Legends of the Wailuku

Drawn by Will Herwig. Paradise Eng. Hina's Spirit Still Lives in the Mists of Rainbow Falls.
LEGENDS OF THE WAILUKU
To remember our happy
hours of story-telling,
this printed fragment
is in gratitude dedicated
to my grandmother,
Harriet Kamakanoenoe Hapai.
THE WAILUKU.
Fed from the great watershed of Hawaii far up the densely wooded flanks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea—often snow-capped in winter—the Wailuku River roars through the very center of Hilo, principal town of the Island of Hawaii.
There are many vague stories as to why the Wailuku River was so named. In the Hawaiian tongue Wailuku means literally destroying water.
In olden times before there were bridges and other safeguards the river wrought considerable damage to property and during the rainy season it took its toll of human lives. Legends connected with the Wailuku tend to confirm the belief that it was named for its violent habits.