Hawaiian Games Described

By Stewart Culin
Published in the American Anthropologist,
New Series, April 1899, Vol. I, No. 2, Pages 201-247.


Alphabetical by Name

#

Hawaiian Name

Culin's Name for a Game

Bilboquet 52 Hoo-lei-po-po Cup and ball
Blowing soap-bubbles 46 Hu-a ko-pa Soap-bubbles
Bowling 78 Mai-ka Bowling
Boxing 6 Pe-le-pe-le Boxing
Casting Cocoanut Shell 54 Nou-nou-pu-ni-u Cocoanut shell casting
Casting Rings 80 Ki-o-la-o-la-le-na Ring-casting
Casting Sticks 62 Ki-o-la-o-la-la-au Stick-casting
Catching Dragonfly 35 Ho-pu-ho-pu-na-lo Dragonfly catching
Checkers 86 Moo Draughts
Clapping 28 Pai-pai-li-ma Hand-clapping
Counting Out 64 He-lu pa-ka-hi One-by-one counting
Counting Rhymes 67 He-lu-pa-a-ni Play-counting
Cut String Puzzle 49 O-ki-kau-la String-cutting
Fighting: Cocks 34 Ha-ka mo-a Cock-fighting
Fighting:
Wooden Swords
7 Ka-ka-pa-hi Fencing
Flying: Dragonfly 36 Le-le-pi-nau Dragonfly-flying
Flying: Kites 51 Lu-pe Kites
Fox & Geese 87 Ma-nu Fox and geese
Gambling: Coin Betting 60 Pi-li-ka-la Coin-betting
Gambling: Hand Betting 65 Pi-li-li-ma Hand-betting
Gambling: Stick-drawing 88 Hu-ki-la-au Stick-drawing
Gambling: Stone Dice 84 Lu-lu Stone dice game
GoBang 85 Ko-na-ne GoBang
Guessing: Lottery 90 Ko-ho-ko-ho-pu-aa Pig-guessing
Guessing: Stones 81 Pu-he-ne-he-ne Stone guessing game
Guessing Shell Game 82 Ko-ho-ko-ho-pu-ni-u Cocoanut shell guessing
Hiding 69 Ho-lo-pee-a-na-lo Hiding game
Hiding: Go Seek 66 Pee-pee-a-ku-a Ghost-hiding; Hide-and-seek
Hiding: Stones 83 Hu-na po-ha-ku Stone-hiding
Jackstraws 89 Pau-nau-we Jackstraws
Juggling 58 Ki-o-la-o-la Juggling
Jumping: Hop-scotch 63 Ki-no-a Hop-scotch
Jumping: One-foot 17 Le-le-wa-wae-ka-hi One-foot jumping
Jumping: Precipice 24 Le-le-ka-wa Precipice-jumping
Jumping:Rope 1 Ko-wa-li Jumping rope
Jumping: Stick 18 Le-le-le-la-au Stick-jumping
Kicking: Ball 56 Pe-ku-ki-ni-po-po Ball-kicking
Moving Hands 32 Hu-i-la-ma-ka-ni Opposing circles
Playing Ball 55 Ki-ni-ho-lo Ball
Playing Cards 91 Pe-pa-ha-kau Cards
Playing with Dolls 38 Kii-pe-pe Dolls
Playing Jacks 59 Ki-mo-ki-mo Jackstones
Playing with Paper 39 Pe-pa-pa-a-ni Paper play
Prisoner's base 71 Pa-a-ni a-lu a-lu Prisoner's base
Prisoner Tag 68 Pla-pi-o Prisoner's play
Playing: Stick-riding 4 Ho-lo-li-o Horse-riding
Pointing - Eye 29 Ku-hi-ku-hi-ma-ka Eye pointing
Pointing - Wood 30 Ku-hi-la-au Wood-pointing
Pulling Finger 12 Hu-ki-hu-ki-a-i Neck - pulling
Pulling Neck 13 Hu-ki-hu-ki-li-ma Finger pulling
Pulling Rope:
Tug of War
11 Hu-ki-hu-ki-kau-la Rope pulling
Puzzle - wood 48 Pu-la-au Wood-puzzle
Racing: Burdened 15 Hei-hei-haa-we Burden-racing
Racing: Canoe 21 Hei-hei-waa Canoe-racing
Racing: Foot 14 Hei-hei-ku-ki-ni Foot-racing
Racing: Sack 16 Hei-hei-e-ke Sack-racing
Racing: Surf 23 Hei-hei-na-lu Surf-racing
Racing: Swimming 20 Hei-hai-au Swimming race
Racing: Tub 22 Hei-hei-ka-pu Tub-racing
Racing: Wheelbarrow 19 Hei-hei-hu-i-la-ba Wheelbarrow racing
Rubbing 31 O-lo-lo Rubbing
Sailing: Leaf Canoes 37 Au-waa-lau-ki Leaf-canoes
See-saw 3 Ma-hi-ki See-saw
Shooting Arrows 72 Pa-na-i-o-le Mice-shooting
Shooting Beans 57 Pa-na-pa-na-lu-a Pit-shooting
Shooting Marbles 61 Pa-na-pa-na-hu-a Seed shooting
Shooting Squirt-gun 45 Ha-no Squirt-gun
Sliding: Sledge 26 Hee-ho-lu-a Sledge-sliding
Spinning Humming Tops 43 Hu-o-e-o-e Humming tops
Spinning Small Gourd 79 Ki-lu Gourd Top gane
Spinning Wooden Tops 44 Hu-oko-a Wooden tops
Standing on Head 5 Ku-al-a-poo Head-standing
Staring 33 O-le-ha Fix the eyes
Stilt Walking 27 Ku-ku-lu-a-e-o Stilts
String Figures 47 Hei Cat's-cradle
Swinging 2 Le-le-ko-a-li Swinging
Tag - Blind-Man's-Buff 70 Po-ai-pu-ni Blind-Man's-Buff
Throwing - Arrows 74 Ke-a-pu-a Arrow-throwing
Throwing Darts 75 Pa-hee Darts
Throwing a Firebrand 25 O-i-li-pu-le-lo Firebrand throwing
Throwing Hatchets 77 Ka-hu-a-ko-i Hatchet throwing
Throwing Sticks 76 Mo-a Stick throwing
Throwing Weapons 73 Mo-ko-mo-ko Throwing Weapons
Tossing Awl-stick 53 Ku-he-le-mai Awl stick game
Twirling Bullroarer 41 O-e-o-e Bullroarer
Twirling Windwheel 42 Hu-i-la-ma-ka-ni Windwheel
Twirling Wood 40 Po-ka-kaa Buzz
Tying Rope 50 Pu-kau-la Rope trick
Wrestling 8 Ku-la-ku-lai Wrestling
Wrestling in the sea 10 U-lu-mi i-lo-ko o-ke Wrestling in the sea
Wrist Wrestling 9 U-ma Wrist Wrestling

Last update February 2, 2010