Liliuokalani Park Bridge

Photo Credit: Warren Costa

The Legend of Hina and Mo'o Kuna. Part 2.

Aloha friends, last time in our story, the evil dragon, Mo'o Kuna, was up to his wicked ways. He threw a boulder into the Wailuku river, stopping the flow of water, and causing the waters to rise, and threaten the life of the goddess Hina, whom was fast asleep in her cozy cave behind the waters of the Rainbow Falls. We continue now with the Legend of Hina and Mo'o Kuna...

Through the darkness, Maui could see the warning cloud. With his Mother's cries ringing in his ears, he dashed to the seashore. He got into his canoe and with two sweeps of his magic paddle, he landed at the mouth of the Wailuku River. Today, we may see a long, narrow rock at the foot of the rapids, below the Mauka Bridge, where he grounded his canoe. This spot is called, "Ka Waa o Maui".

Seizing his magic club, he rushed to the scene of danger. He was greatly startled when he saw what had happened. The mouth of the Wailuku River was dry. Far ahead, the water was rising furiously. The could hear the shrill voices, calling for help. Maui wasted no time. He knew that his Mother was in great distress. With one long stride he approached the boulder. Heated with anger, he struck the rock. It broke in two with a thundering roar. The water rushed out. Hina and her friends were saved.

When Mo'o Kuna heard the crash made by Maui's club, he realized that his attempt upon the life of Hina had again failed. So, he fled to one of his hiding places up the river. He knew how great had been his folly and he trembled at the thought of capture by the demi - god, Maui.

After Maui had greeted his mother and left her safely in a new cave, he began his hunt for Mo'o Kuna, the dragon. He vowed that he would never rest until he had killed him. Since Maui was a demi - god, he sensed the dragon's whereabouts. So, putting his strength together again, he started his search.

Mo'o Kuna did not wait long in his lair, before he heard Maui's thundering command to come out. The earth shook with the heavy steps of Maui approaching. The nearby plants withered as he passed. Maui found the ugly monsters cave. He gave a deafening yell, poised his magic spear, and with one sweep of his mighty arm, hurled it into the depths of Mo'o Kuna's hiding place. The dragon was sly. He slipped out in time to save himself.

Even today, you can see the long hole, "Puka o Maui", which the demi - god's spear made through the lava. The present water intake of the city of Hilo is at this spot.

Next time; the fate of Mo'o Kuna!

Photo and drawing: Warren Costa. Maui drawing by Sierra Washburn.

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

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

Mauna Kea from Mauna Loa's upper Northeast Rift Zone

A view of Mauna Kea from Mauna Loa's upper Northeast Rift Zone. The haze in the saddle area, between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea are caused by emissions from Kilauea Volcano. These emissions, known as Vog, are the result of volcanic gasses, primarily sulpher dioxide, mixing with moisture and dust in the atmosphere. Notice that the summits of both mountains are clear of haze, this is due to an inversion layer with an average height of about 6,000 feet, (2,000m). The result is a dry and stable atmosphere above the inversion layer. Photo: USGS

'Ua'u Kani (Puffinus pacificus) Wedge Tailed Shearwater

On a recent trip to the Island of O'ahu, we made a visit to Kaena Point to do some birding. It was a gorgeous day, and we were fortunate enough to see a variety of native Hawaiian birds, including this Wedge Tailed Shearwater resting near its nest. The Wedge Tailed Shearwater nests on the ground in compact, little burrows, dug into the sand. Be careful if you visit the area; some of the nests are on the trail, and you could step on them, if you are not careful!

Kaena Point, the westernmost point on the Island of O'ahu, was designated a Natural Area Reserve in 1983 to protect  valuable and fragile natural and cultural resources. Photo: Warren Costa

Nene: Hawaii's endangered state bird.

The Nene or Hawaiian Goose, (Branta sandvicensis), is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. At the time of Captain James Cook's arrival in 1778, it was estimated that there were about 2,500 birds in Hawaii. By the mid 1940's, the Nene population on the island of Hawaii was drastically reduced to only 50 individual birds. This reduction in the population was largely due to over hunting, the introduction of predators, such as the mongoose, cats, and dogs, loss of habitat due to agricultural activities, and disturbance by foraging animals, such as the feral pig, sheep, cattle, and goats.

Today, the Nene is a federally listed endangered species, with about 400 individuals on the island of Hawaii, 125 birds on the island of Maui, and a small population on the island of Kauai. Photo: Warren Costa

Pua Kala

Pua Kala, (Argemone glauca),  is an endemic Hawaiian poppy. While most endemic Hawaiian plants are notably devoid of thorns and poisons, Pua Kala is covered with sharp, thorny prickles on its leaves, stems, and seed pods, and the sap contains poisonous alkaloids. The poisonous sap of the Pua Kala was used in Hawaiian medicine to treat toothaches, ulcers, and other ailments. You can see Pua Kala on my Volcano Adventure, and my Hilo Birdwatching Adventure! Photo: Warren Costa

Moss Sporophyte

The fruiting body of mosses, or sporophytes, are spore - filled stalks that bend and release spores when mature. The spores then grow into new plants. Photo: Warren Costa

Beyond the Rim: Hiking Volcanoes National Park with a guide.

A few months ago, I had the privilege of taking Kim Steutermann Rogers on a tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Kim is a writer for http://www.outriggerhawaii.com/ . Here is the article that she wrote; Beyond the Rim: Hiking Volcanoes National Park with a guide. Thank you Kim for a great article!

Lava visible within Halemaumau's collapse pit!

Spectacular eruptive activity has been occuring within the collapse pit in Halemaumau crater at Kilauea's summit. In this photo taken by the Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory, a lava stream is clearly visible within the pit. Also visible, are the walls of the pit, which are usually obscured by fumes. This is a great time to visit Kilauea volcano! Make the most of your visit with a tour by Native Guide Hawaii, or send me an email for more information.

Photo taken at Wailea, an old plantation town on the Big Island of Hawaii. I think they stopped giving out the Gold Bond Stamps though! Photo: Warren Costa

Kilauea Dream