[Northern California, Oregon, and the Sandwich Islands by Charles Nordhoff]@TWC D-Link book
Northern California, Oregon, and the Sandwich Islands

CHAPTER XIII
35/114

Nevertheless, history furnishes us several examples of kings who were not noble on the maternal side.[5] THE CLERGY.

NA KAHUNA.
The priests formed three orders: 1.

The _Kahuna_ proper.2.The _Kaula_, or prophets.3.The _Kilo_, diviners or magicians.
The priesthood, properly so called (_Kahuna maoli, Kahuna pule_), was hereditary.

The priests received their titles from their fathers, and transmitted them to their offspring, male and female, for the Hawaiians had priestesses as well.

The priest was the peer of the nobility; he had a portion of land in all the estates of the chiefs, and sometimes acquired such power as to be formidable to the alii.


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