Articles tagged with: History And Legends
Looking Toward the Mountain Mauna Kea, kuahiwi ku ha’o i ka malie
Posted: Aug 8, 2010
Amidst several years of controversy and contention, the summit of Mauna Kea has indeed stood alone in the calm. Now as a community we must stand together and begin the difficult task of developing a harmonious and balanced stewardship of our use of Mauna Kea. To do that successfully, all of us are...Continue Reading »
Search and Destroy
Posted: Aug 8, 2010
The 1935 eruption of Mauna Loa is one of my favorite lava flows. If you have driven across the Saddle Road, you have seen it. It is the smooth, shiny black pahoehoe that surrounds Puu Huluhulu at the Mauna Kea Summit Road junction. Pooled in the flats of the Humuulu saddle it is at once flat and...Continue Reading »
The Gentleman Farmer
Posted: Aug 8, 2010
Don Francisco de Paula Marin. This is only known image of Marin and is taken from an engraving showing Hawaiian chiefs meeting with European sea captains. Don Francisco de Paula Marin was a productive man. He arrived in Hawaii two hundred years ago after deserting a Spanish naval ship in the...Continue Reading »
Rock and Trees
Posted: Aug 8, 2010
Joseph F. Rock I am a book nut. Sometimes I think my fascination with nature is just a highly rationalized excuse to buy books. Anything new that hits the shelves, I get it. Plus, I’m constantly on the search for the out-of-print titles that have anything to do with Hawaiiana. The ones that...Continue Reading »
The View from Poliahu
Posted: Aug 8, 2010
Summit of Mauna Kea Photo by Kirk Aeder The summit of Mauna Kea is a sacred place. Sacred in its stark surreal beauty of cinders, rock, colors, and technology that captures the light of sun and stars. Sacred in its geologic manifestations of fire and ice that portray an ancient conflict. Sacred in...Continue Reading »
A Super Atlas
Posted: Aug 8, 2010
I get excited about books. When I find something on the shelf I've wanted or never seen before, my heart gets pumping and I usually buy it without a thought to finance. The other day I plucked down $79.00 for the recently published third edition of the Atlas of Hawaii. First thing about the book...Continue Reading »
A Walk a Weekend
Posted: Aug 8, 2010
In 1993 nearly five hundred hikers hit the trail and walked the entire length of the Ala Kahakai in one day. This “trail by the sea” runs two hundred miles from Upolu Point in Kohala to the Hilo side of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The event that brought these hikers together was National...Continue Reading »
Moon
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Although most people have gazed up at the moon at some point in their lives, many have never had the experience of seeing it through a powerful telescope. This enhanced view brings to life the craters and ancient “oceans” of the lunar landscape. Being the only celestial body other than earth...Continue Reading »
Planets
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Thought to be “traveling gods” by the Hawaiians, some of the planets in our solar system are visible to the naked eye. Moving independently through the night skies, the planets of our solar system pass overhead within the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Different planets are visible...Continue Reading »
Four Star Lines of Hawaii
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Hawaiians use many stars and constellations to organize the night skies, and often these constellations were used in unison with early seafaring navigation. Four of the main star lines used are known as Ke Ka O Makalii-the bailer of Makalii, which included the Pleiades, Ka Iwikuamoo-“the...Continue Reading »
Arcturus and Sirius
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Two other important stars to the early Hawaiians were Arcturus and Sirius. Arcturus, known in Hawaiian as Hokulea, or the “Star of Joy/Happiness” passed over the islands of Hawaii at its zenith. Likewise, Sirius, known as Aa in Hawaiian, passes over Tahiti at its zenith. These stars are used...Continue Reading »
Meteors
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Better known as shooting stars, meteors are actually not stars at all, but rather pieces of metallic and/or stony debris entering Earth’s atmosphere and “burning up.” What we see as the “tail” is actually a trail of gas left from the burning object entering our atmosphere. Although hard...Continue Reading »
Bailer of Makalii
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
One of the stories associated with the Pleiades is that of the malicious chief Makalii, who was said to have lived on the Kona side of the Big Island. Legend says Makalii gathered all the food and crops in a large rope net and flung it into the night sky where it became stuck. As people began to...Continue Reading »
Mahina
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
In Hawaiian the moon is called Mahina, who was said to be the mother of Maui. Mahina was believed to live in a cave behind Rainbow Falls, on the Big Island. It is said that Mahina wanted some peace and quiet, so she climbed a rainbow into the heavens and took up residence on the moon, which now...Continue Reading »
Kekaomakalii
Posted: Dec 12, 2010
One of the stories associated with the Pleiades is that of the malicious chief Makalii, who was said to have lived on the Kona side of the Big Island. Legend says Makalii gathered all the food and crops in a large rope net and flung it into the night sky where it became stuck. As people began to...Continue Reading »
Kalupeakawelo
Posted: Dec 12, 2010
Story tells of a young boy named Kawelo, who’s grandparents took a liking to him and believed he would become a strong man. As a child, Kawelo one day saw one of his peers, Kauahoa, flying a kite and wanted one of his own. His grandparents granted this to him, and he then spent days flying his...Continue Reading »
Manaiakalani (Maui’s Fish hook)
Posted: Dec 12, 2010
Maui is a prevalent god found throughout most of Polynesia. Although each location has its own set of stories relating to Maui, there are many similarities connecting them all. One of those is the sacred fish hook of Maui, which he is said to have used to perform many feats throughout Polynesia....Continue Reading »
Ohia Lehua
Posted: Dec 12, 2010
It is said that once there lived two lovers, named Ohia and Lehua. These two had eyes only for each other and would have no one else. One day while walking through the forest, Ohia happened to come upon Madame Pele. Upon seeing Ohia, Pele became smitten by his handsome good looks, and...Continue Reading »
Pele and Kamapuaa
Posted: Dec 12, 2010
Although Pele, the goddess of fire, is probably one of the best known goddesses in Hawaii, she is not the only one. Another prominent god in Hawaiian theology is Kamapuaa, the god of the rainforest. Kamapuaa is often referred to as the “hog god” and is believed to have been born part pig. Even...Continue Reading »
Ehupuaa
Posted: Dec 12, 2010
Often times while driving around the Big Island of Hawaii, one can see a variety of ferns, one of the most prominent being the Amau fern. Sometimes, however, you may notice a brilliant red Amau fern frond, standing out in the sea of lush green. These red fronds are called Ehupuaa, meaning...Continue Reading »
