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Mo'olelo
KUʻIALUAOPUNA is dedicated to making a lasting impact through education and traditions in the Hawaiian fighting art of Lua. We look to our stories, our history, and ancestral practices as sources of knowledge in the profession of Lua.
Every month we will be sharing stories so that connections can be made with the different cultures in our Pacific family group. These short stories are told here to inspire our thinking about ourselves. They reveal the thoughts and history of a people.
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He Aha ka ʻŌlohe?
Ka Wai Ola KA NAʻAUAO O NĀ KŪPUNA Kalani Akana October 1, 2022 https://kawaiola.news/columns/ka-naauao-o-na-kupuna/he-aha-ka-olohe/ Naluahine Kaopua Kii: Ansel Adams Mai ka piʻina a ka lā i Haʻehaʻe a i ka welona o ka lā i ka mole o Lehua. Aloha pumehana kākou. Ma kēia pukana o ka ʻāhaʻilono nei o Ka Wai Ola e nānā kākou i ka poʻe ʻōlohe. ʻO wai ia poʻe ʻōlohe? Ma nā moʻolelo kāhiko, he kānaka ʻōhulehule a noʻeau loa i ka hana haʻihaʻi iwi nā ʻōlohe. Ua kaulana ʻo Mākua ma
Kuialuaopuna
Dec 22, 20253 min read
Mythical Builders
ANALYSING THE MOTIF OF “DWARF PEOPLE” IN POLYNESIAN MYTHOLOGIES. MYTHICAL BUILDERS – Part II. Martina BUCKOVÁ Institute of Oriental Studies, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Klemensova 19, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovakia. pgs. 31-42 https://www.sav.sk/journals/uploads/0528085402_Buckova_PART2_FINAL.pdf Mythical Builders According to numerous Polynesian myths, the Menehune were great builders, especially when it came to working with wood and stone. They were very skilled in processing
Kuialuaopuna
Dec 22, 202516 min read
Makahiki at the time of Kamehameha
Kii: Herb Kane Ka Hoku o Hawaii Kamehameha and his warrior Kekūhaupi‘o Written in Hawaiian by Reverend Stephen L. Desha Translated by Frances N. Frazier Produced with the assistance of the State of Hawai‘i Historic Preservation Division, DLNR Kamehameha Schools Press Honolulu • 2000 https://ulukau.org/ulukau-books/?a=d&d=EBOOK-ELIBRARY.2.2.2&e=-------haw-20--1--txt-txPT----------- pgs 339-349 After Keōuakū‘ahu‘ula was killed, his body was taken up to the heiau of Pu‘ukohola w
Kuialuaopuna
Dec 22, 202515 min read
Ka Uapo'aihale
Kauapoaihale, the house surrounding rains is famed in story for the area in Kahalu'u, Oahu. This rain, also called Ka-ua-poai-hala (the rains that surround the hala grove) moves in all directions encircling and drenching everything it touches. In this ahupuaa, due to the erratic winds blowing up along the face of the pali or cliffs of Koolaupoko the twisting of wind currents moves the rain in all directions leaving everything completely drenched. Ahuimanu was the aina and hom
Kuialuaopuna
Dec 22, 20254 min read
Kanaka Mano
Kii: Ku'ialuaopuna In our Lua traditions of Hawaii, a group of warriors arrived in Hawaii from a faraway island. These warriors came on waa or canoes with their faces painted, and bodies adorned with their traditional tattoo. They were called the kanaka mano or the warrior sharks by the people who were present there at that time in history. This story comes down from Kawena Puku’i to Olohe Lua Likeke Paglinawan of Waiahole, Oʻahu. These kanaka mano settled in and around the
Kuialuaopuna
Dec 19, 20252 min read
Taiha
Kii; New Zealand 1847 J.L.C, Auckland Museum (detail). Source: Wikimedia Commons. A WINDOW INTO TE AO MĀORI: THE TAIAHA This story is told by Don Stewart, writer for the Whakatane Times, Kōtare 1943: September 2021 https://www.festival.nz/article/a-window-into-te-ao-m%C4%81ori-the-taiaha/ The taiaha is one of the most iconic of all the Māori weapons and it was born when Tū, the god of war sought out Rūrūtangiākau, the weapon maker of the gods, and asked her to fashion a weap
Kuialuaopuna
