Moa'ula, Hālawa, Moloka'i

Kii: S Kaiser

Kii: Richard K Paglinawan- 1964 notes

Maniania- top left

Hipuapua -far right

Moa'ula -bottom left

Richard Likeke Paglinawan

Informant: Georgina Kawa'a,

Location: One Ali'i, Moloka'i, 1964

Journal Notes-1964

Memoirs of Olohe;

 Moaʻula was a native chief of Hālawa, Molokaʻi. One day, while swimming in a mountain pool, he spied Māniania, a local beauty traveling on a trail towards the pool. She wanted to swim in the cool mountain pool, however, she was unaware of Moa'ula's presence. Moaʻula immediately ran for cover making sure Māniania could not see him. Hiding behind concealment of the dense local vegetation, Moaʻula climbed the pali above the pool. Here was where the wailele or waterfall originated. The waters cascaded downwards from a considerable height. The falling waters ended in a pool with a thunderous roar, sending fine sprays of mist upward. Māniania took off her paʻu and dove into the tingling waters of the lower falls. As she swam Moaʻula squatted at the mouth of the wailele, above the pool she was swimming in. he placed his scrotum in such a way causing the water to be dammed. " Eh Māniania, see how i dammed the waters above you with my scrotum, surely no other man can duplicate this feat" he cried out below, bragging about his gentiles to Māniania.He was astonished to find out the beautiful woman was not in the pool below. Suddenly he heard Māniania calling to him from above. " E Moaʻula, here i am above you. This surprise move by Māniania startled Moaʻula, that he lost his balance and fell into the pool below. There he remains till today, with Māniania keeping vigilance from above.

My informant claims that Māniania is a bigger and more beautiful pool than Moaʻula is. The wailele is of greater volume and height. The Moa ’ula pool is supposedly haunted by a giant moʻo or lizard. At night, the people in the valley and lowlands can hear the mo’o’s roar. Before entering the pool to swim, the local practice is to throw a ti-leaf into the pool. If it floats, the pool is safe to swim in, as the moo is not home in the pool. If it sinks, the pool is not safe to swim in, as the moo is at home in the pool. The residents, especially during a sunny day, can sometimes see the outline of a lizard resting at the bottom of the pool.

RKP- 6/1964 interview with G.K