The mo‘olelo of ko‘a Traditions in Hawai‘i
Ku‘ula was the Akua of fish and fisherman. His wahine was Hinapukui‘a and they conceived a son, Aiai.
Ku‘ula possessed mana kupuna that directed, controlled, and influenced all fish of the sea. One day,
a famous eel ‘aumakua entered his home in Maui. After a battle with the eel, he slaughtered the beast
and consented his life in order to ensure abundant amounts of fish for the people. However,
it was a trick of a devotee of the eel that persuaded Ku‘ula to sacrifice himself.
Because of the hana ‘ino caused by the devotee, all fish in the near-by waters vanished. Before his death,
Ku‘ula gave his son, Aiai instructions and he was able to escape and take refuge with some kind people
in a near-by district. In reciprocity of their kind hospitality,
Aiai brought forth the fish that previously lived in the district of his father’s incident to their district.
Aiai then constructed the first Ko‘a Ku‘ula (small fisherman’s shrine) on the shoreline.
The first fish of the catch was offered to Ku‘ula, and thus the tradition began. Aiai the traveled across
the islands proclaiming his father’s mana, Ku‘ula, was responsible for his miraculous powers
Ku‘ula possessed mana kupuna that directed, controlled, and influenced all fish of the sea. One day,
a famous eel ‘aumakua entered his home in Maui. After a battle with the eel, he slaughtered the beast
and consented his life in order to ensure abundant amounts of fish for the people. However,
it was a trick of a devotee of the eel that persuaded Ku‘ula to sacrifice himself.
Because of the hana ‘ino caused by the devotee, all fish in the near-by waters vanished. Before his death,
Ku‘ula gave his son, Aiai instructions and he was able to escape and take refuge with some kind people
in a near-by district. In reciprocity of their kind hospitality,
Aiai brought forth the fish that previously lived in the district of his father’s incident to their district.
Aiai then constructed the first Ko‘a Ku‘ula (small fisherman’s shrine) on the shoreline.
The first fish of the catch was offered to Ku‘ula, and thus the tradition began. Aiai the traveled across
the islands proclaiming his father’s mana, Ku‘ula, was responsible for his miraculous powers
NĀ KO‘A
NOTE: These are only some of the Ko‘a on O‘ahu that I found during my research that I am comfortable listing. These DO NOT encompass all the Ko‘a of the Kūpuna.