Dec 19, 20254 min read
Moikeha
Dennis Kawaharada https://www2.hawaii.edu/~dennisk/voyaging_chiefs/moikeha.html Mo‘ikeha was an ali‘i nui (high chief) from Moa‘ulanui a kea, Tahiti, where he lived with his wife Kapo. They had a child named La‘amaikahiki. 1 When ‘Olopana and Lu‘ukia arrived in Tahiti, 2 Mo‘ikeha became infatuated with Lu‘ukia and soon after took her as his lover. ‘Olopana harbored no ill feeling toward Mo‘ikeha; in fact, he approved of his friend’s affair with his wife. ‘Olopana was appoint
Kuialuaopuna
Dec 19, 202524 min read
I Na Olohe e Kaulana Ala
Kii: 2025 Voyrix.com , Reed McFadden Kaulana No Ho'i The powerful chiefs of old Hawaii sought out the finest olohe lua to instruct the warriors in his court. These certain olohe lua were sought after throughout he islands to bring the best instruction to the chief’s court. These olohe were given lands, gifts and power as compensation for their ike and skill. The high chief of the island could request certain instructors under other chiefs to come to his court. These hand sele
Kuialuaopuna
Dec 18, 20255 min read
Huaka'i Hele i Te Po
Kii: Wilderness Coffee and Natural High On the night of Akua, will walk the akua of old in their own procession. In the procession is of the akua, the torches ( lamalama } will be burning red, all trees along their path way that are standing above their heads are broken and scattered upon their approach, as their heads are tapu, and nothing shall be higher than their heads. Winds and rain will arrive over the lands prior to their approach, lightning and thunder may reverbera
Kuialuaopuna
Dec 18, 20253 min read
Kamehameha and his warrior Kekūhaupiʻo
Kii: British Museum Originally published in Ka Hoku o Hawaii Kamehameha and his warrior Kekūhaupi‘o Written in Hawaiian by Reverend Stephen L. Desha Translated by Frances N. Frazier Produced with the assistance of the State of Hawai‘i Historic Preservation Division, DLNR Kamehameha Schools Press Honolulu • 2000 Pgs 174-191 Chapter 7, An Island at War January 19, 1922 Because of Kamehameha’s foresight and consultation with his famous warrior Kekūhaupi‘o, he understood
Kuialuaopuna
Dec 12, 202525 min read
Ka Pali Lele Koa'e
Kii: Volcano National Park Service- Koae kea Kii: Pada Photo Journey - Koae ula Traditions and knowledge are recorded in various ways for all indigenous people. These important events can be passed down in many ways, including song, dance, stories and chants. Hula and Lua are similar in style yet unique to the many individual halau of old. One's specific practice, such as hula, lua, or other arts, employs specific styles to commemorate past events, which may be in danc
Kuialuaopuna
Dec 9, 20252 min read
Pepeiu
Kii: Sophie Morgan The story of Pepeiu is from Taiohae, Nukuhiva. It appears in E.S. Craighill Handy’s Marquesan Legends (Honolulu: Bishop Museum, 1930); pp. 127-129. https://www2.hawaii.edu/~dennisk/voyaging_chiefs/pepeiu.html Toni [a tau‘a, or inspirational priest] lived at Taiohae; Te-pua-i-mohui, a fisherman, was his son; Pepe-iu was his daughter. When the son went fishing, the daughter stayed up in the valley with her father. Three times when Tepua-i-mohui returned from
Kuialuaopuna
Dec 9, 20255 min read
Hawaiian Pastimes
Kii: Webber Hawaiian Antiquities David Malo HONOLULU HAWAIIAN GAZETTE CO., Ltd. 1903 https://hawaiian-grammar.org/resources/Malo-Hawaiian-Antiquities.pdf Pgs. 304- 306 CHAPTER LV. MOKOMOKO 1. During the Makahiki season, when the Makahiki god made his rounds, the people of different districts gathered at one place and held boxing matches. 2. The multitude being seated in a circle, the backers of one champion stood forth and vaunted the merits of their favorite, who thereupon
Kuialuaopuna
Dec 9, 20254 min read
Kūlou ma Ke‘ei, Hawai'i
