| Description - More Details |
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See Kahekili Trail's "More Info" for a thorough discussion of the area trails of Puu Manamana / Kaaawa.
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| Cultural Notes / Hawaiiana |
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The Legend of Crouching Lion (Kauhi) One wonders why an ancient Hawaiian legend refers to a "crouching lion" when there are no lions in Hawaii! Never have they been nor do they exist now anywhere in Hawaii (save Honolulu Zoo). What ancient Hawaiians referred to as "Kauhi", which is more commonly known now as "Crouching Lion" (such as the Crouching Lion Inn which is a restaurant just below the cliff in question), is actually the fabled dog demi-god/kupua from Kahiki. Kane, one of the major gods of Hawaii folklore and apparently owned or controlled the supernatural Kauhi, left him on the island of Oahu in the area of Kaaawa as the procession of Pele's followers continued on. There the Kauhi diety laid still as the watch tower of heaven, hence his full name: Kauhi ke i maka o ka lani (Hawaiian: "Kauhi, the great eye of heaven").(1) As Hiiaka, the sister of the powerful volcano-goddess Pele, journeyed through the area, she saw the canine-like structure sitting at the base of the mountain. She was inquisitive and pondered whether or not this was a man-made monument of some sort since it truly looked like a dog (except colossal in size). Hiiaka's friend, Wahine'omao, who accompanied her told her the story of "Kauhi ke i maka o ka lani" - and that this rock structure was Kauhi and indeed one of their own kinship (supernatural beings). Furthermore, Wahine'omao wanted to prove this to Hiiaka and so she began to sing an affectionate chant toward the rock.(2) It worked. The rock began to come alive as Kauhi awoke. Upon being roused, Kauhi said he was tired of laying dormant at the mountain. This was probably a result of seeing Hiiaka whom he respected and admired. As such, Kauhi longed to travel in her company. Unfortunately, while Hiiaka did not want to upset Kauhi she also couldn't allow him to travel with her. Kauhi was upset that Hiiaka didn't want him along on her journey. In his desperation, he tried with all his might to free himself from the mountain. He ripped away from the soil, trees, and vegetation but lost all his strength in the effort and could not continue. As a result, Kauhi remains solidified in his crouched position above the trees.(2) "This is a very large sized dog and the neck and head have very thick fur," it was written back in 1906. "It is called by some of the tourists who visit the islands, the sleeping lion"(2) Perhaps the reason it is referred to as a crouching lion (instead of a crouching dog) is because of this reference made in 1906: 1 - Emerson, N. B., Pele and Hiiaka, pg 93, Honolulu, 1925 2 - "Hiiaka i ka poli o Pele", Ka Na'i Aupuni, Jan. 28, 1906 The Ancient Lands According to Revised Laws of Hawaii of 1925, the collection of Puu Manamana trails, including Kahekili (Makaua), Crouching Lion (Kauhi), and Graveyard, reside in two ahupuaa's, Kahana and Kaaawa, which comprise the southern tip of the Koolauloa Moku (land district).(3) 3 - Summers, Catherine C., "Koolauloa" Map (1959), Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, 1962. Studies suggest the larger "moku" and smaller "ahupuaa" are congruent to ancient land divisions used hundreds of years ago. See the "Hawaiiana" page for a discussion on district and ahupuaa boundaries. |
| Kaaawa Valley & Swanzy Beach Park |
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That beautiful valley just south (east, actually) of Kaaawa is called Kaaawa Valley
(and sometimes referred to as Kualoa Valley since Kualoa Ranch owns the entire
thing!). It is a hidden, often overlooked valley which ironically happens to be
one seen by millions of people around the world! This is because Kaaawa Valley
is where many notable American movies have been filmed. Most well-known of flicks
includes Jurassic Park, Mighty Joe Young, Pearl Harbor, and
Windtalkers. In 1921, Mrs. Julie Judd Swanzy (a.k.a. F.M. Swanzy) donated a five-acre portion of the Judd estate for use as a playground and park.(4) This strip of shoreline, directly along the makai (ocean) side of Kamehameha Highway, stands in the shadow of the Kahekili Trail's cliffs. The park, still open and used today, bears her name (Swanzy Beach Park). Kualoa Ranch also owns the ridges of Puu Manamana up to the border with the State Park at Kahana Valley. For additional historical information about Kualoa Ranch and the ownership of Kaaawa Valley, click here. 4 - Pukui, Mary K., et al. Place Names of Hawaii, 2nd ed, University of Hawai'i Press, 1974 |