The Legend of Lāʻieikawai
Summary:
In Hawaiian mythology, Laʻieikawai and her twin sister Laʻielohelohe were princesses, and were born in Lāʻie, Oʻahu.
They were separated and hidden away from their chiefly father who had all his daughters killed at birth, because he wanted a first born son. Laʻieikawai was hidden in a cave which was only accessed by diving in a pool of water named Waiapuka. Soon it was well known that someone of royalty resided nearby because of the tell-tale rainbow that graced the sky above her cave dwelling.
Her grandmother Waka secretly tried to smuggle her to Paliuli, Puna, Hawaiʻi island. On the way there others heard of her beauty and the rumors travelled all throughout the islands. Aiwohikupua, a chief from the island of Kauaʻi decided he would pursue her. At her home in Paliuli, Laieikawai was attended by supernatural birds such as the 'i'iwi polena. It is said she could float on the wings of the birds.
While other royalty in Hawai'i had mere feather capes and cloaks, Laʻieikawai had a house made of the sacred feathers. After a series of misfortunes, she becomes known as Kawahineliula ("woman of the twilight").
Within this legend five types of rainbows appear. Namely the iʻo ānuenue, the pūnohu, the uakoko the ʻōnohi and the luakālai. There are 10 signs/omens that occur and are associated with the rainbow types in the legend. These rainbow types and signs/omens are shown in the table below followed by the translation key
Here is an example from this legend (translated quote):
"At one time, when Hulumāniani was touring around Kauaʻi in his great prophet manner for Kauaʻi, and when he arrived directly on top of Kalalea, he saw the arching of this rainbow here on Oʻahu. He resided there for 20 days as a foundation in which the character of the thing he kept seeing would be clearly understood. At that time, happily understood to the prophet that a high cheif(ess) was the one for this rainbow that arched here and the 2 rainbow fragments that were surrounded by the dark clouds."[1]
[1] S.N. Haleʻole (2001). Ke Kaʻao o Lāʻieikawai. Hilo, HI: Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani. Kula Nui o Hawaiʻi. ʻaoʻao 5
Photo by: Hoaloha Westcott