Another Hawaii Relocation tidbit of information that may come in handy if you're relocating to Hawaii and may be sightseeing along the Northwest Shore of Oahu.
Located right past Keeau Beach Park on the Waianae Coast of Oahu is Makua Cave. Long before it was "nicknamed" Makua Cave it was known as Kaneana(Ka knee ah na) or better known as the Cave of the Kane(Ka knee or man; male)
At 150,000 years old and once was underwater...carved by the sea.
Sanding 100 feet high and 450 feet deep we really didn't feel it necessary to walk into the depths of the darkness that enfolded us immediately after passing the mouth of the cave.
Okay. It was just plain spooky. I heard noises and thought it was bats but it was really little birds who made their nest in the little crevices. Then I smelled something dead. Okay. That was it..time to go!
To continue on with the "legend". For one: In ancient times it was forbidden to enter the Kaneana Cave because this was the home of the shark man of Kaneana.
Okay, so now what? I just read the plaque of the picture I took and am I safe now? I didn't go all the way in. Does that mean I should not have stepped foot in it at all? Oh, geez.
Anyway, as the legend tells it it is a story of a period in ancient times about a "shark-man" that made his home in this cave under the ocean. Kaneana. He would disguise
himself as a man to bait humans into coming into the cave. And for what you ask? Duh. Dinner time!
The alternative story is it was a "shark-woman" Goddess who lured the human into the cave with her charm. And then ate them for .....lunch. (okay I made that part up)
There are smaller tunnels inside the cave that you can venture into but when the cold air from the depths and soul of this cave hit me I thought better of it. Right. If you read correctly earlier, I was afraid before I even got to the mouth of the cave. Remember now, these ancient Hawaiian legends and stuff are not to be messed with. I learned this early on in my life. :)
Gary took this picture with his camera and I tell you what ... I was really
spooked. Maybe it was just my imagination running wild.... Can you guys see anything or is it just me? 
In any event, it's been years since I went near the cave and it was Gary's first time there. It proved to be an interesting spectacle to look at and just to show you the size of this massive cave here's a picture of the mouth of the cave taken from the inside out. Uh....that's little ant thing is me and beyond is the ocean and faintly you can see the end of the line on this side of the island: Kaena Point.
To get to the Northwest Coast of Oahu follow the H-1 freeway that turns into Farrington Highway. Keep following this highway all the way down the coastline from Nanakuli to Maili, Waianae, Makaha and to Makua Cave and Yokohama Beach.
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Sally thanks for sharing this! I love folklore stuff like this! A very interesting read!
This probably has nothing to do with anything, but somehow I am reminded of that Brady Bunch (Yes, I
watchedwatch The Brady Bunch) episode when they visited Hawaii and there was some curse with a certain necklace that Bobby picked up.Thanks Jim! Some of these places (dark) get spooky for me :)
Wow that is a tale for Halloween. Spooky stuff. Thanks for sharing that piece of history.
Jason: You, Neal and Jeff B. sure have a thing with the Brady Bunch. Just wait...you all are going to come and I'm going to take you around these places...you won't be cracking jokes anymore.
Cindy: If I had gone around that side of the island around that time I surely would have! Maybe I'll repost this next Halloween lol!
Sally...I remember that cave well. It scared me but Jay went right in. I'm afraid of bats. Love your pictures Sally!
Sally, you went in there???? Wow - I'm impressed - too spooky for me!
Great story! You are brave indeed...a true reporter who will risk anything to get the story!
Sally,
I prefer the alternative 'shark woman' version...sounds more true to life!!! :^) Thanks, Fran
Sally -The pictures are probably worth the scary factor. Now many people who were afraid to go in, can at least look at the beautiful pictures.
Caves with a woman who eats men for lunch...ok. I have worked with a few that should be in that cave! SOme of these women were REAL estate women!
Sally Jo, I remember Greg Brady in the surfing contest- he was wearing the idol, and almost died. I made the died part up. Your Localisms are ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Do you do Localism for hire if I send you pics? :) It's really hard to engage readers, and your stuff does it.
Monika: You are tooo funny...thanks for coming by here too haha!
Lisa: didn't go all the way in....just enough to get spooked and walked real fast out..lol! Okay...more of a trot ha!
Diane: ahhaahah....not that brave <<eeeek>>> at the thought it may have been bats I heard lol!
Fran: I thought the guys would like that haha!
Faina: Well, at least a few of them :) When I saw how dark it was way in there I couldn't go further. No flashlight. I better put one in my car....don't drive at night so never thought to haha!
Gary: You are wayyyyy funny today Gary...but okay. Let's compare haha.
Laurie: Funnnnnnyyyyy. (what a copy cat lol!) Ewww....then it wouldn't be in YOUR words haha.
Sally....beautiful photos of the cave and surrounding region....spooky story. I don't think I would want to go into it, well maybe, if someone was with me, but still.
Amazing how nature can form such caves...
I always wondered what the story was that started the legend...perhaps there was a glint of truth to it.
Jo
Jo: Hey...I had Gary with me...nope..not going way in there. It smelled.... ancient. Hard to describe. Not like other ones I've seen ... it really smelled.....old. Who knows what truth lies in a legend...superstition and such. Whatever the case...I respect it.
Sally, I think I'll take a pass on the cave visit. Watch out for the boogie man.
Sally--You got me with the smell....I would have been out of there too! People love to check out caves though.
I'm in constant awe of your beautiful area and your trademark posts!
