Molowa's name means "lazy," but what most people didn't know was that whenever he appeared to be sleeping or lazy, his magical self became imperceptible and he would go around the island and do good deeds.** This article contains affiliate links. Eleu in Hawaiian means "quick and nimble" and whenever Eleu moved, he was so quick that he disappeared and no one could follow him. Ha'alulu means "to tremble" and it seemed like this little man was always cold, but his magic gift was that whenever he would start shaking, he would become invisible and could travel anywhere without being detected. All the other Menehune living in Hawaii knew them well because they possessed very unusual powers. The three Menehune were called Ha'alulu, Molawa and Eleu. Ainahou is a forest on the north side of Halekala Crater on Maui. Many generations later, Chinese settlers filled the gaps to raise mullet, but the stonework that closed the gap was far inferior to that of the mystical Menehune.Īnother description that has been passed down in local folklore is of the three Menehune of Ainahou. Interrupted by the sun, the Menehune left two gaps in the fishpond wall. At sunrise the Menehune discovered them and turned them into twin stone pillars that can be seen today in the mountains above the fishpond. However, one night the royal siblings snuck up and watched the thousands of Menehune at work, only to fall asleep. The Menehune were promised no one would watch them at work, which was carried out after dark. If they were discovered, their work would have been abandoned. They worked at night so as not to be seen by others, cutting, transporting and fitting stones for their projects in a long bucket brigade. The workers passed stones hand-to-hand to build the pond. The shy but strong group lined up in a double row, which stretched 25 miles (40 km) to distant Makaweli. It is said that they built the Alekoko Fishpond for a princess and her brother. Another one of their amazing feats is the legendary overnight creation of the Alekoko Fishpond on Kauai, which archaeologists estimate to be around 1,000 years old. One such structure they are believed to have built is Kikiaola, also known as the Menehune Ditch, a historic irrigation ditch that funnels water from the Waimea River on Kauai. These industrious master builders used their great strength to build temples (heiau), fishponds, roads, canoes and houses. They were rarely seen by human eyes, and they are credited with mighty feats of engineering and overnight construction. They also enjoy cliff diving, and according to local lore, they were smart, extremely strong and excellent craftsmen. The Menehune have been known to use magic arrows to pierce the heart of angry people, igniting feelings of love instead. They enjoyed dancing, singing and archery, and their favorite foods were bananas and fish. These Menehune, who roamed the deep forests at night, were said to be about two feet (60 cm) tall, though some were as tiny as six inches (15 cm), small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. Hawaiian legend has it that many centuries ago, the Menehune were a mischievous group of small people, or dwarfs, who lived hidden in the forests and valleys of the islands before the first settlers arrived from Polynesia.
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