HAWAIIAN LEGENDS: Kaena Point, Waimea Valley, and Two Heiau's

By: Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, Century 21 Liberty Homes, Mililani, HI 96789

There seems to be a story for every piece of land in Hawaii so let's start with Kaena Point (picture left taken from Sharks Cove) on the island of Oahu. Travel to Kaena Point from the North Shore and past Mokuleia; but alas! There is no thorough fare from this point to the other side except for a small pathway which can only be crossed by foot. (Unless you want to take a chance and fall of the cliff -this pathway is the only way around) The other side goes as far as (look at these pictures!) Yokohama Bay on the Waianae (north west side of Oahu). A huge boulder is nearby and is called the "Rock of Kauai" (Kauai is one of our other islands and also known as "The Garden Isle")

A baby boy born on Kauai on a stormy night and this boy was filled with strength as a rainbow appeared above the home where he was born. He was named Haupu and his home faced Oahu. One night while sleeping he woke in a daze with a dream filled mind of warriors paddling from Oahu to wage war on Kauai. Haupu ran to the side of a cliff, picked up a HUGE boulder and with his mighty strength heaved the boulder in the channel towards Oahu between the two islands.

Now, "Kaena" was an Oahu chief and on this very night he organized a fishing expedition. A very large crowd of men showed up with their best fishing nets and set them strategically in the center of certain spots so all they had to do was yell and the fish would swarm right into the nets. When they started yelling they never saw the boulder coming as it descended on the party. Canoes were smashed and Chief Kaena lost his life along with many of his men. The boulder hit with such force that when it hit it shoved a huge amount of sand towards the shore to create this point of land and the boulder so large that it stuck up above the water.

So the story goes that the Point of Kaena was named after their fallen Chief Kaena and the boulder named the Rock of Kauai. Me? I'll stick to the roads. I have been to the end of both sides but I think I'll just stick to what's safe.

Waimea Valley, Kupopolo and Puu o Mahuka Heiau's

Waimea "The Valley of the Priests" is appropriately named and gained it's title around the year 1090 when Kamapuaa (Ruler of Oahu and raised to Demigod status as the pig deity) awarded the land to high priest Lono a wohi. From that time until Western contact and the overturn of the Hawaiian religion the land belonged to the high priests of the Paao line.

The high priest erected in and around the valley two large heiau's (pronounced: hay ee ow's...or in English: Temples)

Heiau Kupopolo was built during the reign of Kahahana and in one legend he asks his priest (Kaopulupulu) to ask the gods if they approve of him and whether the island of Kauai would surrender if he invaded their shores. It was built on the beach of Waimea Bay but when High Priest Kaopulupulu used it he received no answer from Kauai. (they believed that thoughts are little gods and travel in space and fly freely as soaring birds)

Kahahana then had Puu O Mahuka Heiau built high in the mountains overlooking Waimea Bay (famous legendary big wave surfing spot on the North Shore) all the way to Kaeana Point on the North Shore. This is the largest heiau on my island of Oahu covering over 5 acres of land.

It is said that this was a powerful place for the Kahuna (priest, expert, teacher, and/or adviser) and one of the two places the wives of the ancient chiefs gave birth. It is also said that it was a place for human sacrifice and the heiau shows great workmanship especially around all the paths. Puu O Mahuka Heiau is a national landmark and a registered state historical site.

When Priest Kaopulupulu sent out thought waves to the Chief Kekaulike of Kaui the answer returned quickly. Kauai wanted peace.

Just so you can kind of get a view of Oahu's North Shore.....

Skydiving on the North Shore at Dillingham Field, Mokuleia, Oahu, Hawaii (you can see Kaena Point!)