Ropes and baskets were made of the woven roots. 



Imu (i'-mu): A place or oven for baking meats and vegetables underground by 

 means of heated stones. 



Iwi-kua-moo (I'-wi-ku'-a-mo'-o) : Literally, the backbone of the king; that Is, 

 his chief retainer. This title was the highest honor a king could confer on a 

 subject. 



Kahili (ka-hi'li): A brush made of feathers tied to a long stick, used as a 

 symbol of royalty. The smaller kahili were waved over a king or high chief; 

 the large ones were carried in royal processions. They somewhat resembled 

 large feather-dusters. 



Kahu (ka'-hu): An attendant on a person of high rank. The relation between 

 the kahu and his chief was very close, and permanent, and extended to the 

 whole family of the kahu. At the death of a chief, a specially favored kahu, 

 called moe-puu, was killed that his spirit might not be alone on his journey 

 to the next world. To be a moe-puu was esteemed a great honor. 



Kahuna (ka-hu'-na) : 1. A priest, one who offers sacrifice, a physician, an astrol- 

 oger, a sorcerer, a diviner. 2. A term applied to such persons as are masters 

 of their craft, trade, art, or profession. For example — kahuna kalaiwaa, head 

 canoe maker. 



Kapu (ka'-pu) or tapu (ta'-pu): Eng. tapu, tabu, taboo: 1. A general name of 

 the system of religion that formerly existed in the Hawaiian islands. The 

 system was based on numerous restrictions or prohibitions, keeping the c.om- 

 mon people in obedience to the chiefs and priests, though many of the kapu 

 Included all classes of people. 2. Prohibited, forbidden. 3. To set apart, to 

 prohibit from use, to make sacred or holy, or consecrated. 



Kea-pua (ke'-apu'a) : A game in which an arrow made of the shaft of a sugar- 

 cane blossom was shot or thrown from a whip like contrivance. 



Kli (ki'-i): An image or images. 



Kllu (ki'lu): A game, in which a stick, lied to a string, was swung around a 

 circle of people. Whoever was hit had to sing, or oh. 



Koa (ko'-a): Acacia koa, a large hard-wood tree growing in the mountains. 

 Canoes and utensils are made from the wood, which takes a high polish and 



