The Misty Rainbow
Ke Koʻiʻula
 

The features of the koʻiʻula

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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., Rainbow-hued rain, mist, cloud.

Parker:               2. A rainbow-like cloud.

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Primary trait:             A faint rainbow

Secondary trait:        Majority red color

            A koʻiʻula (na Hoaloha Westcott)

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                                                                       A koʻiʻula (na  Forest lāua ʻo Kim Starr | commons.wikimedia.org)

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There is a chant called He Lei No Kapiʻolani that the famous chanter Kuluwaimaka performed. This is described in a book by Theodore Kelsey which contains notes by Kuluwaimaka. Within this chant it talks of the koʻiʻula and the pūnohu ʻula. From Kuluwaimakaʻs perspective, the koʻiʻula and the pūnohu ʻula were very similar except that the koʻiʻula is a misty rainbow and the pūnohu ʻula was faint with mostly red color.[2]

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The strata that the koʻiʻula appear

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Since the koʻiʻula and the pūnohu ʻula are similar, perhaps the strata of the pūnohu ʻula can be used. Therefore the koʻiʻula appears in the lewa hoʻomakua and the lewa lani lewa.

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The times that the koʻiʻula appear

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Since the koʻiʻula is a misty faint rainbow, from the western scientific perspective, the correct geometry and drop size are the requirements for the koʻiʻula to appear. Like the pūnohu ʻula, the koʻiʻula also has much red color. Rainbows with much red color typically appear at sunrise and sunset. From the Hawaiian perspective, it is possible for the koʻiʻula to appear at any time, rainbows are under supernatural control.​

The signs/omens of the koʻiʻula​

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The ala koʻiʻula (ala muku) a Kāne/Kanaloa is the only example found within the analyzed sources. See the Hawaiian side of this website for details. 

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

[2] Theodore Kelsey. 1933. "The Chants of James Pālea Kapihenui Kuluwaimaka." Lalani Village Waikiki, HI: Unpublished Manuscript. ʻaoʻao 84. Ua kaha wale ʻia nō kekahi o nā huaʻōlelo me ka ʻokina a me ke kahakō ma loko o kēia palapala.

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