The Legend of La'ie
Point:
Laniloa, The Mo'o
This point of land that extends out into the
ocean is called Laniloa. According to legend. This peninsula was
originally a "Mo'o" or giant lizard. Standing upright ready to kill
any intruder.
After Kana (a legendary warrior) and his brother
had rescued their mother from Moloka'i and had taken her back to
Hawaii. Kana set out on a journey to kill all the Mo'o in the
islands. In time, he arrived in La'ie where the Mo'o had been
killing many people. Kana easily defeated the Mo'o taking its head.
He chopped it into five pieces and flung them into the ocean. The
pieces of the lizard's head can still be seen today as five small
islands lying off-shore their original names were Kihewamoku,
Moluaaniwa, Pulemoku, Malualai and Keauakaluapa'a'a.
Source: "Hawaiian Legends" by William Rice, Bishop Museum Bulletin,
Honolulu, HI 1923. |