Mo‘olelo

Alahula Puʻuloa, he alahele na Kaʻahupāhau

"Everywhere in Pu‘uloa is the trail of Ka‘ahupāhau"

For Kanaka maoli, the manō (sharks) are revered in the same regard as chiefs. There are numerous Akua manō in Hawai‘i, however, for Pu‘uloa, the utmost significance lies in Ka‘ahupāhau. The divine shark known as the akua manō in ‘Ewa. She is attributed with safeguarding the inhabitants of ‘Ewa against predatory sharks that posed a threat. Through poetic expressions, narratives, and melodic compositions, her everlasting presence is eternally enshrined in the annals of this region. One ‘ōlelo no‘eau, in particular, emphasizes the love that was held for Ka‘ahupāhau that goes, "Mehameha wale no o Pu‘uloa, i ka hele a Ka‘ahupāhau" which translates to "Pu‘uloa became lonely when Ka‘ahupāhau went away" (Halau o Pu'uloa, 2019, p.25). 

Multiple narratives exist regarding the origins and protective role of the akua manō, Ka‘ahupāhau, within this region. One account, as presented by Pukui and Curtis, unfolds as follows: Ka‘ahu was a young girl residing alongside a small stream that flowed into Pu‘uloa. Ka‘ahu and her sibling frequently ventured to the harbor to indulge in swimming. Engaged in blissful aquatic activities, they resembled jubilant fish. An observing shark God found delight in witnessing their jumps and movement, pondering their potential to thrive as sharks within Pu‘uloa. Thus, the God enacted a transformation upon them. The years passed, and Ka‘ahu ascended to chiefess while her brother earned reverence from the elder sharks. Despite their altered forms, the children's parents, as well as their siblings and other kin, continued to harbor affection and nourish their shark counterparts (Halau o Pu'uloa, 2019, p.25). 

The narrative further reveals how she and her fellow manō came to be protectors. An ‘ilima lei had been stolen from Ka‘ahupāhau by the chiefess Pāpio and while fuming with anger, she ordered her demise and told a shark in passing to carry it out. The young shark swam off and swiftly returned, announcing Pāpio's death. Initially, she was pleased to hear of this news; however, when she pondered the grief of Pāpio's mother, she realized a grave mistake. Ka‘ahupāhau acknowledged her inability to restore life and addressed her shark companions to remember her transgression. She declared moving forward all people shall swim safely in Pu‘uloa under their protection (Halau o Pu'uloa, 2019, p.26).