Hawaiian Counting-out Games

Note: The graphics illustrating these games were not in the original document.


67. He-lu-pa-a-ni - COUNTING-OUT

Counting Out

The following counting-out rhymes were related:

Mo-ke mo-ke a-la pi-a
How many mo-ke a-la pi-a?
One, two, three, four, au-ka hi-a.1

Ki-li ki-li ka.
A-ka-hi ou o-i ha
Pa-e-le pa-ki-ni
I-kau-a le-hei pa
Mai no a-la-ea
Mo-mo-na ka -pe-le-na
Ka-i-o-le wi-lu.
2


Run and Hide

66. Pee-pee-a-ku-a - GHOST-HIDING,  HIDE-AND-SEEK

The one who is "it," called a-ku-a, "ghost" or "god," is determined by counting out. Andrews gives hau-pee-pee as the name of the game. In Japan it is called oni gokko, "devil playing." Hide-and-seek is referred to by Stair3 among the amusements of the Samoans, and by Williams4 as a Fijian game. Taylor5 mentions hide-and-seek in New Zealand under the name of he waka pupuni or piri. Codrington6 says: "In the Banks, island boys play at hide-and-seek, rur quona quona; there are two sides, and if the boy who is hiding is not found by the seekers, he suddenly jumps up and counts a pig against them."


68. Pla-pi-o - PRISONER-PLAY, TAG

The one who is "it" (a-ku-a) is determined by counting out. He chases the others, and the one first tagged becomes a-ku-a in turn. Plaa is the English word "play," Hawaiian pa-a-ni.


69. Ho-lo-pee-a-na-lo.

A game of hiding played by a number of boys. When all are ready one of the boys pounds on the back of the a-ku-a, singing the following song while the others hide:

Ku-i-ku-i ka-mu-mu-mu
Ho-lo i-u-ka ho-to-kai.


Notes:
1. "Probably a Variant of "Monkey, monkey, bottle of beer, How many monkeys are there here? One, two, three, Out goes he!" - A counting-out rhyme reported by Dr H. Carrington Bolton (The Counting-out Rhymes of Children, New York, 1888, p. 116) from many parts of the United States.
2. Similar to a counting-out rhyme from Hawaii given by Dr Bolton, op. cit., appendix.
3. Page 139.
4. Page 127.
5. Page 174.
6. Page 340.


Last update February 3, 2010