Ka Punakea
(The barely visible rainbow)
Wahi a nā puke wehewehe Hawaiʻi-Pelekane, ʻo kēia ka wehewehe ʻana o kēia ʻano ānuenue:
According to the Hawaiian-English dictionaries, this is the definition o this type of rainbow:
Pukui/Elbert: n. A barely visible rainbow.
Photo by: Hoaloha Westcott
Photo by: Hoaloha Westcott
Kekahi kiʻi i hōʻoia ʻole ʻia: Kuhikuhi kēia mau kiʻi i kēia ʻano ānuenue ma muli o ko ka mea kākau maopopo ʻana i nā wehewehe ʻana o nā puke wehewehe, ka pōʻaiapili ma loko o kekahi mau kaʻao, kekahi ʻatikala nūpepa, a me kekahi hoʻopaʻa leo Hawaiʻi. ʻAʻole panina lākou.
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.
Nā hōʻailona a me nā ʻōuli:
(Signs and omens):
ʻO kēia nō ke ʻano ānuenue e kapa mau ʻia e kākou he Punakea. ʻIke pinepine ʻia ʻo ia ma luna o Maunakea.
This is the type of rainbow that is called a Punakea - white rainbow. It is often seen above Maunakea.
Ua ʻokoʻa nā inoa mahina Hawaiʻi i ka wā kahiko. ʻO kēia mau inoa mahina i kapa ʻia nā inoa malama maoli. ʻO ʻIkuwā kekahi malama maoli. Ua paʻi ke kumu o kēia mahina i kapa ʻia ai ʻo ʻIkuwā i kekahi nūpepa ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Poepoe 1906). Eia ka paukū o ia ʻatikala:
"Ikuwa - o Ikuwa, ke kane, o Paaikaiaualewa, ka wahine, hanau kanaka leo nui. He malama kēia e ku ai ka ino; o ka "Ikuwaikepohakoeleele" keia. Kukuʻi ka hekili, olapa ka uwila, ka ke kaikoo, ku ka punakea".
Aia ka malama ʻo Ikuwa ma ka manawa o nā mahina o ʻOkakopa a me Nowemapa. ʻO ka mea maʻa mau, ʻoʻolokū kēia manawa o ka makahiki.
The Hawaiian month names were different in the past. These month names were called the native month names. Ikuwa is one of the native months. The reason that this month was called Ikuwa was published in one of the Hawaiian language newspapers (Poepoe 1906). Here is the paragraph from that article:
"Ikuwa - Ikuwa, the man, Paaikaiaualewa, the women, born was a big voiced person. This is a month that the storms rise; this is Ikuwaikepohakoeleele. The thunder claps, the lightning flashes, the big surf thrusts, the punakea stands.
Wahi a nā kaʻao ʻAʻohe manawa o kēia ʻano ānuenue i ʻōʻili ai ma loko o nā kaʻao i kālailai ʻia.
According to the legends This type of rainbow did not appear in the legends that were analyzed.
I ka wā hea ʻo ia e ʻōʻili ai?:
(When does it appear):
Hiki pinepine ke ʻike ʻia ka Punakea ma nā mahina o ʻOkakopa a me Nowemapa, akā naʻe, hiki nō hoʻi ke ʻike ʻia ʻo ia i nā mahina ʻē aʻe.
The Punakea can often be seen in the months of October and November, however it can also be seen in the other months.
References:
1. Poepoe, J.M. (1906, October 29). Moolelo Hawaii Kahiko. Ka Naʻi Aupuni; page 1.
2. Personal Communication (2 February 2021). Faculty/Kupuna Interview. Name withheld for privacy.
Photo by: Hoaloha Westcott