[Footnote 39:  Chickens were a valuable part of a chief’s wealth, since from their feathers were formed the beautiful fly brushes, kahili, used to wave over chiefs of rank and carried in ceremonial processions.  The entrance to the rock cave is still shown, at the mouth of Kaliuwaa valley, where Kamapuaa’s grandmother shut up her chickens at night, and it was for robbing his uncle’s henroost that this rascally pig-god was chased away from Oahu.  This reference is therefore one of many indications that the Laieikawai tale belongs with those of the ancient demigods.]

[Footnote 40:  Mr. Meheula suggested to me this translation of the idiomatic allusions to the canoe and the coral reef.]

CHAPTER VIII

[Footnote 41:  A peculiarly close family relation between brother and sister is reflected in Polynesian tales, as in those of Celtic, Finnish, and Scandinavian countries.  Each serves as messenger or go-between for the other in matters of love or revenge, and guards the other’s safety by magic arts.  Such a condition represents a society in which the family group is closely bound together.  For such illustrations compare the Fornander stories of Halemano, Hinaikamalama, Kalanimanuia, Nihoalaki, Kaulanapokii, Pamano.  The character of accomplished sorceress belongs especially to the helpful sister, a woman of the Malio or Kahalaomapuana type, whose art depends upon a life of solitary virginity.  She knows spells, she can see what is going on at a distance, and she can restore the dead to life.  In the older stories she generally appears in bird form.  In more human tales she wins her brother’s wishes by strategy.  This is particularly true of the characters in this story, who win their way by wit rather than magic.  In this respect the youngest sister of Aiwohikupua should be compared with her prototype, Kaulanapokii, who weaves spells over plants and brings her slain brothers back to life.  Kahalaomapuana never performs any such tasks, but she is pictured as invincible in persuasion; she never fails in sagacity, and is always right and always successful.  She is, in fact, the most attractive character in the story.  It is rather odd, since modern folk belief is firmly convinced of the power of love spells, that none appear in the recorded stories.  All is accomplished by strategy.]

[Footnote 42:  For the translation of this dialogue I am indebted, to the late Dr. Alexander, to whose abstract of the story I was fortunate enough to have access.]

CHAPTER X