Ka Waiānuenue
(The rainbow water)
According to the Hawaiian-English dictionaries, this is the definition o this type of rainbow:
Pukui/Elbert: Lit., rainbow [seen in] water.
Photo by: Kelpfish | Dreamstime.com
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.
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:
According to the legends This type of rainbow did not appear in the legends that were analyzed.
When does it appear
"Ka ua lei mā'ohu o Waiānuenue."
According to a Hawaiian poetical saying:
"The rain of Waianuenue that is like a wreath of mist."
Wai-anuenue (Rainbow-water) in Hilo, Hawai'i, is now known as Rainbow Falls. On sunny days a rainbow can be seen in the falls, and on rainy days the rising vapor is suggestive of a wreath of mist.
Photo by: Kelpfish | Dreamstime.com