CHAPTER XIX

[Footnote 58: In the story of Kauakahialii, his home at Pihanakalani is

located in the mountains of Kauai back of the ridge Kuamoo, where, in

spite of its inland position, he possesses a fishpond well stocked with

fish.]

[Footnote 59: The Hawaiian custom of group marriages between brothers or

sisters is clearly brought out in this and other passages in the story.

"Guard our wife"--_Ka wahine a kaua_--says the Kauai chief to his

comrade, "she belongs to us two"--_ia ia kaua_. The sisters of

Aiwohikupua call their mistress's husband "our husband"--_ka kakou

kane_. So Laieikawai's younger sister is called the "young

wife"--_wahine opio_--of Laieikawai's husband, and her husband is called

his _punalua_, which is a term used between friends who have wives in

common, or women who have common husbands.]

[Footnote 60: The Hawaiian flute is believed to be of ancient origin. It

is made of a bamboo joint pierced with holes and blown through the nose

while the right hand plays the stops. The range is said to comprise five

notes. The name Kanikawi means "changing sound" and is the same as that

given to Kaponohu's supernatural spear.]

The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai · 第 17 / 27 章