HONOLULU HARBOR
Puu-o-wai-na, or Punchbowl, was a “hill of sacrifice” or “offering,” according to the meaning of the native words, and not “Wine-hill” as many persons have said. Kamakau, a native historian of nearly fifty years ago, says: “Formerly there was an imu ahi, a fire oven, for burning men on this hill. Chiefs and common people were burned as sacrifices in that noted place. Men were brought for sacrifice from Kauai, Oahu, and Maui, but not from Hawaii. People could be burned in this place for violating the tabus of the tabu divine chiefs.”
“The great stone on the top of Punchbowl Hill was the place for burning men.”
Part of an ancient chant concerning Punchbowl reads as follows:
“O the raging tabu fire of Keaka,
O the high ascending fire of the sacrifice!
Tabu fire, scattered ashes.
Tabu fire, spreading heat.”
Nuuanu Valley is full of interesting legendary places. The most interesting, however, is the little valley made by a mountain spur pushing [[19]]its way out from the Kalihi foothills into the larger valley, and bearing the name “Waolani,” the wilderness home of the gods, and now the home of Honolulu’s Country Club. This region belonged to the eepa people. These were almost the same as the ill-shaped, deformed or injured gnomes of European fairy tales. In this beautiful little valley which opened into Nuuanu Valley was the heiau Waolani built for Ka-hanai-a-ke-Akua (The chief brought up by the gods), long before the days of Kakuhihewa. It was said that the two divine caretakers of this chief were Kahano and Newa, and that Kahano was the god who lay down on the ocean, stretching out his hands until one rested on Kahiki (Tahiti or some other foreign land) and the other rested on Oahu. Over his arms as a great bridge walked the Menehunes, or fairy people, to Oahu. They came to be servants for this young chief who was in the care of the gods. They built fish-ponds and temples. They lived in Manoa Valley and on Punchbowl Hill. Ku-leo-nui (Ku-with-the-loud-voice) was their master. He could call them any evening. His voice was heard over all the island. They came at once and almost invariably finished each task before the rays of the rising sun drove them to their hidden resorts in forest or wilderness. [[20]]
Waolani heiau was the place where the noted legendary musical shell “Kiha-pu” had its first home—from which it was stolen by Kapuni and carried to its historic home in Waipio Valley, Hawaii. Below Waolani Heights, the Menehunes built the temple Ka-he-iki for the “child-nourished-by-the-gods,” and here the priest and prophet lived who founded the priest-clan called “Mo-o-kahuna,” one of the most sacred clans of the ancient Hawaiians. Not far from this temple was the scene of the dramatic plea of an owl for her eggs when taken from Kewalo by a man who had found her nest. It forms part of the story of the battle of the owls and the king.