Sally I have only been inside one cave in my life and that was last year when my wife and I went to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown NY. We stayed about a half hour away and the town next to where we stayed had a cave "Howe Cavern". It was amazing, and I hope to have the chance to see others in the future. But then again I did not have to worry about a "Shark-man" or bats ......... LOL
My curiosity would get the best of me. I would HAVE to explore! But then I'm not even remotely superstitious. I do get spooked sometimes, but not from superstitions. If I get spooked, it's pretty much a given that something is wrong!
Thanks for sharing the photos though. They're so cool! I'm a cave fan =)
Sally, that place looks like a lot of fun! I've spent lots of time in caves. Kentucky has Mammoth Cave and there are many smaller caves on farms around here. As kids we would go hang out and explore them with just flashlights! I haven't been in one for many years now. Makua Cave is very beautiful!
Sally - I love your posts about the island. I will probably never get there. I have this thing about flying 14 hours and waking up in the USA. At any rate, you paint such wonder pictures and tell the most interesting tidbits. I feel like I have been there and paid $10 for those tire tread flip flops they sell near the beach.
Dan: Well, I'm not going to admit I'm afraid of the boogie man.....it's the smell and the sounds :)
Teri: Yup ......those smells, sounds, and dark. LOL
Margaret: Thanks Margaret! It sure is an excursion no matter where we go here!
George: Yeah, how come our stuff over here is way 'different'. lol!
Hi Sally - I'm with you about Hawaiian legends not being things to mess with! When Bear and I were there last, we had a couple of eerie things happen to us, and we're firm believers in staying out of places where we don't belong. I would have been too spooked out to have gone into that cave. My imagination can work overtime at times, too.
Ann
Lisa: I bet you'd have fun then :)
Lizette: I bet it'd be fun for you too. :)
John: You're so funny. Tire tread slippers at the beach? I've been here since 67 and haven't seen that. hmmm.
Ann: Not many understand that this place is ANCIENT and there are so many "things". Well, it's one thing to think they're all superstitions...it's another with history :) You know, I know and maybe they'll find out. I know how many tourists took back rocks....only to mail them back!
Sally- I don't like caves or being buried alive. I realize that it might not cave in, but caves are spooky. This would have been a great Halloween post. Stay safe, and away from the sharkman....err Lady.
Mark: Me either! Shucks...didn't even think about the caving in at the time...but hey Mark...it's been around for 150,000 years...and from what my husband tells me (he's from PA) it's not the same as coal mines and those "cave ins" ..... :)
Sally, what amazing photos! Wow! And I like the goddess version of the myth! You're never too old to be a goddess.
Patricia: Thanks. My husband is into running around and taking pictures for MY blog hahaha! We do this every couple of months...this time it was HIS idea. Turned out to be a wonderful day!
Sally- These out of the way posts are so original and about things visitors and relocating people and even locals want to know about. I just love these posts. They teach so much and expand our horizons! Thank you for a wonderful backround about the cave. Katerina
Katerina: Interesting stuff huh? This is seemingly a small island but soooo much history and info.
This was a very interesting post to read here, I very much enjoyed it, I love Hawaii, it is so cool and so much different than the mainland, everyone should buy a second home in Hawaii from you. Lance
We don't have those type of historical things in Weston FL..too new...I haven't fond much of that here...in NY we had lots of places to go to see this type of sites but here I haven't experienced too much other than beaches and coastal shots.
Sally, This place is truly amazing and I love the "folklore" but still would have honored it and NOT gone in there! I'm brave....to a point :) If it gave you the creeps I'm sure it's better that you stayed out. I don't see what you were referring to in the picture that Gary took, did I miss something?
Sally,
Legends are fun and a great part of an area's history. Something I've been meaning to ask you about is the "stone graffiti". I am not sure if that is a term my Mom came up with or it's what it is really called but she told me about messages written with stones along the highways in many areas.
Lance: Well, I don't think the consumer can tell if I am their agent of choice by this post but they sure will know that I know most of the island of Oahu....I've been here since 67 ...age 10,
Neal: And that's why you'll come here and visit me one day :)
Carole: The third picture (cave shot) ...do you see faces and stuff ? Well, anyway...that's what I was thinking. yuk.
Cynthia: Like any other ancient "writing" the Hawaiian petroglyphs or ancient rock carvings are found in many places around the Hawaiian islands but many found in Waikoloa on the Big Island. I had written about Ancient Burial Sites and Heiau's (temples) and when they were building they found a burial site and had to set aside that area. The writing on the rocks seems like something I can write about too :)
Sally- Are you still trying to "see" certain things in that Cave LOL......If you were afraid of the cave because of the legend, then I would say your mind was working overtime......:)
I think it's great that you share so much of the Islands with us....and people relocating have a much better idea of what the Islands are all about.....Thanks.....
Kathy: You better cut it out! :) Yeah...you said that the other night when I emailed you the picture haha!
Sally~ it's funny how stories or legends that we heard as a kid stick with us as adults. I certainly wouldn't go wandering too deep into these caves!
Lisa; Hey....I'm way adult size and still don't go trapsing around :)
Sally..... I also love this kind of stuff and legends. And I know all about caves and such, because I use to live in Louisville, Ky. One thing that I never did was spelunking which is considered the art of caving. Crawling around in tight areas, using rope, etc, etc. And the smell part was funny. Thanks for not describing it... lol In any case, this was very interesting.
Hey Jeff....Well, I don't ever believe I wanted to do the cave stuff....nope...saw enough movies....lol!
Hey Sally. Just wanted to let you know. Yesterday, I posted a blog about the Things to Do/Places to Visit group and I gave you a mention and a link back to this post =)
Sally, since you made it back out of the cave, you don't have to worry any more about the curse of the shark man! :o)