Datapoint Pidgin Hawaiian/Ability verb and epistemic possibility

Hiki + verb is used for ability in Pidgin Hawaiian (often in a preverbal position as a modal marker, whereas in Hawaiian this verb embeds a full clause), whereas paha + verb (usually a postverbal modal as in Hawaiian but sometimes preverbal like hiki) expresses epistemic possibility in Pidgin Hawaiian.

Values

Ability verb cannot express epistemic possibility

Example 71-73:
Makawela hanapaa kela puu, wau aole hiki hele mawaho, wau kahea holina.
Makawela
Makawela
hanapaa
hold
kela
det
puu,
throat
wau
1sg
aole
neg
hiki
abil
hele
go
mawaho,
outside
wau
1sg
kahea
call
holina.
haul.in
Makawela grabbed my throat, I couldn't go outside, I called for help.
Example 71-89:
Oe paha panipani kela wahine au!
Oe
2sg
paha
perhaps
panipani
have.sex
kela
det
wahine
wife
au!
1sg.poss
Maybe you slept with my wife!
Example 71-90:
Iaia lawe paha aole paha, aole wau ike.
Iaia
3sg
lawe
take
paha
perhaps
aole
neg
paha,
perhaps
aole
neg
wau
1sg
ike.
know
Maybe he took it, maybe not, I don't know.
Confidence:
Certain