The features of the lehopulu

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According to the Hawaiian-English dictionaries, this is the definition o this type of rainbow:[1]

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Pukui/Elbert:     n., Earth-clinging rainbow. Literally, wet cowry shell.

 

Primary trait:             A low-lying rainbow 

Secondary trait:        A rainbow clinging to the earth ocean​

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              A lehopulu (na Tianne Alegnani)                                                                     A lehopulu (Na Kelly Headrick | Shutterstock.com)

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The word lehopulu is interesting in that it is made up of the words leho (cowry shell) and pulu (wet). This word is very descriptive for this rainbow. The inspiration of itʻs use could possibly come from the story of Hiʻiakaikapoliopele when Kānemilohae is riding on a cowry shell in the ocean with a rainbow appearing. It could also come have come from the story of Keakaouku, when a pūnohu was infront of Keakaokuʻs canoe, this was the cowry form of Kalihilihianuenue. See the Hawaiian side of this website for a more complete explanation of the connection of these events to the word lehopulu.

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The strata that the lehopulu appear

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The red color of the lehopulu is in the lewa lani lewa, and the base (violet) is in the lewa hoʻomakua.

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The times that the lehopulu appear

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Since the lehopulu is an earth clinging rainbow, it appears when the sun is in Kahikikepapalani.

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The signs/omens of the  lehopulu

 

Only one example of the lehopulu was found in the analyzed sources for this project. See the Hawaiian side of this website for an explanation.

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[1] ] Wehewehe Wikiwiki. n.d. Ke Kulanui o Hawaiʻi ma Hilo. https://hilo.hawaii.edu/wehe/. (Pukui/Elbert).