Tsunami Model for Chilean Earthquake.

Tsunami Model For 8.8 Magnitude Chilean Earthquake.

Source: Earthquake Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan

The Legend of Hina and Mo'o Kuna. Part One.

Aloha friends, the stories that follow come from a collection of well known Hawaiian legends and stories, edited by Lorna J. Desha, probably in the early 1940's. The stories were written for fourth and fifth graders of the Central Hawaii District schools to supplement their Social Studies texts. The first story that I shall present is the Legend of Hina and Mo'o Kuna.

A long time ago, There lived far above Rainbow Falls, a powerful dragon. He was called Mo'o Kuna. He had a body of a lizard. He was large, slippery and ugly to look at. He hated men and women who spent their time doing kind deeds. One of these was Maui, the demi-god.

One day, Mo'o Kuna learned that Maui had left his mother, Hina, in her rocky cave behind Rainbow Falls. So he made plans to destroy her and her women. He sent floods carrying logs and boulders down the stream.

Maui's kind hearted mother, Hina, was always watchful. Her cave home was hidden by a misty cloud. This cloud had saved her several times from Mo'o Kuna's threats. This made the dragon very angry. Hina did not mind this, for if any danger should come to her, Maui would know about it. She had a servant cloud called "Ao-Opua" that guarded her abode. If Hina was in trouble, this cloud would rise high above the falls showing different kind of shapes. When Maui saw this warning cloud, he would hurry home to his mother.

One night, while Maui was on the Island of Maui, where he had gone to snare the sun, a great storm arose. The angry waters roared and rushed about the mouth of Hina's cave. They hissed and tossed, but Hina's slumbers were not disturbed by their loud roars.

Mo'o Kuna saw that Hina was not troubled. He then called upon several of his powers to help him lift a huge boutlder and hurl it over the cliffs. It fitted perfectly where it fell, between the walls of the gorge and blocked the rush of the hurrying torrent.

Laughing loudly because of his success, Mo'o Kuna called to Hina. He warned her of her plight, but Hina slept on until the cold waters entered her cave. They rose higher and higher until they reached her sleeping quarters.

Hina sprang to her feet calling for help. Her cries of panic were heard in the distant hills. Soon they grew louder and louder until they reached the Island of Maui, where her son was.

Next time; Maui to the rescue!

Drawing and Photo: Warren Costa

Mai pa'a i ka leo, he 'ole ka hea mai.

Do not withold the voice and not call out a welcome.

From a password chant used in hula schools. It was often used by one who would like a friendly invitation to come into another's home. Photo: Warren Costa

Oia la he koa no kea ano ahiahi; oia nei no ke ano kakahiaka.

He is a warrior of the evening hours; but this person here is of the morning hours.

That person has had his day and is no longer as active as before; but this person is strong, brave, and ready to show his prowess. Photo: Warren Costa

'A'a lava flow in Royal Gardens Subdivision

Lava burns through the forest within the Royal Gardens Subdivision. This is the viscous, 'a'a - type lava. Photo: USGS

Hawaiian Lava Tree

As lava flows out of an eruptive vent and through a forest, lava cools around the tree trunks to form vertical columns of lava within the flow field. As the surface of the lava flow cools, it hardens into a crust. Molten rock beneath this crust, can often drain away rapidly, causing subsidence of the crust. This subsidence exposes the vertically cooled columns of lava creating curiously shaped "lava trees" like the ones pictured above and below. Photo: Warren Costa

You can see lava trees in person on my Volcano Adventure! Photo: Warren Costa

Drip Stalagmite

As a lava tube cools down, gasses within the walls expand and extrude liquid material, (lava), into the cave passage. This material can accumulate on the floor of the lava tube to form drip stalagmites, pictured above, or drip from the ceiling to form long, tubular stalactites. Native Guide Hawaii, offers several tours that feature lava tube exploration. Photo: Warren Costa