Kii: Beth Young HE WAHI MO‘OLELO NO NĀ KE‘EI MA KONA HEMA, HAWAI‘I A COLLECTION OF TRADITIONS HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS AND KAMA‘ĀINA RECOLLECTIONS OF KE‘EI, SOUTH KONA, HAWAI‘I PREPARED BY Kepā Maly & Onaona Maly JULY 26, 2002, Kumu Pono Associates Pg 20-21 https://www.kumupono.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2002_07_26_Keei-Kona-Hema-Hawaii-PDF.pdf One of the lesser-known traditions of the Ke‘ei vicinity is one that documents the origin of the naming of Kūlou, the white sandy beac
Kuialuaopuna
Dec 4, 20254 min read
Oronā
Kii: East Maui Watershed Olona is said to be found only in Hawaii, but there was a plant termed orona in ancient Tahiti that is not known today. It is thought to be a variety of mamaki that looks similar to olona. Handy and Handy (1972) reported that olona grows in "boggy interior valleys" and "upland areas", and Kamakau (1976) described olona habitat as rainy, marshy, mossy, in mountainous areas, often near banana trees. Although it is not common today, this rain forest shru
Kuialuaopuna
Dec 2, 20259 min read
E Ho'i No 'Ai i Kou Kahu
Certain akua took the form of fire and flew; these balls of flaming fire were and are still called akualele or flying gods by Hawaiians. Moolelo of our kupuna states these gods entered the kauila, nioi or ʻohe trees growing on Maunaloa on the island of Moloka'i. These trees became poisonous only at the Molokai location at Maunaloa. These same three trees found anywhere else are noa and remain harmless. One moolelo states that this grove of trees was inhabited by the spirits o
Kuialuaopuna
Nov 26, 20257 min read
E Kahea ana
Kii: Ku'ialuaopuna Neneikahuluiokaimu is the name and energy of this land In tradition, it is expected that we introduce ourselves to our environment and the energies that abound within the space. This includes the divine energies of nature, of elements and of the spiritual. These energies have been around for many lifetimes, since even before the land's formation and that of this world. We are all just using the space for our needs, as we do not own it, but care for it s
Kuialuaopuna
Nov 25, 20253 min read
Kahea
Kii: Kawainui Kane In the past, it was customary for travelers to announce their arrival upon entering certain destinations. It was the normal expectation for all kanaka. The kahea from these visitors would be answered with a response from the host. If no kahea was given, then it was considered rude and inapropriate for one to enter into the space of the host. For those in the practice of lua, death would be the response from the host if no kahea was given before entry. If t
Kuialuaopuna
Nov 24, 20251 min read
Legends of Olohe and Dog Men
Kii: Jack Becket HAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGY Martha Beckwith with a new introduction by Katharine Luomala UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII PRESS HONOLULU Copyright © 1970 by University of Hawaiʻi Press pgs. 344-351 Kapakohana, after killing the kupua Kalae-hina who has terrorized the island of Maui, goes on to Oahu to challenge the hairless cannibal (olohe) of Hanakapiai. Finding himself unable to overcome the olohe in wrestling, he pretends friendship and gathers men to burn him while asleep
Kuialuaopuna
Nov 21, 202510 min read
Palila, the Warrior of Koloa
Kii: Abbie Matthews FORNANDER COLLECTION OF HAWAIIAN ANTIQUITIES AND FOLK-LORE THE HAWAIIANS' ACCOUNT OF THE FORMATION OF THEIR ISLANDS AND ORIGIN OF THEIR RACE, WITH THE TRADITIONS OF THEIR MIGRATIONS, ETC., AS GATHERED FROM ORIGINAL SOURCES By ABRAHAM FORNANDER Author of "An Account of the Polynesian Race"WITH TRANSLATIONS EDITED AND ILLUSTRATED WITH NOTES BY THOMAS G. THRUM Memoirs of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum Volume V‒Part I HONOLULU H.I. BISHOP MUSEUM PRESS 1998.
Kuialuaopuna
Nov 19, 20258 min read
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