Ka ʻŌnohi ʻula
(The Red Rainbow Patch)
According to the Hawaiian-English dictionaries, this is the definition o this type of rainbow:
Pukui/Elbert: n., Red eyeball; red rainbow segment; cloud with red hues of rainbow; variety of red tapa; figuratively, fury, anger.
Unverified Photos: These photos demonstrate this type of rainbow based on the authorʻs understanding of the dictionary definitions, context within some Hawaiian legends, newspaper articles, and Hawaiian language recordings. They are not definitive.
"Haka 'ula a Kāne." (He ʻōlelo noʻeau)
"Kāne's red perch." (An Hawaiian poetical saying)
Photo by: Tomas Del Amo | Dreamstime.com
Signs and omens
This type of beautiful rainbow is often seen in Hawaiʻi. It can be a sign or omen for a variety of things as described below:
Photo by: Hoaloha Westcott
According to the legends This type of rainbow appears on 2 different occasions in the 4 legends analyzed in this study. It represents 1 different signs/omens as shown in the table to the right.
There are many sisters of the goddess Pele. Hiʻiakanoholani is one of these sisters. The ʻonohi ʻula and the uakoko are her signs.
When does it appear
"ʻŌnohi ʻula i ka lani"
"A red eyeball in the sky."
A fragment of a rainbow.
Photo by: Hoaloha Westcott