The graphic illustrating this activity was not part of the
original document. The source page number appears in brackets
before the text of that page. 14. Hei-hei-ku-ki-ni - Foot Racing
[Page 210] A dozen or more men will race for a prize, a favorite
holiday amusement, the stake being a pig, cocoanuts, or bread-
fruit. The course is usually one-half to three-quarters of a
mile. The starting point is called pa-hu-ku, and the goal pa-hu-
ho-pu. The runners, ku-ki-ni, are entirely naked except for a
breechclout. Ku-ki-ni means "runner." The ku-ki-ni was formerly
a government officer, whose duty it was to [Page 211] carry
orders to different parts of the island, and such were held in
estimation according to their fleetness1. In his journal of
Cook's voyage to the Pacific ocean2, Captain King, speaking of
the Hawaiians, says: "They frequently amuse themselves with
racing matches between the boys and girls; and here again they
wager with great spirit." Ellis3 describes the foot-race of
Tahiti under the name of faatit