[Found under: “NA MEA HOU O PUEPAKU, HILO.” by J. Kanaeholo]
Fishing women.—The girls of this area [Pueopaku, Hilo], go fishing often for oopu with small arched nets at the river in the daytime, and at night they go down to pick the famous wi of Hilo. They head down to Papaikou Plantation to sell them, and they come into the cry of the turkey [palahu].¹
¹Whereas the cry of the nene, “unele, unele,” is associated with lacking, the cry of the turkey, “pokeokeo,” is associated with riches.
(Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, 10/26/1878, p. 1)
The play on “unele” and “pokeokeo” is important in mele, and on a related note, the name “nēnē” can also imply whining or whimpering about something.