In another version of the moʻolelo, Hāʻupu could swim away if threatened. But in those days, Hāʻupu was a huge hill that could be carried and lifted up to the clouds by two magical turtles. When his mother, Hina, was kidnapped by chief Kapepeʻekauila from Hāʻupu, Molokaʻi, Kana tried repeatedly to rescue her. The poetic name for Kahoʻolawe, Kohemālamalama-a-Kanaloa, adds meaning in this context.Īnother story relates to Kana, a shapeshifter. This piko pointing to the far-off lands of Kahiki became the ridges of Molokini, and the ʻīewe became the crater. After the birth, Uluhina, who presided over the delivery, placed the ʻīewe (placenta) and piko (umbilical cord) into his malo. In the Kahakuokamoana version of the genealogy of the islands, also recorded by Fornander, Kahoʻolawe was born from the union of Keaukanai of Hawaiʻi and Walinuʻu of Hōlani. There are also other lesser-known but deeply poetic moʻolelo about the creation of Molokini. In response, Pele transformed Līhau and Puʻulaina into the hills behind Lahainaluna. Līhau begged Pele to restore her daughter-in-law and not to injure her son. But Pele desired Puʻulaina for herself and when Molokini refused to give him up, Pele changed Molokini into an islet. When Puʻulaina had grown into a handsome young man, his mother, Līhau, gave him as a husband to Molokini, a younger sister of Pele and a great beauty. Seeing the tragedy, Pele’s older brother, Kamohoaliʻi, rebuked her and issued the kānāwai inaina (a decree) encouraging kindness to all.Īnother Pele moʻolelo tells of Puʻulaina, the son of ʻEʻeke and Līhau. According to Hawaiian Antiquities and Folk-Lore by Abraham Fornander, her tail became the hill Puʻuōlaʻi at Makena, while her head became Molokini. When Pele heard about this she lashed out in a jealous rage, cutting Puʻuoinaina in half. But Puʻuoinaina grew bored and left Kohemālamalama to visit her parents on Maui where she met Lohiʻau and took him to be her kane. She took as her kāne Kaʻakakai and Kaʻanahua, the sons of Hua, a poweful kahuna. They had a beautiful daughter, Puʻuoinaina, who lived on the sacred island of Kohemālamalama (now Kahoʻolawe). Two moʻo, Puʻuhele and Puʻuokali, dwelled at Māʻalaea, Maui. The most well-known involves a family of shapeshifting moʻo. There are a few stories about the creation of Molokini that involve Pele. But many Kānaka Maoli may not be familiar with Molokini as a wahi pana (storied place) and its connection to us today. It is a world-famous site for snorkeling, scuba diving, and bird watching. In recent years, the islet of Molokini has become an internet sensation with its picturesque crescent shape surrounded by inviting cobalt blue waters. The islet of Molokini is 2.5 miles off Maui’s southern shore.
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