The Project Gutenberg EBook of Legends of Wailuku, by Charlotte Hapai

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Title: Legends of Wailuku

Author: Charlotte Hapai

Illustrator: Will Herwig

Release Date: August 23, 2009 [EBook #29773]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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_LEGENDS
OF THE
WAILUKU_

_SECOND EDITION_

_Copyright 1920-1921 by_
THE CHARLES R. FRAZIER COMPANY
HONOLULU

_Paradise of the Pacific Print_

[Illustration: Drawn by Will Herwig. Paradise Eng.

Hina's Spirit Still Lives in the Mists of Rainbow Falls.]

LEGENDS

OF THE

WAILUKU

_As told by old
Hawaiians and
done into the
English tongue
by Charlotte
Hapai_

_Illustrated
by
Will Herwig_

_To remember our happy
hours of story-telling,
this printed fragment
is in gratitude dedicated
to my grandmother,
Harriet Kamakanoenoe Hapai._

THE WAILUKU.

Fed from the great watershed of Hawaii far up the densely wooded
flanks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea--often snow-capped in winter--the
Wailuku River roars through the very center of Hilo, principal town of
the Island of Hawaii.

There are many vague stories as to why the Wailuku River was so named.
In the Hawaiian tongue Wailuku means literally "destroying water."

In olden times before there were bridges and other safeguards the
river wrought considerable damage to property and during the rainy
season it took its toll of human lives. Legends connected with the
Wailuku tend to confirm the belief that it was named for its violent
habits.

Long ago, so one legend goes, the much dreaded Kuna (dragon) blocked
the gorge below Rainbow Falls with intent to back the waters up and
drown the goddess Hina, who dwelt in the great cave for which the
falls form a curtain. How her son, the demi-god Maui, came to the
rescue, saved his mother, and finally hunted Kuna from his lair up the
river and slew him, is told in the legend, "The Last of