Children were very independent, and although their parents respected them so much as seldom to dare lay hands on them, they were quite ready to part with them to oblige a friend who evinced a desire for them.

Often an infant was promised before birth.
This singular custom still exists, but is much less frequent.
They had little regard for old men who had become useless, and even killed them to get them out of the way.

It was allowable to suffocate infants to avoid the trouble of bringing them up.

Women bestowed their affection upon dogs and pigs, and suckled them equally with their children.

Fleas, lice, and grasshoppers were eaten, but flies inspired an unconquerable horror; if one fell into a calabash of poi, the whole was thrown away.[11] The Hawaiians practiced a sort of circumcision, differing from that of the Jews, but having the same sanitary object.