Though primarily a courting instrument played privately and for personal enjoyment, it also could be used in conjunction with chants, song, and hula.

[3] Kumu hula Leilehua Yuen is one of the few contemporary Hawaiian musicians to perform with the nose flute in this manner.

Because the kalaleng is long and has a narrow internal diameter, it is possible to play different harmonics through overblowing—even with the rather weak airflow from one nostril.

Finger holes in the side of the bamboo tube change the operating length, giving various scales.

The nose flutes originated in Chuuk but similar ones have been found in Pollap, Polowat, Houk, Satawal and the Nomoi Islands.

Chuukese men used to play traditional love songs called engi on these flutes, but they are now considered obsolete.