Hawaii Legends: Introduction from The Legends and Myths of Hawaii
By King Kalakaua, 1888
Hawaiian Gods
(King Kalakaua’s book records lists of the gods, short stories about the gods, and longer
legends about their interactions with humans. Where there are stories to link to about
these gods, their name will be bold and underlined below so you can click to learn more
about them.)
[G - include this section above in the ( ) – it is not a note to you]
Following is a list of the supreme and principal elemental, industrial and tutelary deities
of the Hawaiian group:
The Godhead
Kane
The organizer.
Ku
The architect and builder.
Lono
The executor.
Fallen Figure
Kanaloa
The Lucifer, or fallen angel
Rulers in the Realm of Po, or death
Akea
The first Hawaiian king, who, after life, founded the island
kingdom of Kapapahaunaumoku, in the realms of Po, or death.
Milu
The successor of Akea, or who, according to another belief, accompanied Akea to Po,
and became the perpetual ruler of a kingdom on its western confines.
Manua
Referred to in some legends as the supreme sovereign of Po. With him abide the spirits of
distinguished chiefs and priests, who wander among beautiful streams and groves of kou
trees, and subsist upon lizards and butterflies.
Minor Celestial Dieties
Kaonohiokala
(the eyeball of the sun)
A celestial god, with an abode somewhere in the heavens, and to whose prsence the
departed spirits of chiefs were conducted.
Kuahaiio
The messenger who conducted the souls of distinguished chiefs to Kaonohiokaqla.
Olopue
A god of Maui, who bore the spirits of noted chiefs to the celestial paradise.
Kamehameha sought to secure possession of a very sacred image of this god, inherited by
Kahekili, moi of Maui.
The Volcanic Dieties
Pele
[create a link here to a pele page]
The ruling goddess of volcanoes, with her sisters.
Hiiaka-wawahi-lani
The heaven-dwelling cloud-holder.
Makoie-nawahi-waa
The fire-eyed canoe-breaker.
Hiiaka-noho-lani
The heaven-dwelling cloud-holder.
Hiiaka-kaalawa-maka
The quick-glancing cloud-holder
Komo-hoalii
Or King Moho, the king of vapor and steam
Kapohoikahiola
God of explosions
Keuakepo
God of the night rain, or rain of fire.
Kane-kahili
The husband of thunder, or thungering god.
(A hunchback)
Keoahi-kamakaua
The fire-thrusting child of war
(A hunchback)
Deities of the Elements
Laamaomao
God the of the winds, the Hawaiian Aeolus, whose home was on Molokai.
Haniakuluiau
A goddess if rain
Kuula
A god of fishermen for all islands – temples were erected to him on the shores of favorite
fishing grounds, and the first fish of every catch was his due.
Hina
Wife of Kuula (appealed to when her husband with held his favors)
Laepua and Kaneapua
Gods of fishermen on Lanai
Hinahele and her daughter Aiaikuula
Goddess of fishermen on Hawaii
Ukanipo
The great shark god of Hawaii
Moaalii
The principal shark god of Oahu and Molokai
Lanoakiki
The great eel-god of all the group
Apukohai and Uhumakaikai
Evil shark or fish-gods of Kauai
Note: There were a number of shark and lizard gods. They were powerful and malignant,
and greatly feared by the classes who frequented the sea. Heiaus were erected to them on
promontories overlooking the ocean, and the offerings to them of fish and fruits were
always liberal. They assumed the forms of giant sharks and lizards, and not unfrequently
lashed the waters into fury and destroyed canoes.
Gods of the Arts and Industries
Akua-ula
The god of inspiration
Haulili
A god of speech, special to Kuai
Kolemoku
The deified chief who first learned the use of herbs and the art of healing from the gods.
He was a patron of the kahunas. Disciples were Olonapuha and Makanuiailone.
Kukaoo
God of the husbandman
Lakakane
God of the hula nad similar sports
Mokualii
God of the canoe-makers
Hai
God of kapa making
Ulaulakeahi
God of distillation
Lie
A goddess of the mountains who braided leis.
Kiha
A goddess of Maui held in great reverence
(partial list )