IMG3079_1020-1.jpgLes extraits ci-dessous sont tirés de "Sites of Oahu" par Elphset P. Sterling et Catherine C. Summers, publié par "the Bishop Museum Press" (juin 1978).

Ka’ena and Pele
Ka ena (red-hot). Ka’ena was one of the relatives of Pele who came with her from KAHIKI and decided to stay at this place. That is why she visited this area, to see her cousin.
Pukui, Mary Kawena- June 1954

 The Leaping Place
The leaping place of spirits on Oahu was said to be close to Cape Ka’ena on the right side toward WAIALUA near the newly cut road going down toward KEAOKUUKUU ; KAHO’iHO’i NA –WAKEA (the taking home to Wakea) was a little below KAKAHEE, and KILA’ULA and KEAWA’ULA were the diving places into the sea.In these places could be found helpful ‘aumakua who would bring back the spirit and revive the body or guide it into the ‘aumakua world.
Kamakau,S.M.-Book II, chap 12, p 24.

KAENA POINTIMG2989_934.jpg
Site 186.Kaena Point. A dry , hot region on the western extremity of Oahu. Inland from the railroad are a few old house foundations. They are rectangles approximately 14 feet by 20 feet. Ponuahua is said to be the name of a fishing shrine near the point, though it is not known which group of rocks was so designated.
The point is probably best known as the place from which souls departed from this earth. Hookala tells that when an individual lay on the deathbed his soul left the body and wandered about, first going to a fishing shrine (ko’a) named Hauone (site 189). If all earthly obligations had been fulfilled, the soul continued wandering otherwise it was returned to the body. In its continued wandering it then approached Leina Kauhane at Kaena Point. Here it was taken by two minor gods (whose names he does not remember) and thrown into a pit known as Lua a Kehena. It was at the time that the soul was thrown in this pit that death actually came upon the body. The soul then went to Na ulu o lei walo (near Kinimakalehua ?) on the boundary between Ewa and Honolulu districts. Here the road divided, the clean, good soul went to the right, and the other to the left.IMG2987_932.jpg

Emerson makes the following note :
If, on account of some fault or sin (hala), the uhane hele, wandering soul, became at variance with its aumakua, the aumakua would conduct it to the resting place or tarrying place of souls called Puu-ku-akahi, at which reconciliation and pardon were still possible, and if this were obtained the aumakua conducted it back to the body and restored it to the joys of earth. Souls frequently wandered away from body during sleep or unconscious-
ness. If reconciliation was not made, it travelled on to KU-A-KE-AHU, the brink of the nether world of spirits (Hades, Scheol), whence it plunged (leina kauhane) into KA-PAA-HEO. This was an insubstantial land of twilight and shades, a barren and waterless waste, unblest by grass, or flower, or tree, or growing herb. Here the famished ghost of men, who fled each other’s presence in fear and suspicion, strove to appease their hunger by eating butterflies, moths, and lizards. This region was under the sway of Milu, and hence was called Ka lua o Milu. It was from this place that Hiku rescued the ghost of her sister or bride, Kawelu. Entrance to Milu was supposed to be gained through a pit situated in the mouth of Waipio valley on Hawaii, also in some other places.
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Kamakau writes :
The soul’s leap on Oahu is located close to Kaena Point on the Waialua side near the dividing road descending to Keaokuukuu, which is said to be its boundary. Kaho'iho'i-na-Wakea is situated a little below Kakahee, of the sea-leap of Kilaula, at Keawaula, at these places will be found the soul’s of ancestral spirit helpers. They will restore the body to life, or entertain it in the ancestral spirit realm. The places spoken of within these boundaries are desired only by the ancestral spirits for restoration to life, and in the ancestral realm. The soul’s Leap is a sea furrow, a leaping place into endless night.
Leilono is another place where the soul goes to everlasting night. It is closed to the Kapukaki rock just to one side where stands the burial mound of north Star right on top of the old road, a statum of lava on which is a round place about two feet around. That is the entry way to below, the raised place of Papa-ia-Laka, of the ancestral realm. At a place of descent to Leilono grows Leiwalo, the breadfruit tree of two branches, one on the east and one on the west. They are deceptive branches, one branch whereby the soul is helped by the ancestral spirit, then it soon enters the ancestral realm, in the presence of the descendant of Wakea spoken of, and all the progenitors of those of the whole present world in procession. The other part on the deceptive branch are in the realm of everlasting night.
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It is at Kaena Point that Maui attempted to unite Kauai and Oahu. According to some legends after stationing himself on the western extremity of Oahu,…from which the island of Kaua’i is clearly visible on a bright day, Maui cast his wonderful hook, Mana-ia-ka-lani, far out into the ocean that it might engage itself in the foundations of Kaua'i. When he felt that it had taken a good hold, he gave a mighty tug at the line. A huge boulder, the Pohaku o Kaua'i fell at his feet.

Kaena Point is mentionned as an excellent fishing ground. At one time when Maui was fishing here, he caught a huge red fish , which he dragged up the point, leaving a trail from Pohaku o Kaua’i to the point, leaving a trail from Pohaku o Kaua’i to the heiau, which formely could be followed. This fish , a kümü,he placed on Kuakala heiau (site 188) where the menehune found it and cut it into small bits. Then when the sea covered the land (Kaiakahinalii), the pieces of fish went back to the ocean. Since then the kümü are small.
McAllister-Arch of Oahu
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KUMU-NUI-A-KEA (the big fish)
If now, from White rock or Leinakauhane you face inland, you may see running up to the top of the ridge, a broad roadway overgrown with shrubs and banked on each side by a high wall.
That is the trail left by the body of the great fish at the point and drew up to the temple at the top of the mountain. Formerly the trail showed also over the sandy plain from the point. I twas marked by many sandtubes, but the sand has been removed for building purposes.
Another story is that the giant fish was cut up into small pieces at the heiau , and then came The Deluge which flooded all the islands. The small pieces of kumu came to life and are the kumu fish which are such excellent eating today.
Honolulu Adviser, Feb.12,1933
Newspaper Scrapbook- Bishop Museum- Vol « 1931 »
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In a version told to me by Annie Keahipaka, Maui had many helpers tugging at the line. One disobeyed orders and looked back as Kaua’i was being drawn up to Oahu. This caused the line to break and Kaua’i to slip back into the ocean, with only the fragment pohaku o Kaua’i remaining, which to this day is proof of Maui’s mighty effort. This Pohaku o Kaua’i is also said to be Pele’s grandhather.
(B.M.Neg.#15319m90)

 POHAKU OAHU
Kaena Point reached out to the sea like a bird. Here we were walking along tne beach when I glanced at one side , there were some things that stuck upward like the sandpipers that run along the shore before a rolling surf. I asked, « are those sandpipers?» « No, those are not birds, but stones. The one on the inside is Pohaku Oahu and the one outside , almost close to it is Pohaku o Kaua’i. » Yes, this is the first time that i had ever seen Pohaku o Kaua’i and I liked it very much because I have heard its legend from the old people but had never seen it before. This is the first time i have seen and found it…
Kuokoa
Oct, 2, 1908
Catégories : articles in english
He mele no ka leina ka uhane o KA'ENA
Abiding places of souls
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