Geographical names, although not enumerated to such an extent in any of
the tales and songs now accessible, also have an important place in
Hawaiian composition. In the _Laieikawai_ 76 places are mentioned by
name, most of them for the mere purpose of identifying a route of
travel. A popular form of folk tale is the following, told in Waianae,
Oahu: "Over in Kahuku lived a high chief, Kaho'alii. He instructed his
son 'Fly about Oahu while I chew the _awa_; before I have emptied it
into the cup return to me and rehearse to me all that you have seen.'"
The rest of the tale relates the youth's enumeration of the places he
has seen on the way.
If we turn to the chants the suggestive use of place names becomes still
more apparent. Dr. Hyde tells us (_Hawaiian Annual_, 1890, p. 79): "In
the Hawaiian chant (_mele_) and dirge (_kanikau_) the aim seems to be
chiefly to enumerate every place associated with the subject, and to
give that place some special epithet, either attached to it by
commonplace repetition or especially devised for the occasion as being
particularly characteristic." An example of this form of reference is to
be found in the _Kualii_ chant.
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